Spray Valley Provincial Park
Fast facts
- Setting: the Spray Lakes Reservoir and surrounding Kananaskis Range, on the eastern edge of Banff National Park
- Backcountry: campgrounds at Ribbon Falls, Ribbon Lake and Lillian Lake, among others
- Wildlife role: an important corridor for grizzly bears moving in and out of Banff
- Gateway: Canmore, about 90 minutes from Calgary
- Managed by: Alberta Parks, as part of Kananaskis Country
The landscape
Spray Valley wraps around the long Spray Lakes Reservoir, with limestone peaks rising on both sides and hanging valleys leading up to tarns and passes. Subalpine forest gives way to larch stands and rock above. The park borders Banff National Park, and grizzly bears, black bears, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and wolves move freely between the two.
Best time to go
Summer is hiking season, with high trails usually clear of snow by July. September brings the larches, and valleys such as Chester Lake and Burstall Pass fill with people on fall weekends. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. In winter, the park offers cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing and ice climbing, with serious avalanche terrain close to many trails.
Getting there and around
From Canmore, the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail climbs past the Canmore Nordic Centre and runs south along the reservoir to trailheads and campgrounds. It is gravel and dusty, with wildlife on the road. The eastern side of the park is reached from Highway 40 at trailheads such as Ribbon Creek and Galatea. Every parked vehicle needs a Kananaskis Conservation Pass.
Things to do
Popular day hikes include Chester Lake, Burstall Pass and Rummel Lake, many at their best in larch season. Backpackers use the Ribbon Creek, Galatea and Buller Pass trails to reach backcountry campgrounds at Ribbon Falls, Ribbon Lake and Lillian Lake. Paddlers and anglers use the Spray Lakes, which get rough in wind. In winter the area is known for cross-country skiing and backcountry touring.
Staying safe
Alberta Parks posts frequent bear warnings here. Carry bear spray where you can reach it, make noise, travel in groups and secure all food. Weather over the Rockies changes quickly, so start early and turn back when storms build. Trail bridges wash out, and detours change from season to season. In winter and spring, check the avalanche forecast and carry rescue gear. Leave a trip plan.
Know before you go
Trail closures and detours are common. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so check Alberta Parks trail reports, advisories and reservations before you go.
- Coordinates
- 50.9188, -115.2851
- Magnetic declination
- 13.7° 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 1
Airstrip
On the trail 9
Campgrounds
Hut or shelter
Picnic site
Sights 42
Viewpoints
Lakes
Points of interest
Peaks 23
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
- The gravel Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail (Highway 742) runs south from Canmore along the Spray Lakes Reservoir; Highway 40 reaches the eastern trailheads such as Ribbon Creek and Galatea.
- Water
- Lakes and streams; filter or treat all backcountry water.
- Cell / satellite coverage
- Limited to none away from Canmore. 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 your vehicle. Backcountry campgrounds need a reservation.
- Leave No Trace
- Camp only in designated backcountry campgrounds, lock food and scented items away, carry bear spray, and pack out all waste.
January
- Below freezing all day
February
- Below-freezing nights
March
- Below-freezing nights
April
- Below-freezing nights
May
June
July
August
September
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 station, 13 miles (22 km)22 km (13 miles) away at 4,564 feet (1,391 m)1,391 m (4,564 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
-
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.
-
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
The heart of Kananaskis Country: big lakes under Rockies peaks, larch-filled valleys and grizzly country, a short drive 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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