List of provincial parks in Alberta explained

This is a list of provincial parks in the Canadian province of Alberta. They are maintained by Alberta Parks. For a list of protected areas in Alberta, see the List of protected areas of Alberta.

Provincial parks

Provincial parks are established under the Provincial Parks Act to "support outdoor recreation, heritage tourism and natural heritage appreciation activities that depend on and are compatible with the natural environment".[1] Provincial parks differ from wildland provincial parks in that the former have better road access and allow a greater range of activities for users. Provincial parks have a focus on a variety of outdoor recreational uses and enjoyment of the natural environment.[1]

NameSub-regionEstablishedImageCoordinates
Antelope Hill Provincial ParkSpecial Area No. 22014-12-04[2]
Aspen Beach Provincial ParkLacombe County1932-11-21
Beauvais Lake Provincial ParkPincher Creek No. 91954-02-01
Big Hill Springs Provincial ParkRocky View County1957
Big Island Provincial ParkEdmonton2023
Big Knife Provincial ParkCounty of Paintearth No. 181962-10-02
Bow Valley Provincial ParkKananaskis Improvement District
Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8
1959-07-27
Bragg Creek Provincial ParkRocky View County1960-01-19
Brown-Lowery Provincial ParkFoothills No. 311992-10-29
Calling Lake Provincial ParkMunicipal District of Opportunity No. 171991
Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial ParkKananaskis Improvement District1998-12-09[3]
Carson-Pegasus Provincial ParkWoodlands County1982-05-19
Castle Provincial ParkPincher Creek No. 92017-01-20[4]
Chain Lakes Provincial ParkRanchland No. 661969-12-23
Cold Lake Provincial ParkBonnyville No. 871976-08-18
Crimson Lake Provincial ParkClearwater County1955-11-22
Cross Lake Provincial ParkLesser Slave River No. 1241955-11-22
Crow Lake Provincial ParkLac La Biche County2000-11-04[5]
Cypress Hills Provincial ParkCypress County1951
Dillberry Lake Provincial ParkWainwright No. 611957-01-08
Dinosaur Provincial ParkCounty of Newell
Special Area No. 2
1955
Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial ParkKneehill County
Starland County
County of Stettler No. 6
1970-12-15
Dunvegan Provincial ParkFairview No. 1361992-07-11
Eagle Point Provincial ParkBrazeau County2007-08-29[6]
Fish Creek Provincial ParkCalgary1975-06-10
Garner Lake Provincial ParkSmoky Lake County
Glenbow Ranch Provincial ParkRocky View County
Gooseberry Lake Provincial ParkSpecial Area No. 41966
Greene Valley Provincial ParkNorthern Sunrise County2000-06-06[7]
Gregoire Lake Provincial ParkRegional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Hilliard's Bay Provincial ParkBig Lakes County
Jarvis Bay Provincial ParkLacombe County1965-07-08
Kinbrook Island Provincial ParkCounty of Newell
Lakeland Provincial Park and Recreation AreaLac La Biche County
Lesser Slave Lake Provincial ParkLesser Slave River No. 124
Little Bow Provincial ParkVulcan County
Little Fish Lake Provincial ParkSpecial Area No. 2
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial ParkSturgeon County2005-04-19[8]
Long Lake Provincial ParkThorhild County1957-03-25
Midland Provincial ParkDrumheller
Starland County
1979-06-05
Miquelon Lake Provincial ParkCamrose County1958-05-20
Moonshine Lake Provincial ParkSaddle Hills County1959-04-09
Moose Lake Provincial ParkBonnyville No. 871967-04-19
Notikewin Provincial ParkCounty of Northern Lights1979-11-20
O'Brien Provincial ParkGreenview No. 16
Obed Lake Provincial ParkYellowhead County2000-12-20[9]
Park Lake Provincial ParkLethbridge County
Pembina River Provincial ParkYellowhead County1953
Peter Lougheed Provincial ParkKananaskis Improvement District1977
Pierre Grey's Lakes Provincial ParkGreenview No. 16
Pigeon Lake Provincial ParkCounty of Wetaskiwin No. 101962
Police Outpost Provincial ParkCardston County1970-04-21
Queen Elizabeth Provincial ParkPeace No. 135
Ram Falls Provincial ParkClearwater County
Red Lodge Provincial ParkRed Deer County
Rochon Sands Provincial ParkCounty of Stettler No. 6
Rock Lake Provincial ParkYellowhead County
Saskatoon Island Provincial ParkGrande Prairie County No. 11973
Sheep River Provincial ParkKananaskis Improvement District2001-07-24[10]
Sir Winston Churchill Provincial ParkLac La Biche County2010
Spray Valley Provincial ParkKananaskis Improvement District2000-09-20[11]
Strathcona Science Provincial ParkStrathcona County1979
Sundance Provincial ParkYellowhead County1999-04-28[12]
Thunder Lake Provincial ParkCounty of Barrhead No. 111958-01-28
Tillebrook Provincial ParkCounty of Newell1965-07-20
Two Lakes Provincial ParkGreenview No. 161952
Vermilion Provincial ParkCounty of Vermilion River1953-05-29
Wabamun Lake Provincial ParkParkland County1993
Whitney Lakes Provincial ParkCounty of St. Paul No. 191982-06-23
William A. Switzer Provincial ParkYellowhead County1958-12-22
Williamson Provincial ParkGreenview No. 161971-08-03
Willow Creek Provincial ParkWillow Creek No. 261957-12-10
Winagami Lake Provincial ParkSmoky River No. 1302000-11-15[13]
Woolford Provincial ParkCardston County1967
Writing-on-Stone Provincial ParkWarner County No. 52011
Wyndham-Carseland Provincial ParkWheatland County
Vulcan County
1979
Young's Point Provincial ParkGreenview No. 161998-08-26[14]

