587-897-3279
Cataract Creek Campground
Location: 50.289370,-114.580223
Cataract Creek is an hour and a half drive from Calgary and is a great option if you need a last-minute campsite close by. The only thing is that it is a first come first serve site, so heading there early would be recommended. We left very early in the morning to make sure we would be able to find a place to stay, and surprisingly there were many spots available. The campground has over 100 sites, and we felt that there was not a lot of privacy. The good thing is that Etherington campground is close by so you can try your hand there if you are not able to find a spot at Cataract Creek. One thing we found was that some sites are better than others, some are smaller and most of them slant to the east due to the topography. This can make it challenging to set up tents or you have a trailer to level it out.
The campsite was standard and equipped with a picnic bench and a nice fire pit, and the area around the fire pit was mostly level so one person wasn’t sitting on a steep slope. There were a lot of larger trees so we were also able to set up the hammock which was nice and relaxing and great for an afternoon nap
One thing to add is there is no cell service, so make sure all of your music is downloaded or any movies you may want to watch, or you will be in for a lot of quiet time. The manager's station had firewood for $10, and there is a gas station down the hill where you can buy any last-minute snacks you may need and ice.
There are many hiking trails around the campground, which is amazing! We took a walk down to the creek and if you find a few spots put your chairs in the water and relax for a few hours. The scenery around the campground is beautiful and without leaving your campsite you can experience the amazing views
Pros
- A very quick drive from Calgary
- Many campsites to choose from, but you are very likely to find a spot last minute
- A store nearby for any last-minute things
- There is a small creek if you enjoy hanging out by some water
Cons
- No cell service
- Campsites are very close together so there is limited privacy
- The bathrooms are outdated
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15
Sep
15
Sep
