» Kananaskis Country Travel Directory
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	Black Bears are Plentiful in K-Country1

Just west of Calgary, Alberta, Canada are the rolling foothills, steep crags and the canyons of the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains in Kananaskis Country. The area is a rural municipal district that encompasses a total area of 4,211 sq km (1,625.9 sq mi). It was set aside in the 1970s by the provincial premier Peter Lougheed as an outdoor destination Canadians could enjoy for generations. It attracts thousands of visitors per year who are mainly drawn to the area's countless outdoor opportunities offered by its diverse, wild and rugged terrain.

Although very similar to the Banff National Park area, Kananaskis isn't nearly as well-known and accordingly attracts fewer people, giving Kananaskis Village a certain peace absent in Banff's inner township. Bountiful angling, hiking, cycling, snowboarding, cross country skiing and virtually every other outdoor activity is performed in K-Country. The area received international attention in 1998 for hosting the Winter Olympic Games and in 2002 for holding the highly-publicized G8 Summit. Numerous documentaries and films have also been shot in Kananaskis, the natural beauty of which lends itself to any lens.

The Cascade Known as Elbow Falls2

Kananaskis Country has few accommodations and is far more isolated when compared with the area of Banff but is still home to dozens of natural attractions and a plethora of pristine provincial parks. The teeming park wildlife, which includes bears, elk, big horned sheep and mountain cats, is also an integral part of the K-Country experience.

The Kananaskis Accommodations Guide provides links to the the accommodation guide for Kananaskis.

ACCESS

From Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Kananaskis Country is located 61 km (38 mi) west on the Trans-Canada Highway and about 7 km (4.3 mi) south on Highway 40. This route takes visitors into the area through the Bow Valley Park area. From farther south, visitors can enter the Elbow River Valley Park area by driving to Bragg Creek westbound on Highway 8 and into the parks on Highway 22. This route is about 22 km (13.7 mi) in length.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Hotels and Resorts

	A Suite at the Executive Resort3

For a luxurious stay in K-Country, many visitors opt to lodge at the Executive Resort at Kananaskis in Kananaskis Village just off Highway 40. Many are drawn to the hotel for business conferences, luxurious alpine vacations and instant access to the areas trails and pathways. This upscale resort provides deluxe smoke-free and pet-free rooms with stunning views of the Rocky Mountains. They host 91 rooms with balconies or outdoor patios. Their business and conference centre is popular for large functions that require accommodation of groups up to 300 people strong. The resort boasts the Wildflower Restaurant on site serving Canadian culinary, and Woody's Pub and Patio to give guests the opportunity to relax over a few drinks in a sublime outdoor setting.

The Delta Lodge at Kananaskis is another popular destination for those seeking high-class accommodation in Kananaskis Country. This hotel is also situated in Kananaskis Village just off Highway 40 and mainly draws skiiers and snowboarders during the winter season and casual tourists looking to get away from the city, hikers, scramblers and outdoorspeople during the summer months. Close to a number of ski resorts, many families choose the Delta as their holiday ski or getaway destination. The Delta offers 321 recently renovated rooms, most of which have spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness. The hotel also provides a Signature Service for those that desire extra decadence, five internal restaurants with lounge areas, and the Summit Spa & Fitness Centre.

Adventurer Accommodations
Kananaskis Country is known as one of Alberta's premier camping destinations. Accordingly, there are over 30 campsites in the area and even a hostel accommodation for the budget traveller. Most campsites have vacancies all-year round, but a reservation ahead of time will guarantee a place to pitch a tent or park the RV or camper which can fill up quickly as they are all close to Calgary. Most are accessible from Highway 40.

The Mount Kidd RV Park is 28 km (17.4 mi) south of the Trans-Canada Highway along Highway 40. This enormous property offers 229 sites. The facilities on site allow for guests to play tennis and volleyball or sit for a soak in the indoor whirlpool and wading pool. This campsite is open all year long. If one is looking to camp, but wants to break away from the ordinary, an opportunity to camp in authentic tipis is also provided along Highway 40 at the Sundance Lodges (Tipis) and RV Park. Each tipi is complete with wooden flooring, frame beds, mattresses, a heater and a lantern for 19th-century-style-interior illumination. There are also 30 unserviced sites with tent pads and firepits. They sell basic groceries on-site too.

Those seeking outdoor adventure and backcountry escapades in the Kananaskis countryside usually stay at the HI Kananaskis Wilderness Hostel. This hostel is located just off Highway 40 by Kananaskis Village and the Nakiska ski resort and is meant for budget travellers, students and experienced outdoorspeople. It has enough room to accommodate 44 individuals in dorm-style settings. They have a full kitchen, laundry facilities, a campfire area, and a hostel lounge. The hostel is surrounded by woods and the outer ranges of the Rocky Mountains, providing infinite opportunities for outdoor exploration.