Wildland parks

Wildland provincial parks are established under the Provincial Parks Act to "preserve and protect natural heritage and provide opportunities for backcountry recreation". "Wildland provincial parks are large, undeveloped natural landscapes that retain their primeval character."[1] Wildland parks are more remote and offer more difficult access than provincial parks. In addition, recreational activities are more limited to minimize visitor impacts on the natural environment.[1]

NameSub-regionEstablishedImageCoordinates
Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park[15] Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo2000-12-20[16]
Birch River Wildland Provincial Park[17] Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo2018-05-14[18]
Bluerock Wildland Provincial Park[19] Kananaskis Improvement District2001-07-24[20]
Bob Creek Wildland Provincial Park[21] Ranchland No. 661999-05-12[22]
Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park[23] Kananaskis Improvement District
Canmore
Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8
1998-12-09[24]
Brazeau Canyon Wildland Provincial Park[25] Yellowhead County2000-12-20[26]
Caribou Mountains Wildland Provincial Park[27] Mackenzie County2001-07-24[28]
Castle Wildland Provincial Park[29] Pincher Creek No. 92017-01-20[30]
Chinchaga Wildland Provincial Park[31] Clear Hills County1999-12-15[32]
Dillon River Wildland Provincial Park[33] Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo2018-05-14[34]
Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park[35] Ranchland No. 66
Kananaskis Improvement District
Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8
2001-07-24[36]
Dunvegan West Wildland Provincial Park[37] Saddle Hills County2000-12-20[38]
Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park[39] Kananaskis Improvement District1995[40]
Fidler-Greywillow Wildland Provincial Park[41] Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo1998-03[42]
Fort Assiniboine Sandhills Wildland Provincial Park[43] Woodlands County1997[44]
Gipsy Lake Wildland Provincial Park[45] Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo2000-12-20[46]
Grand Rapids Wildland Provincial Park[47] Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17
2000-12-20[48]
Grizzly Ridge Wildland Provincial Park[49] Lesser Slave River No. 124
Big Lakes County
1999-04-14[50]
Hay-Zama Lakes Wildland Provincial Park[51] Mackenzie County1999-05-05[52]
Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park[53] Lesser Slave River No. 124
Westlock County
2000-10-04[54]
Kakwa Wildland Provincial Park[55] Greenview No. 161996[56]
Kazan Wildland Provincial Park[57] Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo2018-05-14[58]
Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland Provincial Park[59] [60] Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo2019-03-08[61]
La Biche River Wildland Provincial Park[62] Athabasca County2000-06-06[63]
Lesser Slave Lake Wildland Provincial Park[64] Big Lakes County2001-02-07[65]
Marguerite River Wildland Provincial Park[66] Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo1998[67]
Otter-Orloff Lakes Wildland Provincial Park[68] Lesser Slave River No. 124
Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17
2000-11-15[69]
Peace River Wildland Provincial Park[70] Birch Hills County
Smoky River No. 130
2001-07-24[71]
Richardson Wildland Provincial Park[72] Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo2018-05-14[73]
Rock Lake - Solomon Creek Wildland Provincial Park[74] Yellowhead County2000-12-20[75]
Stony Mountain Wildland Provincial Park[76] Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo2000-12-20[77]
Whitehorse Wildland Provincial Park[78] Yellowhead County1998-08-26[79]
Whitemud Falls Wildland Provincial Park[80] Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo2000-11-15[81]
Winagami Wildland Provincial Park[82] Big Lakes County
Smoky River No. 130
2000-11-15[83]

