Campgrounds and RV parks near Mountain View County, AB

Water activities anchor most trips. When water levels are safe, the Little Red Deer River at Red Lodge is a popular hub for splashing around or fishing for northern pike and mountain whitefish. Great fishing is available at the Dickson Trout pond or along the river, and four boat launches are available at the Cottonwood Day Use Area, North Dyke Campground, South Dyke Campground and Dickson Point Campground. On land, campers find playgrounds and walking paths at Red Lodge, an indoor pool and hot tub at Tall Timber Leisure Park, and short cycling loops around Olds from OR Hedges Lions Campground. Day trips run west on Highway 22, the Cowboy Trail, toward the foothills near Sundre for hiking and wildlife viewing. The reservoir area also draws stargazers thanks to dark skies, ranking among Alberta's better night-sky viewing spots.

The camping season in Mountain View County is short and concentrated. Most provincial campgrounds open in mid-May and close in early to mid-October. Dickson Point Campground at Gleniffer Reservoir is closed in winter, although the area remains open for day use year-round. Water levels fluctuate on the reservoir throughout the year, and boat launch access is unpredictable in the early summer season. June through August is peak season. Weekends and long weekends at Red Lodge and the reservoir book up quickly, and weather is warm with afternoon thunderstorms common. June is the wettest month, with an average of about 101 mm of precipitation, so river levels can spike. September brings cooler nights, fewer crowds, and good fishing, but services begin to wind down. Winter shuts most sites. For the 2026 camping season, the sani-dump and fill station, showers, and flush toilets will be closed at Red Lodge Provincial Park to address issues with the waste water system; vault toilets remain available, and an alternative sani-dump is available in the town of Bowden. Chinook winds can swing temperatures sharply in shoulder months, and snow is possible from October into May.

Hookups vary. OR Hedges Lions Campground offers power and water hookups with flush washrooms. At Red Lodge, mature trees provide excellent privacy for each site, most of which are spacious enough for trailers and RVs, and power hookups are available in select loops. Shower and dump-station status changes year to year during ongoing waste-water work, and an alternative sani-dump is available in nearby Bowden. Tall Timber Leisure Park has a laundromat, an indoor pool and hot tub, a snack bar, and controlled gate access. Gleniffer Reservoir sites are basic, with non-potable water from hand pumps and no firewood for sale, so visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and bring their own drinking water and firewood. Cell coverage is generally reliable near Olds and weaker west of Sundre. Watch for deer at dawn and dusk on rural highways.