Banff 
As the temperatures warm up during Spring in Alberta, the province begins to open up with more to do, more to see, and more reasons for getting outside.
Finding things to do this spring in Alberta come down to where you want to visit, how you want to spend your time there, and how much you want to spend.
There are spring activities in Alberta for a variety of budgets and some which are totally free. Plus, these activities cover things for the day, for weekend trips, and for Alberta spring road trips.
Nature and Outdoor Recreation
Birding and Nature Photography
Spring and fall both offer great opportunities for birding and wildlife viewing across parks in Alberta. Part of this is from the spring and fall bird migration seasons. Alberta is under the path of dozens of migratory birds who keep to the rural and less populated areas like large swans and great blue herons, or raptorial birds like falcons, hawks, owls, and eagles.
- For great birdwatching opportunities near Alberta’s biggest cities, head to Fish Creek Provincial Park on Calgary’s southeast side, or the Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary, only 20 minutes west of Edmonton.
- Head to Frank Lake to see hundreds of swans.
- Birding in northern Alberta is great near almost large lake or pond, with several parks from which to choose around these: Saskatoon Island PP & Saskatoon Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary near Grande Prairie, Lesser Slave Lake PP in north-central Alberta, or Cold Lake PP in northeastern Alberta.
- Alberta’s three Rocky Mountain national parks (Banff, Jasper, and Waterton Lakes), all provide excellent birdwatching and wildlife opportunities on top of incredible spring scenery. Additional parks near the mountains to try for birding and nature photography include Peter Lougheed PP, Castle PP, or the Evan-Thomas PRA.
- Several southern Alberta parks offer excellent birding and nature photography, like Cypress Hills PP, Dinosaur PP, or Kinbrook Island PP.
View this post on Instagram
Visit Alberta’s Best Gardens
Celebrate spring with all the gardens in and around Alberta! They are all set to open for the spring season, with the list including a few year-round options or an indoor garden option.
- The U of A’s Botanic Gardens, outside Edmonton and near Devon, reopen for the spring season in early May. See the gardens in full bloom!
- Save Edmonton’s Muttart Conservatory for a garden visit on a rainy day. The indoor gardens feature a tropical section, an arid desert, and a temperate zone. Each climate is in its own large glass pyramid on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River.
- The George Pegg Botanic Garden is north of Lac St. Anne and on the north side of Highway 43. Here you can follow trails around the manicured gardens and historic sites by early to mid June.
- The Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden in Lethbridge open each spring to visitors for use of the garden for picnics and walks.
- Trochu’s Arboretum is open all year, from dusk until dawn each day. This beautiful space was created through generous donations and continues to grow as it accepts new trees, shrubs, and rose plants.
View this post on Instagram
Find the Flowers on Alberta’s Best Spring Hikes
This is undoubtedly an activity for later in the Alberta spring season. However, Alberta has had an unusually warm winter, which could lead to early spring flowers. Even without the wildflowers in full bloom, these areas all have beautiful year-round scenery and opportunities for wildlife viewing.
- Waterton Lakes National Park is actually considered the wildflower capital of Canada! Among the dozens upon dozens of species to look for are 20 or so rare wildflowers. June is the best time for a wildflower hike in the park.
- Follow the trails of the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area, a short drive west of Calgary. Hikes here do require a reservation to help control the number of people in the area at a time.
- Enjoy a peaceful, longer, but easy hike through Jasper National Park’s Valley of the Five Lakes for views of flowers growing alongside the small ponds and lakes.
- Sundance Provincial Park, northwest of Edmonton, offers unique scenery among the forests and wildflowers, including some of northern Alberta’s only hoodoo formations.
- 14 Places to Go For a Wildflower Walk in Alberta
Spring Events at Alberta’s Ski Hills
The big ski and snowboard hills and resorts around Alberta are open well into the spring season thanks to the abundance of snow in certain areas, especially the Rockies. And each of these locations is ending the season with signature annual events or celebrations.
- Join Mount Norquay in Banff for their Easter Egg Hunt, or the BOZO & Kinder Cups .
- Banff’s Sunshine Village Ski Resort will host an Easter Egg Hunt featuring the Easter Bunny, a Concert Series through April and May, Shredability, and the Red Bull Jump & Freeze.
- Lake Louise Ski Resort offer visitors a place to dance and take part in deck parties. Plus, they’ll offer an Easter Bunny event and the Mount Slushmore Festival (April 25).
- There are events scheduled for almost every weekend this March and April at the Castle Mountain Ski Resort. Enjoy live music or trivia nights throughout both months at the T-Bar Pub, Hawaiian Day, or a Retro Day.