Willmore Wilderness Park

Willmore Wilderness Park was established in 1959 and is managed under the Willmore Wilderness Park Act. The intent of Willmore Wilderness Park is the preservation of the natural environment, similar to the more recent wildland parks.[1]

Former provincial parks

Alberta Parks has closed multiple parks throughout its history, with four parks being closed during the 1930s and a number of them being given to municipalities.

NameSub-regionEstablishedDisestablishedNotesImage
Sylvan Lake Provincial ParkRed Deer County19802018Given to the Town of Sylvan Lake and ran as a municipal park.
Taber Provincial ParkMunicipal District of Taber19361999Given to the Municipal District of Taber and ran as a municipal park
Elkwater Lake Provincial ParkCypress County19321951Became part of the newly created Cypress Hills Provincial Park, which later became Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.
Ghost River Provincial ParkMunicipal District of Bighorn No. 819321950s
Hasse Lake Provincial ParkParkland County1970s2000sGiven to the county
Lundbreck Falls Provincial ParkMunicipal District of Pincher Creek No. 91930s1950sMade a Provincial Recreation Area
Assineau River Crossing Provincial ParkMunicipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 1241930s1950sTurned into a campground, then the campground closed
Gaetz Lake Provincial ParkRed Deer County1960s1980s-90sGiven to the city and turned into Kerry Wood Nature Sanctuary
Ma-Me-O Beach Provincial ParkCounty of Wetaskiwin No. 101950s-60s1980s-90sGiven to the Summer Village of Ma-Me-O Beach
Hommey Provincial ParkCounty of Grande Prairie No. 11930s1980s-90sGiven to the county
Saskatoon Mountain Provincial ParkCounty of Grande Prairie No. 11930s1950sGiven to the county
Blue Bridge Provincial ParkMunicipal District of Smoky River No. 1301930s1940s-50sGiven to the county

