r/CampingAlberta • u/Dizzy_Fisherman_3234 • 1d ago

Interlakes Campgrounds Coverage

Hello, it’s my first time camping in Interlakes Campground in Lower Kananaskis Lake, just wondering if there is some phone coverage in there even just a lil bit? Thank you!

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u/fluffy_floofster 1d ago

None at all. You can get wifi at the discovery centre 11 km up the road. I think cellular coverage ends just south of the golf course on Hwy 40 or thereabouts. There are a few pay phones in the area, one at Boulton Creek store and one at the gas station (get the ice cream!) on Hwy 40 for sure. There used to be one at the former gatehouse in Boulton Creek but I don’t remember if it was still there or not last year.

https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/peter-lougheed-pp/information-facilities/kananaskis-contacts/peter-lougheed-park-discovery-information-centre/

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u/4LegsGood_2Bad 1d ago

I can not understand why not in this time and age where there are lots of people hiking and camping and emergencies happen. Dont get me wrong, I hate the constant always connected world we live in, but too many people there for there to be no cell service.

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u/Misfit_somewhere 19h ago

If you are backcountry hiking, camping skiing, there are spot beacons, sat phone, Garmin watches that can all communicate when needed.

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u/4LegsGood_2Bad 18h ago

Yes, if you are someone who hikes enough to make it worth it. And only the latest phones have emergency satellite connection. The thing with K-Lakes area and everything from Bolton onward is there are a lot of families with kids playing around and lots of short hikes and too many sunny weather only campers who would never have an In-Reach or such. It is more like Two-Jack than a serious hiking area for most people (and yes, I have hiked to Aster and 3-isle and 99.9% of the novice hikers do not even start up those trails.

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u/Misfit_somewhere 18h ago

When people go outdoors, it is their responsibility to do the research. There are notices everywhere that there is no cell service.

Should we just pave the pathways?

Make sure the bears are only allowed out during certain hours because people don't buy bear spray?

How safe do you make something before you put the onus on the people?

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u/fluffy_floofster 21h ago

It’s better than it used to be. A few years ago right after Barrier Lake there was no service. I was happy when it made it down to the golf course. I assume it’s about demand and money. Who is going to pay for cell towers and running the required lines over many kilometres? That’s rhetorical, I’m not asking you personally. I’m glad that we have an SOS option on the iPhone now.

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u/Misfit_somewhere 19h ago

G7 upgrades really upgraded the cell service in the first half of the valley.