Prince Albert National Park Saskatchewan Waskesiu and Bison

Why visit Prince Albert National Park

The park was created to show the transition from open grassland through aspen parkland to southern boreal forest, and you can see all three in a single day. Waskesiu Lake, the only settlement, has the services of a small resort town, while a short drive or paddle puts you in quiet forest.

Wildlife is easy to spot. Elk and deer wander through Waskesiu itself, loons call on the lakes and bison graze in the southwest meadows.

The best places to visit around Waskesiu Lake

The lakeshore around the townsite is the easiest part of the park to enjoy, and it has the most facilities.

Waskesiu townsite and beach

The main beach is the social centre of the park in summer, with sandy shallows, picnic areas and a walkable village behind it. Allow a half day for swimming and strolling, and go early on busy weekends for the best space.

Waskesiu Marina

The marina is a main launch point for boats, with permits and fees required, and rentals of boats, canoes and kayaks are available. Waskesiu, Crean, Kingsmere, Sandy and the Hanging Heart Lakes allow motorboats, while many other lakes are best by canoe.

The Narrows

The Narrows Road runs along the southern shore of Waskesiu Lake, past picnic spots and viewpoints, to a narrow channel with a campground.

Waskesiu golf course

Stanley Thompson designed the 18-hole course in the early 1930s, and it is often called The Lobstick after a yearly tournament. The course runs through the forest, so expect to share it with wildlife.

The best places to visit on the trails and in the backcountry

Beyond the village, the park opens into lakes, bogs and meadows that suit hikers, paddlers and wildlife watchers.

Boundary Bog Trail

This short, well-marked trail leads through a boreal bog, with guide brochures that explain the plants. It is one of several easy walks near the townsite, along with the Treebeard Trail and the Ice-Push Ridge Trail.

Kingsmere Lake and the railcar portage

Highway 264 leads to the Kingsmere River, where a small railcar can carry a canoe or boat across the portage to Kingsmere Lake.

Grey Owl's cabin on Ajawaan Lake

The cabin stands on Ajawaan Lake, where beavers built a lodge partly inside it. Grey Owl, born Archibald Belaney in England, is buried nearby with his wife Anahareo and daughter.

Bison country in the southwest

The aspen and meadow country in the park's southwest corner supports a free-ranging herd of more than 400 plains bison. Join a guided program or ask at the nature centre about the best places to look.

Sandy Lake and Lakeview Drive

Scenic Route 263, known as Lakeview Drive, connects the townsite with Namekus, Trappers and Sandy Lakes, which also has beaches. It is a good half-day drive with picnic stops and short walks.

Food and local flavors

Dining in the park is concentrated in Waskesiu, which has a handful of sit-down restaurants, casual counters and small grocery stores. Prairie and northern cooking shine here. Look for pan-fried pickerel, the local name for walleye, caught in Saskatchewan's lakes, and for bison steak on dinner menus.

Fishing in the park needs its own licence, and some areas are closed to protect spawning grounds. If you plan to cook your catch at a picnic site, check the current fire rules.

Where to stay

Waskesiu is the best base for most travellers, with cabins, motels, a hotel and campgrounds within a short walk of the beach, shops and the nature centre. It suits families and first-time visitors, and it is booked heavily from mid-June to about the third week of August, so reserve early.

The Narrows, about thirty minutes from Waskesiu, has a lakeshore campground for people who want quiet and easy water access.

Prince Albert, the city to the south, is a practical choice for late arrivals, early departures or a wider choice of hotels and restaurants. Backcountry camping needs a permit and registration.

Best time to visit

Summer is the main season. June and July days can pass 30 degrees, though May and August may be cool, with near-freezing nights in some years.

Autumn is quiet, with golden aspens and fewer visitors. Winter is cold, and the park has recorded temperatures below minus 48 degrees, but it is also the best time for wildlife, with wolves on frozen lakes and elk in the village.

Getting there and getting around

Most travellers fly to Saskatoon and rent a car, or drive from Regina on Highway 11, which runs north through Saskatoon to Prince Albert. From Prince Albert, Highway 2 heads north along the east side of the park, and Highway 264 is the main connector to Waskesiu. Highways 263 and 264 give access to the lake.

Inside the park you will travel by car, bicycle, on foot or by canoe. Bicycle rentals are available in Waskesiu, and the townsite is walkable. The Narrows Road, Lakeview Drive and Highway 264 are the main scenic routes.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Spend the morning on the Waskesiu beach and the marina, then drive the Narrows Road in the afternoon. Walk the Boundary Bog Trail before dinner in the village.

Second day

Drive Lakeview Drive to Sandy Lake for a swim, then head to the Kingsmere River portage.

Practical tips

• Book campsites, cabins and oTENTik tents well ahead for summer weekends.
• Buy the fishing licence that applies to the park, since provincial licences do not cover it.
• Carry insect repellent from late spring through midsummer.
• Keep a safe distance from elk, bison and bears, and store food securely.
• Register with park staff before any backcountry or overnight trip.