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Legislation & Regulations . AlbertaParks.ca . October 28, 2020.
  2. Web site: O.C. 455/2014 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . December 4, 2014.
  3. Web site: O.C. 526/98 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . December 9, 1998 .
  4. Web site: O.C. 22/2017 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . January 20, 2017.
  5. Web site: O.C. 378/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . October 4, 2000.
  6. Web site: O.C. 369/2007 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . August 29, 2007.
  7. Web site: O.C. 206/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . June 6, 2000.
  8. Web site: O.C. 182/2005 . Orders in Council . Alberta's Queen's Printer . April 19, 2005.
  9. Web site: O.C. 502/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . December 20, 2000.
  10. Web site: O.C. 310/2001 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . July 24, 2001.
  11. Web site: O.C. 365/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . September 20, 2000.
  12. Web site: O.C. 186/99 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . April 28, 1999.
  13. Web site: O.C. 432/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . November 15, 2000.
  14. Web site: O.C. 355/98 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . August 26, 1998.
  15. Web site: Birch Mountain Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  16. Web site: O.C. 496/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . December 20, 2000.
  17. Web site: Birch River Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  18. Web site: O.C. 141/2018 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . May 14, 2018.
  19. Web site: Bluerock Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  20. Web site: O.C. 307/2001 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . July 24, 2001.
  21. Web site: Bob Creek Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  22. Web site: O.C. 214/99 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . May 12, 1999.
  23. Web site: Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  24. Web site: O.C. 525/98 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . December 9, 1998.
  25. Web site: Brazeau Canyon Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  26. Web site: O.C. 507/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . December 20, 2000.
  27. Web site: Caribou Mountains Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  28. Web site: O.C. 308/2001 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . July 24, 2001.
  29. Web site: Castle Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  30. Web site: O.C. 23/2017 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . January 20, 2017.
  31. Web site: Chinchaga Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  32. Web site: O.C. 536/99 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . December 15, 1999.
  33. Web site: Dillon River Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca .
  34. Web site: O.C. 138/2018 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . May 14, 2018.
  35. Web site: Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  36. Web site: O.C. 306/2001 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . July 24, 2001.
  37. Web site: Dunvegan West Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  38. Web site: O.C. 508/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . December 20, 2000.
  39. Web site: Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  40. Web site: Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park . ProtectedPlanet.net . 2021.
  41. Web site: Fidler-Greywillow Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  42. Web site: Fidler-Greywillow Wildland Provincial Park . ProtectedPlanet.net . 2021.
  43. Web site: Fort Assiniboine Sandhills Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  44. Web site: Fort Assiniboine Sandhills Wildland Provincial Park . ProtectedPlanet.net . 2021.
  45. Web site: Gipsy Lake Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  46. Web site: O.C. 511/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . December 20, 2000.
  47. Web site: Grand Rapids Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  48. Web site: O.C. 510/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . December 20, 2000.
  49. Web site: Grizzly Ridge Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  50. Web site: O.C. 154/99 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . April 14, 1999.
  51. Web site: Hay-Zama Lakes Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  52. Web site: O.C. 202/99 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . May 5, 1999.
  53. Web site: Hubert Lakes Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  54. Web site: O.C. 380/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . October 4, 2000.
  55. Web site: Kakwa Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  56. Web site: Kakwa Wildland Provincial Park . ProtectedPlanet.net . 2021.
  57. Web site: Kazan Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  58. Web site: O.C. 139/2018 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . May 14, 2018.
  59. Web site: Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  60. News: Three oilsands companies surrender land for new Alberta park to be co-managed with First Nations . Lavoie . Judith . The Narwhal . March 25, 2019.
  61. Web site: O.C. 79/2019 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . March 8, 2019.
  62. Web site: La Biche River Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  63. Web site: O.C. 207/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . June 6, 2000.
  64. Web site: Lesser Slave Lake Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  65. Web site: O.C. 73/2001 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . February 7, 2001.
  66. Web site: Marguerite River Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  67. Web site: Marguerite River Wildland Provincial Park . ProtectedPanet.net . 2021.
  68. Web site: Otter-Orloff Lakes Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  69. Web site: O.C. 430/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . November 15, 2000.
  70. Web site: Peace River Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  71. Web site: O.C. 309/2001 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . July 24, 2001.
  72. Web site: Richardson Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  73. Web site: O.C. 140/2018 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . May 14, 2018.
  74. Web site: Rock Lake - Solomon Creek Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  75. Web site: O.C. 505/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . December 20, 2000.
  76. Web site: Stony Mountain Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  77. Web site: O.C. 513/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . December 20, 2000.
  78. Web site: Whitehorse Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  79. Web site: O.C. 354/98 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . August 26, 1998.
  80. Web site: Whitemud Falls Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  81. Web site: O.C. 431/2000 . Orders in Council . Alberta Queen’s Printer . November 15, 2000.
  82. Web site: Winagami Wildland Provincial Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  83. Web site: O.C. 433/2000 . November 15, 2000.
  84. Web site: Willmore Wilderness Park . AlbertaParks.ca.
  85. The Willmore Wilderness Park Act . RSA . 1959 . 95 . 2 . https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/hstat/rsa-1970-c-392/latest/rsa-1970-c-392.html . CanLII.