Kananaskis offers plenty of other campsite accommodations in and around the immediate area. Interlakes Campground, Mount Sarrail Campground, Indian Graves Campground, Canyon Campground, Eau Claire Campground and other sites await visitors year-round.

ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITES

Sights and Specialty Attractions
Just south of the Trans-Canada Highway on Highway 40 sits the Barrier Lake Visitor Centre. The staff at the visitor's centre handle all inquiries concerning Kananaskis including backcountry camping requests and other questions concerning the park regions.

On The Edge of the Mighty Rockies4

Thanks to its position on the outskirts of the Canadian Rockies, Kananaskis Country offers a unique and wild landscape with dozens of natural attractions. Hiking and scrambling in the regions mountain ranges has always drawn folks to the area. Mountains in K-Country include Mount Evan-Thomas, Mount Allan, Mount Howard and Ha Ling Peak.

The Kananaskis River feeds the Bow River and brings canoe and kayak enthusiasts into Kananaskis from their launching points in either Banff or Canmore. Elbow Falls is an excellent spot to stop and watch the cascading waters of the Elbow River from its many vantage points. There is also Barrier Lake, which is the most notable body of water in the area. Mainly, this man-made lake acts as a local source of hydroelectric energy. Boats with gasoline engines are allowed on Barrier Lake and occasionally waterskiiers and wakeboarders brave the icy waters for the opportunity to run a quick set. For this, a dry-suit is highly recommended.

	The Kananaskis River5

Summer Activites
The naturally rich Kananaskis region offers some of Canada's most famous golf courses, which are located moments outside of Kananaskis Village. And for the enthusiastic outdoorsman, no other place in the province can complete with the wide range of terrain available for navigation.

The area is teeming with provincial parks. Kananaskis is home to the Elbow River Valley, the Highwood/Cataract Areas, the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, the Sheep River Provincial Park, the Spray Valley Provincial Park, and a slew of other parks.

Elk Reign in K-Country6

Each park presents its own unique terrain and wildlife. Common animals seen in the region include elk, moose, deer, bears and cougars. Visitors to the area, enjoy hiking, scambling, fishing, kayaking, canoing, golfing, mountaineering and over-night expeditions in the vast countryside of K-Country. A wide range of guided tours are also provided in the area.

There is a complex network of pathways and trails all over the area too, including trails and cutaways for full-sized four-wheel drive vehicles. The McLean Creek area off Highway 66 is open year-round for off-road adventures and provides a variety of terrain to test those new tires or that new suspension system.

All-terrain vehicles such as quads, trikes and dirt bikes are allowed only in designated areas within Kananaskis Country. These areas change frequently. Current information concerning the use of motorized, all-terrain vehicles in K-Country can be obtained by calling one of the park information centres. The Highwood Park/Cataract Area just off Highway 940 is the most popular destination for all-terrain expeditions and can offer a challenging journey.

	Deep Snow Boarding in K-Country7

Winter Activities
Nakiska was home to the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. Today, it is still an extremely popular ski resort due to its close proximity to Calgary. Terrain here ranges from beginner to expert. For flatlanders, there are dozens of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails in the area as well, which lead travellers past evergreen glades, rushing rivers and the towering Rocky Mountains. During the winter, many people come here simply for the love of brisk alpine air. Dog sledding has even been known to occur in Kananaskis. Often, teams drive down to the area to partake in daytime cross-country trips or for longer exploratory-style overnight trips in the snow-ladden backcountry.

Snowmobiling is another popular pastime in the foothills at the base of the Rockies. For designated snowmobiling areas and trail information, call the visitor's centre.

STEPS AWAY FROM K-COUNTRY

Waiparous/Ghost Lake Area
Waiparous is just north of K-Country along Highway 1A. Similar to regional Kananaskis Country, it offers plenty of camping and other outdoor exploits. All-terrain vehicles flock here during the summer months to take on the area's wide range of different trails, mud tracks and varying grades. Ghost Lake was man-made by damming the Bow River and has been used since by anglers seeking whitefish and cutthroat, lake and brown trout. An intense wind that constantly whips through the valley makes Ghost Lake a popular destination for windsurfers. Waterskiing and wakeboarding occur frequently on the lake during the summer months.

Canmore
The City of Canmore is 37 km (23 mi) from the information centre at Barrier Lake. Canmore offers visitors to the area a further range of accommodation options, plenty of additional sights and attractions.

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PHOTO COURTESY

1. Black Bears are Plentiful in Kananaskis Country
2. c/o Wikipedia Commons; The Cascade Known as Elbow Falls; Kananaskis Country, AB, Canada
3. c/o Executive Resort At Kananaskis; A Typical Suite in the Resort; Kananaskis Village, AB, Canada
4. Kananaskis Sits on the Edge of the Rocky Mountains.
5. The Kananaskis River.
6. Elk Reign in K-Country.
7. Mike Williamson; Deep Snow Boarding in K-Country; Kananaskis Country, AB, Canada