The diversity of activities and experiences in Prince Albert National Park makes outdoor adventure possible for every kind of explorer. Beautiful, clear lakes, front and backcountry camping, recreational, natural and cultural learning activities and the vibrant summer village of Waskesiu offer a little something for everyone.
Our favourite thing about this national park in Northern Saskatchewan is the variety. You can spend a morning playing minigolf, grab a slice of pizza and then set up for an afternoon on the beach in Waskesiu. Or you can portage a canoe through a thick boreal forest on a rail cart and spend the next week sleeping under the stars in the pristine wilderness. Everything to do in this park is within a short distance, so you could potentially have both experiences in one trip.
Prince Albert National Park is in the Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional lands of the Cree, Dakota, Nakota, Saulteaux, and the Métis Nation. The Indigenous name for Waskesiu is wâwâskêsiw-sâkahikan, which means “red deer (or elk) lake” in Cree. The name of the lake and village, Waskesiu, is a shortened version of this Cree word.
The list of reasons to visit this exceptional park is long, but here are our five favourite reasons to visit Prince Albert National Park.
The lakes
The lakes in Prince Albert National Park are vital to the area’s ecosystem and are habitats for birds, fish, and wildlife. They also provide recreational opportunities to park visitors, including beach days, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, and boating. There are several lakes in the park. Here are our favourites.
Waskesiu Lake
Waskesiu Lake is the most visited lake in the park. The village of Waskesiu is located on its shores, making Waskesiu Main Beach a popular spot for families, swimmers and sunbathers. If you want to explore the lake away from the hustle and bustle of town, there are other beaches and picnic spots up and down its shoreline. These spots include Birch Bay, South Bay, Trippes, Paignton and The Narrows Beach.
Waskesiu Lake is popular for boating, fishing, and water activities. There are two marinas on the lake: Waskesiu Marina Adventure Centre and The Narrows Marina. Both provide moorage and a variety of motorboat, canoe, and kayak rentals.
Backcountry Lakes
This park has several backcountry lakes, including the massive Kingsmere and Crean Lakes. Kingsmere is accessible from the 1.5km Kingsmere Trail and is the start of the Bagwa Canoe Route and the Grey Owl Trail backcountry trail.
Crean Lake is accessible via the Hanging Hearts Lakes. As of August 2024, only canoes and kayaks could make it through the final passage from the Hanging Hearts Lakes into Crean Lake due to low water levels. However, visiting this emerald-green backcountry lake is well worth the effort!
There are also backcountry lakes accessible by foot, including Amyot and Hunters Lakes on the southwest end of the park. You can also explore Camp, Witsukitshak and Fish Lakes via the Sandy Lake Trail.
Lakes for Beach Days
If you love the beach, you’ll love Prince Albert National Park! The most visited beach is Waskesiu Main Beach in town, which is just one of many places to stick your toes in the sand.
Waskesiu Lake Beaches: If you want to stick near town, our favourite beaches on Waskesiu Lake are Birch Bay to the northwest and Paignton Beach to the northeast. Both beaches offer picnic areas with fire pits, free firewood, shelters and large stretches of sand. If it’s windy at Waskesiu Main Beach, which is often in the afternoon, you’ll find a bit of shelter at one of these options.
Kingsmere and Crean Lake Beaches: Backcountry beaches can be the best find for outdoor explorers. Both Kingsmere and Crean Lake offer sandy beaches at backcountry campsites or along their wild shorelines. What makes them so great? In many cases, you’ll have the place to yourself. And, there is a sweet satisfaction of relaxing on a beautiful beach accessible only by boat or hiking trails.
Sandy Lake and Namekus Lake Beaches: Sandy Lake and Namekus Lake have first-come, first-serve campgrounds, picnic areas, and a buoyed swimming area along sandy beaches. Sandy Lake is the furthest from town and offers a boat launch. Namekus Lake is a smaller lake located about 10 minutes south of Waskesiu and is more suited for canoes and kayaks.
Waskesiu is a blast.
The hamlet of Waskesiu is buzzing with activity in the summer and has everything you need for a memorable trip. There are ice cream shops, cafes, restaurants and the best little bakery at the back of the Waskesiu Trading Company grocery store. You can catch a flick at the Two Pine Cinema or spend the day at the Waskesiu Recreation Centre playing basketball, tennis, beach volleyball, ping pong or minigolf.