- Jasper’s Marmot Ski Resort have a fun-filled spring schedule with its Mountain Party and multiple events for Jasper’s Pride Week.
Whitewater Rafting Adventures in Alberta
While these whitewater rafting companies aren’t open quite yet, their booking systems are open, with dates available for as early as mid-May.
- Experience whitewater rafting on the Kananaskis, Kicking Horse, or Horseshoe Canyon Rivers this spring with Chinook Rafting, which starts operations for the season on May 8.
- The Canadian Rockies Rafting group operate whitewater rafting tours and riverboarding tours in Kananaskis which begin May 15.
- The bookings for whitewater rafting with Wild Water Adventures begin in early June.
The Best Spring Fishing Spots in Alberta
Alberta is filled with many, many great fishing spots for winter ice fishing and spring-to-fall fishing alike. These include park lakes, community trout ponds, and Alberta’s several large rivers. Be sure to check the timing on all Alberta fishing regulations before you go!
- The Bow River is not only one of the best spring fishing spots in Alberta but is often regarded as one of the top spots in Canada for spring fishing.
- There are a few different fishing opportunities near Rocky Mountain House in central Alberta, including the Clearwater River, Twin Lakes, Cow Lake, and the North Saskatchewan River.
- Find dozens of places for fishing around northern Alberta this spring. Make it simple with Provincial Park day-use areas. The Peace River Wildland offers fishing on the river, Lesser Slave Lake PP offers fishing on the lake, as does Gregoire Lake PRA, or Moonshine Lake PP.
Waterfall Touring
Spring is also waterfall season in Alberta! Even with this year’s lack of snow, the snow that will melt eventually ends up in the rivers and adds to the raging of each waterfall. These all make spring an excellent season for waterfall hunting, chasing, and touring around Alberta. Start in the Rockies, go north to south, and follow the rivers to some of Alberta’s prettiest scenes.
- The Mountain Lakes & Waterfalls Tour from Brewster Sightseeing is offered in Banff and Yoho National Parks.
- Maligne Adventures, in Jasper, provides a Maligne Valley Wildlife & Waterfalls Tour & Lakeside Hike, which begins in May, and a Maligne Valley Wildlife & Waterfalls Tour & Cruise, which starts in June.
- DIY waterfall touring is easy in Alberta. Head to Waterton Lakes townsite area, Banff or Jasper’s canyons and Icefields Parkway, the Crowsnest area, or the mountains and foothills of northwestern Alberta.
Spring Paddling in Alberta
For a peaceful and easy paddle this spring, take to Alberta’s smaller lakes and narrower rivers. While experienced paddlers may want to take on places like the North Saskatchewan, the Mighty Peace, the Athabasca, or the Bow Rivers, these areas below will offer an easier, calmer day on the water.
- The Milk River is a favourite of many for paddling and is best paddled in the spring when the narrow river is at its highest water levels. The river runs through the deep south of Alberta, with part of it diverting into the United States for a small portion.
- The interconnected bodies of water in William A. Switzer PP are open to canoers and kayakers once the waters are thawed. The five lakes in the park are connected by Jarvis Creek and can create a full day of paddling.
- There are various spots to launch a boat on the east side of Alberta’s Red Deer River (east of Red Deer), where the waters are much calmer than in the west portion of the river. There are routes which range from 8km, to 30km. The river runs southeast from Red Deer to Drumheller and eventually to Dinosaur PP and Saskatchewan.
- Take a quiet escape to Alberta’s west with a paddle trip to Carson Pegasus PP. While out on the water, expect to see a great deal of wildlife on the shores and birds nearby on the lake.
- Check out all the best paddling locations in Alberta for canoes and kayaks.
Spring Festivals around Alberta
Visit Edmonton at the end of April or at the end of May to find various cultural festivals happening in the city. The festivals cover film of all kinds, food and drink, art, music, and much more.
- The Dreamspeakers International Film Festival (April 15 to 19) will showcase Indigenous films from around the world.
- The UFest Ukrainian Festival will take over Edmonton’s Borden Park (May 29 & 30) to celebrate the country’s music, food, dance, art, and more.
The spring festivals in Calgary for 2026 span from April to June and cover a vast array of interests. Visit to celebrate film, jazz music, food and drink, or to celebrate the season itself.
- The Calgary Underground Film Festival takes place over 10 days with festival passes now on sale. Individual screening tickets will also be available closer to showtimes.
- Calgary International Beerfest (May 2 to 3, 2025) is a showcase of beer, spirits, and more from around the world and is a tasting event like no other, with dozens of samples available.
