Random Camping in Banff National Park?
 

Three friends and I are looking to go to Banff for three nights, and we would like to find a place for random camping. We are not looking to do any overnight hiking trails but just day hikes instead, but we would rather be in the wilderness rather than a crowded family campground where we have to go to bed at 10:00 so ideally we would like to be able to just camp with our cars somewhere in the bush.

I understand that there are certain areas of the park where random camping is allowed, does anyone know if these areas are easy to get to in a vehicle (pickup trucks)? If not, would it be a bad idea to just find a clearing off of a logging road somewhere closer to the cities? Thanks in advance for any help!

Random camping isn't allowed anywhere in the park. There are smaller campgrounds and sometimes overflows are open. even the bigger ones are much less crowded on weekdays in late august.

I think this was asked on a different forum, but to repeat....

The only 'random' camping in Banff NP is backcountry camping in very specific areas of the park. These are remote areas which would be at least a day's hike from any road, and you must have a backcountry pass for each night plus register with the parks to let them know your intended location/route.

It sounds like you are looking for camping on crown land - you can do that to the east of Banff NP. Just make sure you are on crown land - generally there is no camping in provincial parks (rules vary for provincial wilderness), reserves or private land. Also be very aware that there are a lot of fire bans and restrictions, so check carefully about current regulations before lighting any fires. It's VERY dry out there.

have a look at two jacks lake campground or johnson's canyon. you cannot just pull off and camp anywhere and this is strictly enforced. and while you don't need to go to bed at 10, they also try to enforce the quiet times. you can still stay up and relax around the fire but nobody (but you) wants to listen to anyone elses loud music late at night. also, remember, some of the other campers may have done a full day of hiking that day or getting up early the next day to do a long hike. just simple consideration. if you want to go to town to drink one night, there is a bus that goes from tunnel mountain campground to town. not a campground i'd recommend except for the convenience of the bus.