Alberta public land allows random camping for up to 14 days. On the Eastern Slopes you need a Public Lands Camping Pass.
Crown Land camping in Alberta is governed by the Public Lands Act.
The Public Lands Act limits camping at any single location to 14 consecutive days. After 14 days, move your camp at least 1 km and stay away from that spot for at least 72 hours. Report problems or ask about enforcement at 310-LAND (5263), 24/7.
Alberta's fire restriction system updates in near real-time at albertafirebans.ca. Alberta posts three levels: Fire Advisory (danger rising), Fire Restriction (no wood campfires on public land; still allowed in campgrounds and on private land) and Fire Ban (no wood campfires anywhere, including backyard pits).
Random camping is allowed on public land unless signs say otherwise. On public land under a grazing lease, ask the leaseholder first; they can refuse camping. National Parks (Banff, Jasper, Elk Island) are federal and operate entirely separately — dispersed camping is not permitted in National Parks. Check PLUZ boundaries and closures on Alberta's Interactive Recreation Map, linked from alberta.ca/camping-on-public-land.
PLUZs are formally designated sections of Crown Land with specific rules for recreation. In Kananaskis, McLean Creek OHV, Sibbald and Cataract Creek PLUZs, camping and fires are not allowed within 1 km of a road. Other PLUZs post their own limits. Check the specific PLUZ regulation for your area before arriving.
There are no facilities on dispersed Crown Land sites. Pack out all garbage. Leave No Trace guidance: bury human waste 15–20 cm deep at least 70 m from water, and scatter grey water well away from water. RV black and grey tanks must not be dumped on Crown Land — locate a dump station in the nearest town before you head out.
Off-highway vehicles on Crown Land must stay on designated roads and existing trails. Off-highway vehicles must stay on designated trails, including inside McLean Creek PLUZ. Driving on river banks, wetlands, or alpine meadows is illegal under both the Public Lands Act and the Water Act. Resource roads are the primary legal access route for all vehicles.
Check alberta.ca/ghost and alberta.ca/bighorn-backcountry for seasonal closures. Current road conditions are best confirmed via Alberta 511 or the local forestry district office for your area.
Multiple resource roads fan out from Swan Hills town, giving access to Crown Land along the Freeman River and numerous small lakes excellent for northern pike, walleye, and perch. Road quality is generally good on the main resource roads, rougher on secondary tracks.
Access is by long unpaved resource roads from Grande Prairie; check conditions first. Random camping is allowed except within 1 km of the Deadhorse Meadows backcountry campsite and the Kakwa Falls parking area. This is serious backcountry territory — not appropriate for large RVs or inexperienced travelers. Woodland caribou herds transit this area seasonally. There is no cell coverage; carry a satellite communicator.
Public land around the park is mostly under grazing leases; you need the leaseholder's permission to camp there. About an hour from Medicine Hat via Highway 41. Lower elevation means an earlier spring and later fall than the foothills.
Our Crown Land Camping Finder maps legal dispersed camping areas across Alberta with accessibility ratings, driving notes, and seasonal conditions.
The Ghost PLUZ is about 75–90 minutes from downtown Calgary. It sits inside the Eastern Slopes pass area, so every camper 18+ needs the Public Lands Camping Pass ($30/year or $20/3-day).
Calgary → Highway 1 west → Cochrane → Highway 1A west → Highway 40 north; the TransAlta road and Highway 579 (Harold Creek Road) lead into the PLUZ. About 75–90 min from downtown.
River flats along the Ghost River offer the most accessible dispersed camping. Upper ridgeline sites are more secluded but require better road clearance. The Waiparous Creek confluence area is the most popular zone.
Grizzly and black bears are active, especially spring–fall near the river. Elk and mule deer are common. Mountain lions present but rarely seen. Bear spray is strongly recommended and should be on your person, not in your pack.
Mosquitoes heavy in June. July–August is peak season — expect company on weekends. September and early October offer fall colours and far fewer visitors. Snow can arrive by mid-October.
| Stay Limit | 14 days, then move 1 km for 72 hours |
| Governing Law | Public Lands Act (AB) |
| Fire Bans | albertafirebans.ca |
| Land Status Tool | Alberta's Interactive Recreation Map (alberta.ca/camping-on-public-land) |
| Camping Fee | $0 outside the Eastern Slopes |
| Pass Required | Eastern Slopes (Grande Prairie–Waterton, incl. Ghost & McLean Creek): Public Lands Camping Pass, $30/yr or $20/3-day, 18+ — alberta.ca/public-lands-camping-pass. Also check fire bans. |
Pro Tip: Load Alberta's Interactive Recreation Map before you leave cell range. It shows Crown Land boundaries, PLUZ designations, and any active dispositions that might restrict camping in a given area.
