McLean Pond

Lat: 50.886780 Long: -114.671587 Click to see map It’s not as nice as Allen Bill Pond was, but it is a pond and it is stocked with Rainbow Trout. More important, it survived the flood intact. I was told the fish are sterile to reduce their impact on the environment. You’ll find all the amenities here; ample parking, outdoor toilet, 25 picnic tables, firepits, pathways and of course the pond. Unless your a fan of Off Highway Vehicles you may find the sound of roaring engines a bit of an issue. And, the place just seems dirty. Most of the Elbow Valley is pristine with crystal clear water and dense forest. But McLean Creek is different. The pond is weedy, there are mud puddles everywhere and dirt roads lead off in all directions. The area has been heavily logged. There are quite a few cattle wandering around. But, the picnic area by the pond is quite nice, if a bit small. To get there, keep to the right past the store then take the first left. There are good facilities including the store where you can buy supplies. It has one of the largest campgrounds in all of Kananaskis with 170 sites open all year. There is a dirt road that connects the Elbow Valley to the Sheep River Valley and the Sandy McNabb Recreation Area.

Parking
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There is ample parking and a couple of old style outhouse toilets. There is no potable water. The picnic area is not far from the parking lot so it is easy to carry in your coolers and equipment.
The Store
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You can buy supplies at the store and register for campsites. You don’t need to register for day use which is the case for all day use facilities. They are available on a first come first served basis. If you are used to picnics at Elbow Falls or now at Forgetmenot Pond you will be aware of the need to get there early to get a table on busy weekends.
McLean Pond turnoff
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The campground is on the right. This is the driveway to the pond. You take the first left on the road past the store. The McLean Creek OHV Zone is a very large tract of land on the left not far past the Information Centre.
Picnic pad
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There aren’t a lot of open fields to play on and the picnic pads are linked by simple paths worn down by human traffic. The picnic area is located near the parking lot. I didn’t see a trail to the opposite shore.
The pond
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The pond appears to be quite shallow and weedy. I suppose the weeds help sustain the fish which are added to the pond each year. There were a couple of people fishing just the other side of the point that sticks out on the right. There aren’t any off-road trails near the pond, but they are everywhere else.
Tables and firepits
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The tables seem to be a little close together and there are quite a few of them. They have firepits which makes for good campfire picnics. After the Provincial Park this is one of the easiest places to get to with good facilities.