The Smith Dorrien Trail, also known as the scenic route through Kananaskis, runs 70km from Canmore in the north to Lower Kananaskis Lake in the south. In all, this route runs through four different Provincial Parks or Wildland areas. For much of the Smith Dorrien Trail, the highway runs through Spray Valley Provincial Park.
The park is central to the Smith Dorrien Trail, nestled between Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and the Bow Valley Wildlands.
For many visitors, the Smith Dorrien Trail is a road trip route or scenic route through the eastern Rockies. However, a stop at Spray Valley Provincial Park, or an overnight stay in one of two beautiful campgrounds, will provide enough chances for fun in the great outdoors to have you wanting to stay a while.
Spray Valley Provincial Park covers some of the best of K-Country scenery. The massive park includes all of the Spray Lakes Reservoir and areas to the east of the south side of the Reservoir. With those areas east and beyond the lake are the mountain peaks which separate the Smith Dorrien Trail (AB-742) from the Kananaskis Trail (AB-40). And hidden within those larger natural features like mountains and the lakes, are many other pieces of nature and scenery which help to make this park so memorable and beautiful.
Within this part of Kananaskis are some of the region’s more remote yet still accessible areas, including several backcountry campgrounds and hiking trails. While a drive up or down the Kananaskis and Smith Dorrien Trails provides access to remote wilderness areas, these roads also lead to places like Canmore and Kananaskis Village, where there are restaurants and bars, shops, convenience and grocery stores, and gas stations.
Wildlife in the Spray Valley
Before setting out on the trails, to the campgrounds, or to any day use area, it is handy to know the wildlife sighting possibilities. And within Spray Valley Provincial Park, there are many great chances to see wildlife both large and small.
- Among the more dangerous of the Spray Valley’s wildlife for which to watch include both black and grizzly bears, cougars, and lynx. Those wild cats are also quite reclusive and will always see you before you spot them.
- Some of the larger but more docile creatures who roam Kananaskis and the Spray Valley include moose, elk, deer, mule, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep. And while the more docile mammals are still animals you don’t want to approach, but appreciate from afar.
- The backcountry trails are also home to the smaller wildlife, like over 250 birds, pikas, marmots, weasels, and martens. Spray Valley Provincial Park is a birding hotspot and offers great opportunities for spotting larger birds like great horned owls, osprey, bald eagles, or golden eagles.
Hiking in the Spray Valley
Among the trails in the Spray Valley Provincial Park are a healthy mix of easy, moderate, and more challenging trails. This includes everything from short nature walks around the lakeshore or nearby ponds, to full mountain climbs with hikes that may include a scramble section. Many of the trailheads begin at the park’s day use area, where there are outhouses, parking lots, and picnic sites. Plus, many of these Spray Valley trails are also open to cyclists.
- Among the shorter or easier trails are the Karst Spring trail (1.6km out-and-back from Mt. Shark day use) and the Peninsula trail (0.4km out-and-back from the Peninsula day use). These trails will bring your hiking to opposite ends of the large park, with Mt. Shark is central to the park, and the Peninsula is on the south end. Both trails are open to hikers only.
- The more moderately challenging trails of Spray Valley are open to hikers and cyclists and offer multiple kilometres of mountain, forest, lakeside, or creekside trails. The Watridge Lake trail (7.4km out-and-back) starts at the Mt. Shark day use area, where there are options for additional trails or routes. Get more lake views from the Chester Lake Trail at 9.2km out-and-back.
- Experienced hikers can set out for the harder trails of Spray Valley like the Burstall Pass, Buller Pass, or High Rockies trails, each offering 10-15km or more of hiking trails.
Lakeside Picnics
Get those picnic foods, drinks, or snacks while you’re in Canmore or the Kananaskis Village and head out to Spray Valley Provincial Park for possibly the most scenic picnic sites in Alberta. The park’s day use areas are in two different major sections: those around the Spray Lakes Reservoir and off of the Smith Dorrien Trail, and those day use areas on Highway AB-40. Those on AB-40 are much closer to the Kananaskis Village, while those on AB-742 are much closer to Canmore.
- The day use areas on the east side of the park and Kananaskis Trail may be far away from the Spray Lake Reservoir, but are still beautiful riverside picnic areas with dense forests. The Kananaskis River runs parallel to the Kananaskis Trail and is where you’ll find Spray Valley’s Wedge Pond, Galatea, and Opal day use areas.
