KANANASKIS COUNTRY - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 212

ies. It's nestled below the sheer eastern face of Mount Kidd in a forest of spruce and lodge-
pole pine, along Highway 40 south of Kananaskis Village and the golf course, and 26 kilo-
meters (16 miles) from the TransCanada Highway. The campground's showpiece is the
Campers Center (yes, the American spelling). Inside is the main registration area and all
the usual bathroom facilities as well as a game room, a lounge, groceries, a concession
area, and a laundry room. Outside are two tennis courts, picnic areas by the river, and
many paved biking and hiking trails. The combination of amenities and the mountain loc-
ation—unequaled anywhere in the Canadian Rockies—makes this an extremely popular
campground.
Those who can survive without such luxuries should continue 6.5 kilometers (four
miles) south beyond Mount Kidd RV Park to Eau Claire Campground (mid-May-
early Sept., $22 per site), operated by Kananaskis Camping (403/591-7226,
www.kananaskiscountrycampgrounds.com ) . Facilities are limited to 50 sites (those on the
outside of the loop afford the most privacy), each with a picnic table and fire pit, along
with pump water, pit toilets, and a playground. No reservations are taken, but the website
posts up-to-date vacancy numbers. Other options for campers are to continue south along
Highway 40 into Peter Lougheed Provincial Park or take Highway 68 east from Barrier
Lake to Sibbald Lake.
FOOD
The Delta Lodge (403/591-7711) contains three restaurants, a deli, and two bars. For a
warm, relaxed atmosphere, head to the Bighorn Lounge (from 11am daily), near the arca-
de's main entrance. It features a bistro-style menu highlighted by a wide variety of appet-
izers perfect for sharing, such as cheese platters. Obsessions Deli (from 8am daily, $8-14)
serves up light snacks, including healthy sandwiches and rich, handmade truffles. Also in
the arcade is the Fireweed Grill (6am-10pm daily, $15-32), with a casual Western-style
atmosphere, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an adjoining outdoor patio used during sum-
mer. Breakfast is served buffet-style daily until 10am Seasons Steakhouse (6pm-9:30pm
Tues.-Sat. June-Oct., $24-41), in the Signature Club wing, is the village's most elegant res-
taurant.
INFORMATION
A short distance along Highway 40 from Highway 1 (but north of Barrier Lake), Barrier
Lake Visitor Information Centre (403/673-3985, 9am-6pm daily in summer, 9am-4pm
daily the rest of the year) is a good place to start your trip into Kananaskis Country. A small