By Nick Dunn

Flagstaff County is excited to announce a major upgrade to our campground booking process for the 2025 camping season! In response to the Council’s direction to enhance our top three campgrounds—Diplomat Trout Pond, Edgerton Day Campground, and Fish Lake Campground—we have transitioned to an online booking platform. 

Thanks to our partnership with Campspot, visitors can now conveniently reserve campsites online, pay with a credit card, view campground maps, and familiarize themselves with each campground’s amenities and rules before arriving. This move marks a significant shift away from our historical cash or cheque only, self-registration system, offering a more secure, efficient, and user-friendly experience for both campers and County administration.  

This software comes at no cost to the County. Campspot maintains its services through a $5 booking fee per reservation, which is paid by the visitor. This fee is proportionately distributed over the length of your stay. For example, a two-night stay at a serviced site would work out to $32.50 per night ($30 site fee + $2.50 per night from the booking fee). Our nightly rates remain the same: $25/night for non-serviced sites and $30/night for serviced sites. 

Campers can explore all available sites and make reservations easily through our website at: www.flagstaff.ca/campgrounds. Whether you’re planning a weekend fishing trip, a family getaway, or a relaxing escape into nature, our website provides all the tools you need to plan your perfect visit. New signs have also been installed that have QR codes visitors can scan to bring them directly to the booking website.  

Previously, our campgrounds operated on a self-registration basis using cash or cheque payments deposited in on-site boxes. Unfortunately, this system led to increased incidents of theft and vandalism. Transitioning to a cashless, digital system not only enhances security but also reduces staff time managing and retrieving cash. 

This initiative aligns with Flagstaff County’s broader push toward modernized, cashless services. Much like the current pilot project offering free water for agricultural and firefighting purposes at our tank loaders, this change helps us assess the benefits of moving to fully cashless operations across other County services in the future. In addition to our top three upgraded campgrounds, the Galahad Campground is also now available on the Campspot platform. Galahad offers seven full-service sites, perfect for RV and trailer camping, along with a unique group site located at the Municipal Grounds and Gazebo—available for $75 per night, plus the standard $5 booking fee. It’s an excellent location for family reunions, special events, or group getaways. 

So whether you’re a long-time local or a first-time visitor, we invite you to explore everything our beautiful campgrounds have to offer—now just a few clicks away. 

Nick Dunn is Flagstaff County’s Agricultural Fieldman. He can be reached via email at: ndunn@flagstaff.ab.ca or by phone at: 780-384-4138.