Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is a large provincial park in Alberta within the Kananaskis Country system, named for former premier Peter Lougheed and managed for outdoor recreation and habitat protection. The park contains mountain lakes, glaciers-cut valleys and a network of trails and campgrounds used for hiking, canoeing and backcountry access.

Key visitor activities include day hikes to alpine meadows and lakes, canoeing on the park’s long mountain lakes and overnight camping at front-country campgrounds and designated backcountry sites. Trails range from short lakeside walks to multi-kilometre routes into subalpine terrain and are used year-round for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter.

The park was created by the Government of Alberta as part of the Kananaskis Country lands to conserve mountain landscapes while allowing a range of recreational uses; it is managed under provincial park regulations with emphasis on sustainable recreation and habitat management. Facilities include established trailheads, campgrounds and boat launch points.

Geographically the park lies in the foothills and front ranges of the Canadian Rockies, along Highway 40 in Kananaskis Country, west of Calgary. It provides a high-mountain recreational gateway within driving distance of southern Alberta population centres.

• Designation and name: Established as part of Kananaskis Country and named for former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed, the park protects montane and subalpine landscapes in the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies.
• Safety: Seasonal hazards include winter conditions and wildlife such as bears; visitors should plan for mountain weather and check conditions on the provincial parks website before travel.

What to See #

• Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes: A pair of long, glacier-carved reservoirs popular for canoeing, shoreline hiking and viewpoint access; Upper Kananaskis Lake lies deeper into the park while Lower Kananaskis Lake sits closer to main trailheads.
• Trailheads and hiking routes: Numerous trailheads that provide access to day hikes and multi-day routes into subalpine terrain, including popular routes to lakes and alpine meadows.