- Calgary’s annual Lilac Festival takes place on June7 later this spring in its same 4th Street location. The festival celebrates spring along with music, art, food, dance, and more.
These spring festivals and celebrations in central Alberta will get visitors outside to enjoy nature as temperatures rise. These are family-friendly events with entertainment, food and drink, kids’ activities, and educational opportunities.
- Tofield’s famous Snow Goose Festival (April 25 to 26, 2026) celebrates the spring bird migration with guided hikes, kids’ activities, a speaker series, and a dinner.
- Central Alberta Children’s Festival (June 5 & 6, 2026) is a showcase of children’s artists and performers with live shows, educational experiences, storytelling, and more.
- Leduc Black Gold Pro Rodeo returns for its 2026 edition on May 28th.
Spring is here in southern Alberta, and a couple of locations are ready to party or celebrate the start of the season.
- East Coulee Spring Festival (May 1 & 2, 2026) is a live music festival in the badlands with over 30 performers across three stages. Genres include rock of all kinds, country and bluegrass, folk, jazz, blues, and more.
- Hot air balloon pilots from across Canada are taking to the skies over Medicine Hat to raise awareness on mental wellness on the last weekend of May 21 to 24, 2026.
On top of a handful of festivals this spring, many places in northern Alberta are also throwing St. Patrick’s parties, Easter parties and egg hunts, and celebrating the opening of outdoor farmers’ markets.
- The Cold Lake Fishing Derby takes place later this spring with $10,000 up for grabs as first prize.
Visit Jasper or Banff for a host of events, big and small, across the parks and towns. These events span the townsite, ski hills, hotels, restaurants, and outdoor areas.
- The Jasper Pride & Ski Festival will take over numerous locations around the town and park from April 10 to 19, 2026 2025. There are events to discover for all ages and interests, including skiing at Marmot Basin, dining and drink events, dance parties, comedy nights, and family nights.
- Well In: Banff (May 22 – 24, 2026) highlights local wellness culture, offering three days of workshops, movement, and nature-based experiences rooted in community and connection.
Attractions & Things to do in Alberta this Spring
Credit: Frank Slide Interpretive Centre
Historical Sites that Open during the May Long Weekend in Alberta
A great variety of historical sites and attractions are open for the season over the May Long Weekend.
- Among the National Historic Sites open this May in Alberta are the Bar U Ranch, Rocky Mountain House, and the Kootenai House National Historic Site.
- There are a few Provincial Historic Sites and museums open year-round, including the Brookes Aqueduct, the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre in the Crowsnest Region, Frog Lake in east-central Alberta, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in southern Alberta, Lougheed House in Calgary, Okotoks Erratic – ‘Big Rock’, Oil Sands Discovery Centre in Fort McMurray, Remington Carriage Museum in Cardston, Reynold Museum in Wetaskiwin, the Royal Alberta Museum and Rutherford House in Edmonton, Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller.
- Those PHSs which open this spring include the Father Lacombe Chapel, Fort George & Buckingham House, Historic Dunvegan on the Peace River, Leitch Collieries, Victoria Settlement, Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, Turner Valley Gas Plant, and the Stephansson House near Red Deer.
Alberta Park Events & Tours open this Spring
Get an expert guide to explore some of Alberta’s most interesting provincial parks this spring. These guided tours include hiking and bus tours, as well as a few select annual events.
- Dinosaur Provincial Park, east of Calgary, provides bus tours and walking tours of the geological sites beginning over the Victoria Day long weekend.
- Also in southern Alberta are the guided hikes offered at Writing-on-Stone PP, which begin at the start of the lMay ong weekend.
- The Annual Lesser Slave Lake Songbird Festival takes place during late May at the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation.
- Miquelon Lake in Central Alberta will begin to host a number of workshops and activities for all ages. These cover bugs, plants, birds, wetlands, wildlife, and more.
- All spring and summer, Sir Winston Churchill PP will play host to live musical performances with the next Music in the Forest event on May 16, 2026, with The Western Thistles.
View this post on Instagram
Ride the Rails this Spring
Alberta has a handful of train tours available, all of which ramp up business for the spring season.
- For the Battle River Train Excursions in central Alberta, the first ride of the spring is the Sip n’ Ride Excursion on May 16, 2026.
- The Alberta Prairie Railway excursions in southern Alberta begin on May 10 with a Mother’s Day Special to Big Valley.
- Aspen Crossing begin its train journeys on May 9 with the Mother’s Day weekend rides, which include dinner or brunch.
