McLean Creek
Alberta Parks Sites available
Elbow River
Alberta Parks Kananaskis Country · Alberta
what to expect
Provincial Recreation Area. 236 hectares.
the basics
what to know
Updated each morning from provincial parks and Environment Canada.
No fire ban active
Last checked from the provincial fire-ban feed. Check at the gate before you light — conditions change.
Bear country
Use the food lockers. Do not leave coolers, garbage, or food on picnic tables overnight, even in a car. Carry bear spray on trails.
what to bring
This list adapts to Elbow River. no showers means a travel towel; bear country means bear spray.
common questions about Elbow River
- how far is Elbow River from Calgary?
- Elbow River Provincial Recreation Area is 48 km from Calgary. Use Google Maps for current drive times — they account for terrain, traffic, ferries, and closures we can't.
- do you need reservations at Elbow River?
- Yes. Elbow River Provincial Recreation Area is operated by Alberta Parks and uses an online reservation system. Book direct via the operator link on this page.
nearby places
Within ~100 km of Elbow River.
want to camp at Elbow River?
Cancellation alerts are coming. We’ll email when sites open up at this park.
One email. Unsubscribe anytime. We don’t share addresses. — [email protected]
Give back to this place
volunteer at Alberta Parks
Provincial parks rely on volunteer stewards for trail maintenance, beach clean-ups, and shoulder-season hosting. Most parks run programs through their park association.
See how to help →