Crimson Lake Provincial Park- Visitor Guide

Crimson Lake Provincial Park is a recreation area near Rocky Mountain House offering year-round camping, hiking and biking trails, a beach, pier, and boat launch.

The park is split into two nearby sections- the Crimson Lake area and the Twin Lakes area. Both parts of the park have their own campground, day use area, group use area, nature trails, and lake access.

Things to Do at Crimson Lake Provincial Park

Crimson Lake provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation, no matter the season. Here are some things to do at Crimson Lake Provincial Park.

Hiking Trails at Crimson Lake Provincial Park

There are 8 named trails at Crimson Lake Provincial Park ranging from about 0.3 km to 10 km. The majority of trails are at the Crimson Lake area and can be easily accessed from in the campground and the day use area.

Most of the Crimson Lake trails form connected loops so you can lengthen or shorten your hike as you see fit. There are a few out and back and point-to-point tracks, most notably the 6.5 km Twin Lakes-Crimson Lake Connector.

At Twin Lakes there’s one trail that passes along part of the lakeshore then continues to the North Saskatchewan River and into the town of Rocky Mountain House. According to the map at the Twin Lakes day use area, it’s about 5.8 km to walk from there to Rocky Mountain House. This path forms part of the approximately 12 km trail that connects Rocky Mountain House with Crimson Lake.

In terms of difficulty, the hiking trails at Crimson Lake Provincial Park are rated easy because they are flat gravel or packed dirt surfaces with minimal elevation gain. The only trail rated moderate is the Twin Lakes-Crimson Lake Connector.

All the trails are multi-use and are frequented by hikers, runners, and cyclists.

Amerada Trail is the main hiking trail at Crimson Lake Provincial Park. It’s a flat, well-maintained path that circles around the perimeter of Crimson Lake. It passes through a mature forest, past wetlands, and follows closely alongside part of the lakeshore.

Along the route there are benches at viewpoints looking out on the lake and interpretive panels providing information about nature in the area. This trail is also a great place to see birds including loons, mallards, geese, and woodpeckers.

Read More: Amerada Trail- Hiking Crimson Lake Loop

Camping at Crimson Lake Provincial Park

For camping at Crimson Lake Provincial Park there are two campgrounds you can choose from- one at Crimson Lake and one at Twin Lakes.

Crimson Lake Campground

The Crimson Lake campground is the larger camping area with 161 campsites arranged into six loops. There are 11 sites available for winter camping. There also is a group camping area that is separated from the main campground.

All campsites at the Crimson Lake Campground have power hookups, a fire pit, and picnic table. The sites are fairly large and able to accommodate RVs and trailers. Tall spruce and aspen trees frame the sites, offering a decent amount of privacy.

Amenities at the Crimson Lake Campground include a small store that sells firewood, tap water, showers, flush toilets, laundromat, playground, and sewage disposal. Hiking trails leave directly from the campground and a beach and boat launch are nearby at the Crimson Lake day use area. The campground also has a small amphitheatre and offers interpretive programs about nature and recreation.

Twin Lakes Campground

The Twin Lakes Campground has 39 unserviced campsites that are first come, first served. Some of the sites are treed while others are less sheltered. There also is a group camping area.

Amenities at the Twin Lakes Campground include fire pits, water pumps, pit toilets, a boat launch, and fish cleaning stations. Firewood is available for purchase at the Crimson Lake Campground store.

Just past the campsite loop there’s a nice pier with benches at the end where you can sit and enjoy views of the small, tree-framed lake.

Continuing to the end of the road, you’ll come to a day use area with lakeside picnic tables and a hiking trail that leads to Rocky Mountain House.

Wildlife Viewing at Crimson Lake Provincial Park

Crimson Lake Provincial Park is great for birding. Some birds that are known to frequent the park are loons, ducks, sandhill cranes, boreal owls, northern pygmy owls, greater yellowlegs, western tanagers, and solitary sandpipers.

The park is in bear and cougar territory, so be sure to take the necessary precautions when camping and hiking.

Review of Crimson Lake Provincial Park

Crimson Lake Provincial Park is a wonderful location for both day use and longer overnight stays.

The two lakes offer scenic settings for water sports, picnics, and relaxation, while the nature trails provide opportunities for family-friendly hikes and bike rides of various lengths.

The park’s location near Rocky Mountain House makes it convenient to visit as a day trip from Edmonton, Red Deer, and Calgary.

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