Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
Fast facts
- Established: 1977 as Kananaskis Provincial Park, renamed in 1986
- Setting: the Kananaskis Range and Continental Divide, around the Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes
- Backcountry: campgrounds including Point, Forks, Three Isle Lake and Turbine Canyon
- Gateway: Canmore and Calgary, roughly two hours southwest of Calgary by road
- Managed by: Alberta Parks, as part of Kananaskis Country
The landscape
Peter Lougheed sits on the front of the Rockies, where the Kananaskis Lakes fill a broad valley beneath limestone peaks that reach past 10,000 feet (3,000 m) along the Continental Divide. Subalpine forest gives way to larch stands and rock above, and the high passes look across into British Columbia. This is prime grizzly habitat, shared with black bears, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and wolves.
Best time to go
High trails are usually snow-free from July to September. Mid- to late September is larch season, when valleys such as Chester Lake and Pocaterra turn gold and trailheads fill before sunrise. Summer thunderstorms are common in the afternoon. In winter the park becomes a cross-country ski, snowshoe and ski-touring destination, with serious avalanche terrain close to the trails.
Getting there and around
From the Trans-Canada Highway, drive south on Highway 40 through Kananaskis Country, past Barrier Lake in Bow Valley Provincial Park, then take the Kananaskis Lakes Trail to the day-use areas and campgrounds. The gravel Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail runs north to Canmore past more trailheads. A paved trail links the campgrounds for cyclists, and Highway 40 south of the park closes seasonally for wildlife.
Things to do
Day hikes range from lakeshore walks to Rawson Lake, Chester Lake and the scramble up Mount Indefatigable. Backpackers head around Upper Kananaskis Lake to Three Isle Lake and on to North Kananaskis Pass, or toward Turbine Canyon. Paddlers use both Kananaskis Lakes, which can turn rough in the wind. Winter brings groomed ski trails around Pocaterra and backcountry skiing.
Staying safe
Bears are active across the park, and Alberta Parks posts frequent bear warnings and closures. Carry bear spray where you can reach it, travel in groups, make noise and give wildlife at least 100 feet (30 m). Storms build fast over the Divide, so start early and turn back when the weather does. Many summits are scrambles on loose rock with real exposure. In winter and spring, check the avalanche forecast and carry rescue gear. Leave a trip plan, since cell coverage is poor.
Know before you go
Every parked vehicle needs a Kananaskis Conservation Pass, and backcountry campgrounds must be reserved. Trail closures for bear activity are common. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm current advisories, closures and reservations with Alberta Parks before you go.
- Coordinates
- 50.6809, -115.1616
- Magnetic declination
- 13.6° E (2026)
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass
A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.
Getting there 3
Airstrip
Ranger stations
On the trail 29
Trailheads
Route
Campgrounds
Huts and shelters
Picnic sites
Sights 70
Viewpoints
Lakes
Points of interest
Island
Peaks 24
Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).
Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →
- Best seasons
- Summer, Early fall (larches), Winter (skiing and snowshoeing)
- Difficulty
- Easy to strenuous
- Access / trailheads
- Kananaskis Trail (Highway 40) from the Trans-Canada Highway, then the Kananaskis Lakes Trail to the Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes. The Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail links north to Canmore.
- Water
- Lakes and streams; filter or treat all backcountry water.
- Cell / satellite coverage
- Limited to none in most of the park. Carry a satellite messenger.
- Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
- Emergencies: 911 (Kananaskis Emergency Services). Report wildlife sightings and incidents to 403-591-7755.
- Permits & regulations
- A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park in Kananaskis and the Bow Valley. Backcountry campgrounds need a reservation.
- Leave No Trace
- Camp only in designated backcountry campgrounds, secure all food and scented items in lockers, carry bear spray, and pack out all waste.
January
- Below freezing all day
February
- Below freezing all day
March
- Below-freezing nights
April
- Below-freezing nights
May
- Below-freezing nights
June
July
- Day-to-night swing of 31°F (17°C)Day-to-night swing of 17°C (31°F)
August
- Day-to-night swing of 32°F (18°C)Day-to-night swing of 18°C (32°F)
September
- Below-freezing nights
October This month
- Below-freezing nights
November
- Below-freezing nights
December
- Below freezing all day
What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.
Plan a trip here →Averages for 1981–2010 from Environment Canada climate normals, measured at the Kananaskis Pocaterra station, 6 miles (9 km)9 km (6 miles) away at 5,282 feet (1,610 m)1,610 m (5,282 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.
Nearby parks
-
Spray Valley Provincial Park
The wild side of Kananaskis between Canmore and Banff: the Spray Lakes, larch valleys and a key corridor for grizzlies.
-
Bow Valley Provincial Park
Alberta's most visited provincial park: easy trails, river campgrounds and Barrier Lake where the Bow River leaves the Rockies, under an hour from Calgary.
-
Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park
The Matterhorn of the Rockies above Lake Magog, reached only on foot or by helicopter, between Banff and Kootenay national parks.
-
Kootenay National Park
Marble Canyon, the Paint Pots, the Rockwall Trail and the Radium hot springs, along the Banff-Windermere Highway in the BC Rockies.
Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.
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