Alberta canoeing, canoe routes
Canada travel, tourism

Canoeing in Alberta

Alberta, Canada canoeing is enjoyed from many communities in the province. There is a vast network of lakes and rivers in Alberta exploring the Rocky Mountains, the northern tundra, the southern Canadian Badlands and the central foothills and prairie grasslands.

Alberta canoe routes, Canada travel In Alberta there are casual man-made lakes (reservoirs), community ponds and easy flow rivers (Class1) for day paddles. Canoe rentals, tours, guides and lessons are available at most of the more developed and popular canoeing destinations.

Some lakes and rivers vary in services. Waterways may include amenities like a marina, docks, swimming beach, power, moorage, restaurants, washrooms, showers, canoe rentals, tours and paved canoe launches.

For the more experienced paddlers there are many remote lakes and challenging rivers (Class 4). The more remote lakes and rivers - the ones located at the end of a gravel road deep in the backcountry - may require a short portage and include only a roof top canoe launch, a picnic table and some pit toilets.

The system of lakes and rivers in Alberta are separated into various river basin waterways. The major waterways are the Milk River, Hay, Beaver, Peace River/Slave Lake, Athabasca and the North and South Saskatchewan river basins.

There are over 600 lakes and endless rivers to paddle in Alberta. Lakeland Provincial Park located in the north of Alberta is one one of the few destinations with a developed canoe paddle route with portages. Other North Albert paddle destinations include the Lesser Slave Lake and Lac La Biche regions.

In the Rocky Mountain parks of Alberta there are canoe adventures exploring on turquoise-green alpine lakes and white water rivers. The Rocky Mountain region includes the Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Kananaskis Country and Crowsnest Pass.

Some of the more popular canoe destinations in the Central Alberta region include the Elk Island National Park and the Pigeon Lake Provincial Park near Edmonton; the William A. Switzer Park near Hinton; the Sylvan Lake Provincial Park near Red Deer and the Crimson Lake Provincial Park near Rocky Mountain House.

And when you are canoeing in the South Alberta region one may want to consider Fish Creek Provincial Park, the Bow River and the Glenmore Reservoir near Calgary; the Ghost Reservoir Lake near Cochrane; Oldman Dam Recreation Area near Fort Macleod, Park Lake Provincial Park and Henderson Lake near Lethbridge, the Little Bow Provincial Park near Vulcan, the Cypress Hills Park near Medicine Hat and Waterton Lakes National Park.