- Take your toddler for a Day Out With Thomas. Take a ride (20 minutes) with their favourite tank engine at Heritage Park, Calgary
Alberta’s Underground Attractions
There are a few ways to take a spring trip underground in Alberta. These include actual cave tours, and tours of abandoned coal mines in Alberta. A couple open later this spring, but reservations can be made now.
- Canmore Cave Tours are a year-round attraction that takes visitors deep into the mountain caves and canyons.
- Bookings are now open for the May 2026 opening of the Bellevue Underground Mine on the Crowsnest Highway.
- Drumheller’s Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site begin its tours on May 15, 2026, with bookings now open.
Credit: Bellevue Underground Mine Tours
Spring Theatre in Towns & Cities around Alberta
Take in a completely new show this spring with all-new actors and enjoy it in a new theatre! Choose between a number of different shows playing across Alberta’s smaller cities and small towns.
- The Rosebud Theatre in southeastern Alberta have a few shows scheduled for the spring, including Hurry Hard, Village of Idiots and Anne of Green Gables.
- The Windmill Theatre Players in High River present their rendition of 9 to 5 Musical from April 17 to 25.
- Bragg Creek’s Swamp Donkey Musical Theatre Society present 9 to 5 Musical at the Bragg Creek Centre from May 1 to 10.
- While in Fort McMurray, pick from several upcoming spring productions at the Keyano College Theatre & Arts Centre.
Calgary’s theatre and local performing arts scene is big! Among these local productions are even smaller theatres around the city.
Edmonton, like Calgary, has a sizeable local theatre scene, and it delivered on all accounts this spring, covering a range of genres and interests.
Touring Artists
A few of the chart-topping artists will visit Calgary & Edmonton this spring.
Artists include Celtic Woman, Sam Roberts Band, Diljit Dosanjh, Everglow, City and Colour, Arkells, Bailey Zimmerman, and many more!
Cool Places to Stay in Alberta This Spring
Glamping this Spring in Alberta
No matter the style of glamping you’d like to try or prefer to do, these resorts and campgrounds in Alberta offer a variety of glamping styles from which to choose.
- Metis Crossing and Elk Island Retreat are both open for glamping in central Alberta this spring, with both offering geodomes.
- Take a Rocky Mountain glamping adventure with several types of staying options from Mount Engadine Lodge in Kananaskis. Or, head further south in the mountains to Glamping Resorts Ltd. in Castle PP.
- The Refuge Bay Luxury Camping Resort in north-central Alberta offers geodome stays in a quiet lakeside location.
View this post on Instagram
Mountain Accommodation in Alberta
Exploring the mountains this spring may call for the need for a place to stay. These are some of the best hotel options around the mountains this spring for affordability versus what you get out of your stay or the packages available from the hotel.
- The Waterton Glacier Inn & Suites offers rooms with patios and balconies with great views, as well as the option for more romantic suites.
- The Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge offer packages for the Nordic Spa, direct access to the spa, and access to spring recreation in Kananaskis.
- The Pyramid Lake Lodge in Jasper National Park brings your stay a little way outside of the town and onto the peaceful shores of the small lake.
- The Sunwapta Falls Lodge is about 50km south of Jasper on the Icefields Parkway, and breakfast is included in your stay.
Cozy Cabins around Alberta
Cozy up this spring on those colder or wetter days with your own cabin in the woods. These Alberta cabin locations provide escape, quiet, and peace, all in one, along with several amenities to make it feel more like home.
- The Expanse Cottages are a year-round resort in Nordegg with options like Fireside Cabins, or Stargazer Cabins. The cabins are heated, have a stocked kitchenette, and have beds with bedding.
- Stay in a converted Caboose Cabin at the Aspen Crossing Campground who offer a few different train cars in which to stay. The campground and train excursions are a short drive southeast of Calgary.
- Find a wide variety of cabins for rent in northern Alberta through Air BnB, or VRBO.
The Best Campgrounds for Spring Camping in Alberta
Get out the tents and RVs, as these spring campgrounds in Alberta will be open for business as early as April 1.
- A handful of campgrounds will open as early as the first three weeks of April, including two in Bow Valley Provincial Park, and one in Police Outpost Provincial Park.
- During the last week of April, campgrounds open in Little Bow Provincial Park, Little Bow Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area, Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park, Wabamun Lake Provincial Park, and Eagle Point Provincial Park.
- Over the month of May, campgrounds around Alberta’s Parks System will open over the weekends. However, as of March, campers can book well into June. — A Beginner’s Guide to Camping in Alberta Parks