Beachgoers come to and from Waskesiu Main Beach, stop to play at the new-and-improved playground, have a picnic or play a round of disc golf. You’ll also see families cruise around the town in rented quad-bikes, a quirky attraction here. Near town is the world-class Waskesiu Golf Course, which has been around for nearly 100 years.
You can also learn about the town and its history at the Waskesiu Heritage Museum or borrow books at the town’s free library. This little town is vibing with fun activities, good food and a warm community that knows how to have fun.
Waskesiu also offers a wide range of year-round accommodation options, including resorts, hotels, motels, inn-style lodging, and cabin rentals. If you’re an RV-er, you’ll appreciate the fully-serviced Red Deer Campground. It is within walking distance of all amenities, including the beach.
Camping is (almost) always available.
Prince Albert National Park offers reservable and non-reservable camping, as well as several options for backcountry camping. The best thing about this park is that camping is (almost) always available. You can make last-minute plans to visit or change your plans while you’re here and should be able to find somewhere to pitch your tent.
Reservable campgrounds
Beaver Glen and Red Deer Campgrounds: Both campgrounds are in and near Waskesiu and are 100% reservable. While reserving your site far in advance is recommended, sites become available for last-minute reservations throughout the peak seasons if you don’t mind moving campsites during your stay. Beaver Glen offers powered sites, and the RV-park-style campsites in Red Deer offer power, sewer, and water. Both offer flush toilets, hot showers, firewood and water.
First-come First-served
The Narrows Campground on Waskesiu Lake, Sandy Lake and Namekus Lake campgrounds are first-come, first-serve. No reservations are required, and a few sites are almost always available, even on weekends. These campgrounds are out of town, so you’ll escape the hubbub of Waskesiu and enjoy a little more peace and quiet. Expect more rustic amenities, as Sandy and Namekus Lake only offer pit toilets, and neither have showers. Like the reservable campgrounds, these have water and firewood.
If you’re worried about landing a site, or want a specific site in one of these campgrounds, come early and head straight to the campground of your choice on arrival.
Backcountry Camping
Backcountry camping is available throughout the park, with the most accessible being the Southend Campground on Kingsmere Lake. There is also backcountry camping on Crean Lake and Fish and Camp Lakes via the Elk Trail. You can only book backcountry camping in the Visitor Centre on the day of your arrival, so you don’t have to worry about reserving far in advance.
Beginner and family-friendly backcountry
The backcountry in Prince Albert National Park is accessible to active families and newbies. As mentioned, the Kingsmere Lake Backcountry is accessible by a 1.5-kilometre trail leading to the Southend Campground. The trail makes portaging your boats and gear to the lake easy with a handy rail cart system. From there, you can hike along the east side of the lake to access the Grey Owl Trail campgrounds. You can also paddle to these campgrounds or try the 2-day Bagwa Lake Paddle Circuit.
For those who can manage a 10-12 km paddle, head to Crean’s Kitchen through Hanging Hearts Lakes. It is the first backcountry campground on Crean Lake and a great starting point for exploring the rest of the lake.
For those who can manage a 12-15 km hike, the Fish Lake and Camp Lake backcountry campgrounds are on the south end of the park. The trail into these sites offers views of Sandy Lake, pretty creek crossings, wildlife viewing opportunities, and aspen and white spruce forests.
Read more about backcountry camping in Prince Albert National Park.
Free Parks Canada programming
Parks Canada offers a range of free guided and interpretive programs throughout the park. While program offerings vary depending on the year and season, you can participate in programming that shares the area’s natural, cultural, and Indigenous history.
In the summer, our favourite park programs are Art in the Park and the famous Wolf Howl. Art in the Park offers a new nature-themed craft each week, suitable for visitors of all ages. The Wolf Howl is a Waskesiu tradition! Visitors meet at Main Beach to learn about wolves and their packs, then head out in their vehicles to drive to various locations in the park, stop to howl into the wilderness and listen for any wolves howling back!
In the fall, visitors can learn more about the night sky on a star gazing tour on Waskesiu Main Beach or explore the muskeg on a guided walk along the Boundary Bog Trail.
There are also guided interpretive hikes to learn about flora and fauna, wildlife awareness programming, and song and storytelling walks for tots and kids. Families will love the Nature Centre, which features hands-on exhibits on wildlife found in the park, Indigenous culture and history, and the Parks’ conservation efforts.
Start planning your trip to Prince Albert National Park!
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