Place · 0.2 mi away
Overview
If you love a back-to-basics tent vibe, Mount Sarrail Walk-in Tenting Campground is the sweet spot. It’s a tent‑only, first‑come‑first‑served loop in the Kananaskis Lakes area with 44 walk‑in sites tucked among trees and occasional big‑mountain views of Mount Sarrail. You park, carry your gear a short distance, and settle into real quiet.
Camp Setup & Amenities
Expect simple, well‑kept front‑country comfort: pit/vault toilets, hand‑pump water, and individual firepits. Alberta Parks recommends bringing your own drinking water or treating/boiling it. Firewood is sold by the campground manager, and you can also pick it up at the Boulton Creek Campground store. Food storage is via bear poles—use them religiously. There are no showers here, though campers note showers are available nearby at Boulton Creek.
Setting & Things To Do
You’re perfectly placed for the dense network of trails and lake time around Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes—think hiking, biking, trail running, fishing, and paddling from the broader area. Alberta Parks offers downloadable, geo‑referenced maps and interpretive pamphlets (Black Prince, Ptarmigan, and more) to deepen what you’re seeing—classic cirques, moraines, and all the glacial sculpting that defines this valley.
Wildlife & Advisories
This is prime bear country. Closures pop up regularly; for example, as of November 30, 2025 there was a bear‑related closure for Kent Ridge North/James Walker Drainage, and earlier in the fall one for the Rockwall Trail & Discovery Centre meadow. Also as of November 30, 2025, the Blackshale Suspension Bridge was closed. Check Alberta Parks advisories before you go, carry bear spray, and keep an immaculate camp using the bear poles.
Season & Planning
Typical operating season runs June 18 – September 6, and as of December 2, 2025, the campground is seasonally closed. There are no reservations—when you arrive, you choose an open site. If it’s full, consider reservable backups in‑park like Boulton Creek, Elkwood, or Lower Lake.
Best Time to Visit
Come during the summer operating window for dry trails and full services. Because sites are first‑come‑first‑served, arriving earlier in the day simply gives you more choice. Morning and late‑day light are lovely among the trees and along the nearby lakes.
Pros
- Walk-in, tent-only, first-come-first-served
- Firepits at each site; firewood available on site or at Boulton Creek
Cons
- Basic facilities only (pit toilets, no showers)
- No cell service
Tips
- It’s first‑come, first‑served—arrive earlier in the day for more site choices.
- Bring cash; the hosts sell firewood and those firepits are worth using.
- Water is via hand pump—bring drinking water or a filter/treatment.
- Store all food and scented items on the bear poles and keep a clean camp.
- Check Alberta Parks advisories for current closures (e.g., Blackshale Bridge).