- The Mt. Shark and Buller Mountain day use areas are also set a little way away from the Reservoir, but are still accessible from the Smith Dorrien Trail. Both are popular picnic sites for hikers with the start of many trails within the area.
- For those gorgeous lakeside picnic opportunities beside Spray Lake Reservoir, stop by the Driftwood, Sparrowhawk, or Spray Lake day use areas- all are on the east side of the lake and directly off the Smith Dorrien Trail.
Outdoor Recreation on the Spray Lake Reservoir
The Spray Lakes Reservoir is an expansive manmade lake which is relatively narrow from east to west, but incredibly long from north to south. Coming up on the Spray Lakes while driving the Smith Dorrien Trail is considered a major highlight of this scenic road trip route. Plus, within one of the day use areas along the lake’s shores is a boat launch; all sorts of boats are permitted on the Spray Lakes Reservoir.
- Reserve canoeing and kayaking on the reservoir for calmer days; this expansive mountain lake has some serious winds that rush across it during every season. And those winds are what help to make it popular for sailing and windsurfing, as well as paddle sports. There are several recreational outfitters in Canmore who offer rentals for canoes, kayaks, or SUPs.
- Power boating is also permitted and lends a way to see much of the Spray Lake’s shoreline, including all the possible wildlife which could be hiding in the more remote areas.
- Fishing is incredibly popular on the Spray Lakes Reservoir and is open all year round to regular fishing and ice fishing. Plus, the local Wapiti Sports Outfitters offer guided fishing around the Spray Lakes to help anyone who is new to the sport of fishing or fishing in the Rockies.
- The Spray Lakes boat launch is on the north side of the lake at the Driftwood day use area.
Camping & More Ways to Stay in the Spray Valley
The Spray Valley is home to six campgrounds in total, while one, the Rummel Backcountry, is used exclusively for winter camping. Two of those campgrounds are in the front country with basic campsite amenities, while the remaining three campgrounds are for backcountry campers (hike-in access only). This offers a wide range of campsite setting options for tents, trailers, and RVs, while the park still has more accommodations to offer on top of camping.
- Spray Valley’s two front country campgrounds, Eau Claire and Spray Lakes West, are both open from spring to fall with no services at the sites, but those basic campground amenities to add a bit of comfort; those include outhouses, water pumps, food storage lockers, and a firepit/picnic table at each site.
- Those two frontcountry campgrounds are located on opposite sides of the park to offer a wide range of scenery between the two. Find Spray Lakes West campground on the far north end of the Reservoirs and AB-742, and the Eau Claire campground on AB-40.
- The more adventurous and well-equipped campers have three backcountry sites from which to choose: Ribbon Falls (9km out), Ribbon Lake (10.3km out), or Lillian Lake (6km out). And while way out in the backcountry, these sites still have amenities like firewood stacks and firepits, food storage lockers, and a grey water disposal area.
- Camping is not the only accommodation option around the Spray Valley. Those looking for a bit more comfort with their stay will find it at the Mount Engadine Lodge on Mt. Shark Road. Within the one resort are several ways to stay, too, including cabins, lodge rooms, glamping tents, and yurts. Mount Engadine Lodge also has numerous package options to help enhance any stay.
Planning Your Trip – Spray Valley Provincial Park
What: Spray Valley Provincial Park is a year-round park in the eastern Alberta Rockies to the south of Canmore. The park surrounds the Spray Lakes Reservoir, a manmade lake on the Spray River.
The Spray Lakes Reservoir is a huge source of the park’s recreational opportunities, where all sorts of boating is permitted, as is fishing (or ice fishing in the winter). Spray Valley Provincial Park is also home to, and surrounded by an expansive winter trail network for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
This is one of the more remote of the Kananaskis Country parks with two front-country campgrounds, but four backcountry campgrounds. The famous Smith Dorrien Trail, notable for its scenery, follows the eastern shores of the Spray Lakes Reservoir, where you’ll find most of the park’s day use areas and trailheads.
Location and how to get there: Access from the north is south from Canmore on either the Smith Dorrien Trail (AB-742), or the Kananaskis Trail (AB-40). Use the Kananaskis Trail to access from the south
Best time to go: open year-round
How much: camping $12 per night; Kananaskis Conservation Pass $22.50 per day, per vehicle
For more information: