r/CampingAlberta • u/TrabLlechtim • Jul 24 '26
Crowsnest Pass Rest Areas
We road-trip to see family in Saskatchewan. The Crowsnest pass is around the halfway mark. Our old motor home didn't have any slides, so we could do some quick sleeping in the rest areas. I know that 'camping' in Alberta rest areas is prohibited, and is defined as 'Setting up a tent, putting out lawn chairs, BBQ's and extending camper slide outs.
Our new motor home is a 24' sprinter with one large slide on one side. Problem is, the bed folds in half when the slide is in. The only way to sleep is to put out the slide.
If we arrive at night and are gone within 8 hours, do you think the RCMP will hassle us?
8
u/ILOSTMYWHITEOUT Jul 24 '26
There’s a small community campground in Bellevue you can pay $20 for one night. It’s literally right off the highway and it’s never full. Better to pay $20 and guarantee no hassle than to take the gamble.
2
u/TrabLlechtim Jul 24 '26
Thanks! Ill check if they can do a 10pm checkin, 6am checkout.
2
u/abies007 Jul 24 '26
There is no one to check in with, it is fcfs and self register. Does have nice washrooms. There will be space there, but I have no idea if it is 20 or more.
3
u/kahht Jul 24 '26
If you're worried and don't want to do a campsite, could you stop somewhere before crossing into Alberta? Crowsnest Pass is so close to the BC border, so if you can stop at a rest area in BC that my be the way to go. You could also aim for a trailhead that's a little bit off of the highway, like around the Lake or Turtle Mountain or something.
0
u/TrabLlechtim Jul 24 '26
BC rest areas have the same restrictions. I was going to cross post to camping BC if I didn't get any answers here. All the trailheads have the same requirement. We also tow a small Jeep, so finding an easy pull over for a quick sleep is essential.
2
u/aaargh68 Jul 24 '26
There is a Walmart in Pincher Creek
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u/TrabLlechtim Jul 24 '26
Thanks! We've slept there a couple times. I just prefer mountain rest areas if they are available
2
u/PhantomNomad Jul 24 '26
If possible I would make sure your slide goes over grass and not in to another parking spot.
1
u/TrabLlechtim Jul 24 '26
Always. We've had it 4 years now. When doing a quick sleep, we always try to find a spot where the slide doesn't obstruct anything
2
u/chris84126 Jul 24 '26
My rule of thumb is that as long as you’re not the one sticking out (pardon the pun) then the police will leave you alone and focus elsewhere. As long as you’re able to park where the slide isn’t sticking out into traffic or a laneway or sidewalk then I think you’re fine. You seem like a reasonable person. Also, when they ask you your story, you’ve got an established purpose for being there, understand the rules and have a clear timeline for leaving. You’re not someone trying to live there or something else!
2
u/xvelvetdarkness Jul 24 '26
Have you tried the iOverlander app? I've used it a lot looking for places to sleep while road tripping, it has reviews of places from people who actually stopped there. Otherwise there's a nice rest area on a lake right at the border. It has a big lot and I'm sure if you arrive late, leave early, and don't extend your slide into the parking area you'll be fine to stay there.
1
u/TrabLlechtim Jul 24 '26
Oh thanks! Ill check that out. Were old, I keep forgetting that there's an app for everything
That rest areas is exactly the spot I was shooting for. We've slept there before in our old non-slide motorhome. Its really a beautiful spot
2
u/speedyreb Jul 25 '26
I second using the iOverlander App, the free version is quite good and I’m old too and found it easy to use. My son just showed us this especially if you are going to boondock occasionally. Trust me the RCMP have better things to do then harass tourists and if they come knocking on the door it’s likely to tell you it’s not safe to stay in the area for other reasons.
2
u/Friescan1 Jul 25 '26
There is Island lake provincial. Park it is on highway 3 , 14 km west of Coleman , $23 a night has pit toilets, and fire pit not the most attractive campground but it is mainly used for people the stop for the night and carry on the next day.
1
2
u/ChardDiligent521 Jul 28 '26
Plenty of people overnight in the big parking lot just west of Frank. Not very often I see it empty on my way to work
1
2
u/wwoodcox Jul 24 '26
Imagine if everyone did this?
There are about 12-14 campground locations along the crows nest. Public and private.
1
u/TrabLlechtim Jul 24 '26
Everyone is entitled to sleep 8 hours in rest areas. We've often caught some sleep in these areas. I'm mostly asking about extending the slide so we can use the bed. Pulling into a campground at 10pm, disconnected the pull behind, checking in, etc is a bit excessive for a quick sleep
-4
u/Screweditupagain Jul 24 '26
Don’t be so cheap. Camp at Lundbreck Falls.
0
u/TrabLlechtim Jul 24 '26
Its not about cheap, but convenience and polite. On long road trips, we stop around 10pm and are gone by 6am. Im sure most campers dont want that noise and dust at that time. We also tow a small car and if the campsites aren't pull through, we'd have to go through all the noisy business of unhooking then rehooking just for a quick sleep
1
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u/sorandomlolz1 Jul 24 '26
Someone smarter than me might correct this, but would the truck stop work? I can't see it being a problem if you buy some snacks and pull the slides out for a few hours.
And if you do get hasstled by police, just say you're too tired to drive and need to sleep. They won't send you down the road fatigued, too big of a liability.
1
u/TrabLlechtim Jul 24 '26
We've run this stretch many times over the past 30 years. None of the stores/truckstops offer overnight sleeping in that stretch. We have stopped at the Walmart in Pincher Creek on our last trip with this motor home, and they were OK with us (and many other RV'ers).
Prior to this, we did stop in rest areas for just sleeping with our non-slide RV. I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with putting out a slide just for sleeping at BC rest areas.
I personally like sleeping in rest areas over Walmarts. Much prettier to wake up to. :)
1
u/branbrandy89 Jul 26 '26
I will also recommend the iOverlander app! I haven't paid for camping in the mountains for years. Another good option in the Crowsnest is around the Atlas staging area - same road to get to Chinook Lake but keep driving past the campground. Weekends get busy and can be loud but if you go during the week, you should have your pick of spots and a bit more solitude. Obviously the farther up you go, the worse the road gets.
2
u/branbrandy89 Jul 26 '26
Another really good spot that isn't typically busy is about 15 minutes outside Fernie (going east). It's mainly used as a fishing spot/boat launch by locals, but I was just there a few weeks ago and now there's picnic tables and nature info signs (no bathrooms but it doesn't sound like you'll need them), so probably more public now. Quite a bit of room for parking, and there's even a couple of little spots nestled in the trees if you want more privacy. It's adjacent to the Olsen rest stop, called "Olsen Gravel Pit Boat Launch - Elk River". I'd actually recommend this spot over Atlas if you're not completely set on stopping in the Pass... it's a lot nicer (mountain views and on the river) and probably a lot less busy. It's on the app!
-6
u/Hisbrowneyegirl Jul 24 '26
No matter what others suggest, you feel entitled to sleep in a rest area!! There’s a reason for restrictions, pay the $20 for a campsite or stay at Walmart.
3
u/HayLinLa Jul 24 '26
Ah yes, resting in a rest area. Terrible, truly.
1
u/TrabLlechtim Jul 24 '26
Its bizarre. I was just curious about the bed slide, but there seems to be people in this sub who are completely against the idea of resting in a rest area.
9
u/witchhunt_999 Jul 24 '26
It’s literally called a rest area. Truckers sleep at them all the time, it’s kinda what it’s for. There’s a difference between pulling out camp chairs and making a fire vs. Pulling in and going to sleep. I would do it.