Camping & Hiking · Scenic Views · Alberta
A rustic, low-cost campground near Cadomin in Alberta's Coal Branch, with mountain views, free firewood, horse trails and hiking. Access is on long gravel roads and nearby mining trucks can be heard.
Whitehorse Creek Campground sits on the eastern edge of the Rockies near Cadomin, close to the Jasper National Park boundary. Campers describe a quiet, uncrowded spot with mountain views all round and a creek just a short walk from the sites. Some sites have big boulders that kids love to climb.
It's simple camping. Rates are low and include plenty of dry firewood, and there are washrooms. Several sites can be reserved by phone, with payment made on site by cash or cheque. There's no online payment, which a couple of people wished for. The first-come sites fill fast, so arrive early. Sites aren't large, some are close together, and walk-in tent sites are up a hillside with stairs.
It's a popular base for horse riders, and many campers bring their own horses. There's also hiking along the river and into the backcountry, plus ATV and dirt bike riding in the area. Parts of the area are an active mine, so stay on marked paths. The rough road up to the Cardinal Divide is worth it if your vehicle has good clearance.
Getting there takes effort. One camper recommends the roughly 20 km of gravel from the Hinton side over the rougher, dustier route from Edson, and got a flat on a sharp rock. Mining trucks can be heard at night, and it can be windy. A couple of reviewers had their stay spoiled by a loud group on a neighbouring site. One long-time hiker also found horse traffic had churned the trails into mud.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 73 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Whitehorse Creek Campground directly.