Central boreal and foothills resource roads are generally graded gravel suitable for RVs.
Main resource roads are well-graded gravel suitable for RVs up to 32 feet. Multiple flat, open sites near the Freeman River and surrounding lakes. Fuel in Swan Hills. Dump station in Whitecourt.
Flat shoreline terrain ideal for slideout deployment. Main access roads from Highway 620 are maintained gravel. Several established sites with wide, open areas. Easy boat launching from camp. Nearest dump station: Drayton Valley.
Suitable for Class B vans, truck campers, and fifth wheels under 28 feet on the main access roads. Larger units may struggle with turnaround space and narrow sections in the upper Ghost. River flat sites are level and spacious for smaller rigs.
Flat prairie access roads from Highway 41 work well for large rigs. The Hills themselves have grades but the fringe terrain is suitable for extended-length RVs. Best used in spring and fall for the mildest weather and fewest bugs.
Public land along the Athabasca River between the town of Athabasca and Fort McMurray; confirm status on the Interactive Recreation Map. Flat terrain, accessible resource road networks, and reasonable proximity to fuel and dump stations in Athabasca.
Bring a generator or solar setup (no hookups anywhere), enough fresh water for your full stay plus two extra days, offline Alberta Lands maps, a satellite communicator, and current albertafirebans.ca status printed before departure.
Mostly, yes. Camping is free outside the Eastern Slopes; inside the Eastern Slopes (including the Ghost PLUZ and McLean Creek) everyone 18+ needs the Public Lands Camping Pass, $30/year or $20 for 3 days.
The Ghost PLUZ west of Cochrane (about 1.5 hours from Calgary) is the closest large random-camping area. McLean Creek OHV Zone near Bragg Creek (~45 minutes) is another strong choice. The Sheep River valley (Kananaskis) is about 60–90 minutes; a Kananaskis Conservation Pass and the 1 km-from-road rule apply. All three sit in the Eastern Slopes pass area, so carry a Public Lands Camping Pass ($30/year or $20/3-day per person 18+). The Northern Stay Crown Land Finder maps specific site locations in each area.
You do not need a traditional permit, but you must follow current fire restrictions posted at albertafirebans.ca. Levels are Fire Advisory, Fire Restriction and Fire Ban. During a full fire ban, no open fires are permitted anywhere — including campfires in established fire rings.
Yes — Class B vans, truck campers and trailers under about 28 feet handle the main access roads in dry conditions; no official size limit is published. Class B vans and truck campers are ideal for the Ghost. Larger Class A motorhomes and fifth wheels over 35 feet are not recommended due to limited turnaround space on the side roads.
Provincial parks (including Kananaskis Country's designated campgrounds, Bow Valley Provincial Park, etc.) have designated sites, booking systems, and nightly fees. Crown Land under the Public Lands Act provides free dispersed camping with no designated sites or reservations. Some Wildland Provincial Parks (for example Kakwa) allow random backcountry camping at no charge; check each park page. National Parks (Banff, Jasper) are federal and do not permit any dispersed camping.
There is little open public land for random camping within an hour of Edmonton. The nearest large areas are the Swan Hills (~2 hours northwest) and the Bighorn Backcountry (~3 hours west).
Kananaskis Country's frontcountry campgrounds have designated sites, booking systems, and nightly fees — they operate like provincial parks. Kananaskis backcountry campgrounds need a permit ($12 per person per night, age 16+, plus a $12 booking fee). Random camping is allowed only in Kananaskis PLUZs more than 1 km from a road, with the Public Lands Camping Pass. Every vehicle also needs a Kananaskis Conservation Pass ($15/day or $90/year).
There is no formal seasonal closure on most Alberta Crown Land — it is technically accessible year-round. In practice, unpaved resource roads are typically snow-covered or too soft to drive from November through April. Spring break-up (March to mid-May) can make roads impassable as frost leaves the ground, and Posted Load Restrictions reduce permitted axle weights during this period. The practical season for vehicle-based dispersed camping across most of Alberta's Crown Land is May through October.
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