Camping in and around Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

A thriving pinnacle amid the South Saskatchewan Valley’s plains and coulees, the city of Medicine Hat, nicknamed the “Gas City,” is a pinnacle of Alberta that is conveniently located near several natural landmarks such as Montana’s Glacier National Park to the south, and the Canadian Rockies to the west. Luckily, the culturally rich city is surrounded by campgrounds, which provide an opportunity to experience this part of Alberta through natural lodging.

Located on the western bounds of Medicine Hat, Gas City Campground provides an accommodating stay for campers. The individual sites are spacious and well maintained, surrounded by fields of grass and tall poplars less than one mile from the South Saskatchewan River. The campground contains 97 sites with power, Wi-Fi access, picnic tables and fire pits, as well as several full restrooms to make your camping experience as comfortable as it can be. The campground does not operate between October and May, so plan accordingly.

Nestled in a bend of the South Saskatchewan River, Echo Dale Regional Park is the pride of Medicine Hat’s natural contribution to its residents. The park boasts two lakes, for swimmers and boaters, a tranquil setting for its hiking trails and a restful camping area. Echo Dale camping area is a group campground by reservation that provides its campers a fire-pit, restroom and of course easy access to the regional park and adjacent river. This campground is appropriate for a large group of campers.

A unique diversity of mountainous and riparian landscapes provides a rich habitat for wildlife in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Only 35 miles southeast of Medicine Hat, the park’s natural splendors span Alberta and Saskatchewan, providing endless amusement for the outdoors-enthusiast. Within Alberta, the park hosts 13 campgrounds; three of them are reserved for group camping and three are walk-in sites. In total, there are over 400 campsites throughout Cypress Hills, which effectively span the park to best accommodate your visit. Except for walk-in campgrounds, each campsite is equipped with a fire pit and picnic table, most have access to full restrooms and about half provide access to power.

Fed by the springtime runoffs of Cypress Hills, Cavan Lake provides a camping experience that combines convenience with natural beauty. The fabricated lake lies only 13 miles east of Medicine Hat and has been well maintained for visitors of the surrounding recreation area and of Cavan Lake Recreational Campground. The 78 campsites of Cavan Lake provide a standard array of amenities to campers including

Don't forget to visit one some of Alberta's beautiful and renown national parks:

• Banff National Park
• Elk Island National Park
• Jasper National Park
• Waterton Lakes National Park
• Wood Buffalo National Park