Calgary 
The Alberta foothills are filled with beautiful places to camp, explore, and adventure. And if a thrilling or adventurous getaway isn’t what you’re after, the foothills are also filled with many quiet and secluded parks.
Credit: Alberta Parks
The Chain Lakes Provincial Park is one such quiet area. The park is on the west side of the Cowboy Trail and is surrounded by public land use zones (PLUZs). The surrounding natural scenery is made up of not only foothills but also scenic ranch lands and distant mountains.
The Chain Lakes reservoir, nearby towns, and beautiful surrounding areas make the Provincial Park an ideal fishing spot, picnic spot, and quiet place to camp.
Enjoying Nature at Chain Lakes:
The Chain Lakes Reservoir is nestled in the foothills and a decent distance from major centres. The area is quiet and is surrounded by beautiful natural scenery.
- This area boasts stunning views of Alberta’s rolling foothills below the Livingstone Mountain range. It’s a preferred migration stop for eagles, ospreys, and trumpeter swans, with lakes and proximity to the Rocky Mountains. Enjoy a hike around the short trails leading to the Lake to enjoy nature,.
- Trout fishing is excellent at Chain Lakes, as with many other lakes in Alberta. The two-day use areas offer shoreline space for casting a line, while the park also permits boating on the lake.
- Boating can be a more relaxing way to see the Chain Lakes Reservoir. This is even more accurate thanks to a 12km/hr speed limit on motorized boats. And the shores may reveal even more wildlife or birds.
- Stargazing is excellent since the area is far from the cities.
Dining in Nanton or Stavely
If you get hungry during a camping trip to the Chain Lakes Provincial Park, you can count on the park’s Country Cookhouse, camp store, and concession for fries, burgers and ice cream. If you’d rather get out of the park for a bite to eat or are on a day trip, there are great local options nearby.
- Many of Nanton’s local eateries are on Highway 2, which runs through the centre of town. Some options include The Bridge Eatery & Bar, the Wild Thyme Café, or Ken’s Restaurant.
- Stavely is a bit smaller than Nanton; you can head here for delicious comfort food at Stavely’s Pizza & Pasta.
- As you are in ranch country, you may be after some AAA Alberta cuts. The Silver Slate Steakhouse off Highway 2 has you covered.
Attractions around the Chain Lakes:
Southwestern Alberta has many cool pieces of unique history to explore.
- Travel north or south from Chain Lakes on Cowboy Trail. This scenic Alberta route winds through beautiful rolling foothills with views of the Rockies, farmers’ fields, and historic sites.
- The Bar U Ranch National Historic Site has a visitor’s centre, as well as trails and tours, all aimed at educating on Alberta’s ranching history.
- Nanton, to the east of Chain Lakes, has its own unique museums: The Bomber Command Museum of Canada, and the Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre.
- The Coutts Centre for Western Canadian Heritage is a beautiful place for a garden walk, with the property covered in historic Nanton artifacts.
Plan your trip – Chain Lakes Provincial Park
What: The Chain Lakes Provincial Park is on the southeast edge of the Chain Lakes Reservoir, named after the former spring-fed Chain Lakes. Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, in the late 1960s, built dams on the southern and northernmost of three small to create the reservoir to secure a continuous water supply for downstream towns.
The reservoir is long and narrow, following Highway 22 north to south in length.
The park offers camping, group camping, boating, fishing, and day use space. The secluded area offers wildlife viewing, stargazing, hiking, and nearby backcountry activities in the public land use zones. The nearest towns include Nanton, Stavely, and Longview.
Where to Stay:
The Chain Lakes campground contains almost 100 sites, all of which are connected by a series of trails. Some sites offer power, while the rest have no services. But some of the camping amenities you have access to include firewood, a cook shelter, a playground, and water. One group site is also available.
Location and how to get there: 38 km southwest of Nanton on Hwy. 533
Best time to go: day use open year-round; camping open until September 26
Taste of Country Cookhouse: May to September
Cost: camping $28-$36 per night
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