Family Fun in the Boreal Forest
When was the last time you wandered through the woods? Enjoy the call of the wild with your family at Prince Albert National Park – 3,875 sq. km of outstanding natural wonders where parkland meets forest. The park is one of Saskatchewan’s most popular four-season destinations, a place where you can mix northern wilderness encounters with the comforts of a lakeside resort. Located approximately 90 km north of Prince Albert, the charming resort village of Waskesiu, situated in Prince Albert National Park, has a wide range of services.
Camping and Accommodations
Within the park boundaries, there are five front-country, vehicle-accessible campgrounds. Pitch your tent or park your RV in one of two major campgrounds.
Red Deer Campground is a 161-site full-service (water, sewer and electrical hook-up) pull-through campground for recreational vehicles (RVs) and trailers located in the Waskesiu townsite.
Beaver Glen Campground is ideal for RV and tent camping in a wilderness setting. Located on the fringe of the townsite, it has 200 electrified back-in sites, as well as modern, accessible washrooms and centrally located camp kitchens. It also has 10 reservable oTENTiks. Rough it in style in this family-friendly accommodation – a cross between an A-frame cabin and a prospector tent equipped with beds and furniture on a raised floor.
For a more rustic setting or peaceful, lakeside camping, there is the Narrows Campground, Namekus Lake Campground or Sandy Lake Campground. With a backcountry permit, adventure-seeking visitors can hike or canoe and camp in remote reaches of the park. There are 14 designated backcountry campgrounds in four different wilderness areas.
If you prefer the amenities or luxury of a hotel, condo or cabin, stay at one of the park’s deluxe all-season accommodations, including the Hawood Inn, Lost Creek Resort, The Lakeview Hotel, Kapasiwin Bungalows or Elk Ridge on the Lake (formerly Waskesiu Lake Lodge).
Down the road, located just outside of the park, is Elk Ridge Resort’s signature property. Indulge in first-class comfort with a stay in one of its upscale accommodation options – the lodge, log cabin, townhouse or cottage. Start your day with a massage or pedicure at Drift Spa & Wellness before you head out for a round on the championship 27-hole golf course, where it’s not uncommon to see elk on the fairway. Enjoy fine dining set amidst rustic elegance at Fredrich, the resort’s newest dining experience. The restaurant’s patio has a spectacular pond view. Another (more casual) dining option is The Wyld at Elk Ridge, located in the golf course clubhouse.
Outdoor Recreation
Recreation is the name of the game here with hiking, swimming, fishing, golfing and canoeing.
Hiking
With more than 150 km of hiking trails within the park, you can choose your own path at your own pace. There are 16 trails varying in length and level of difficulty – from short walks and day hikes to overnight backcountry excursions. All hiking trails, including Red Deer Trail and Waskesiu River Trail, offer breathtakingly scenic views, wildlife, lush vegetation and many points of interest.
Swimming
Hit the beach and spread a towel in the sand, take a dip in the clear, shallow waters, explore the shoreline by stand-up paddleboard or enjoy the hot summer days with boating and on-water activities, such as waterskiing and wakeboarding. In addition to the 600-metre-long Main Beach, located in the townsite, there are seven other road- and water-accessible beaches scattered around Waskesiu Lake.
Golfing (and mini golfing)
Golf one of the province’s most picturesque and challenging layouts. Designed by Stanley Thompson and built in the 1930s, the Waskesiu Golf Course is an 18-hole grass-green course with rolling terrain and a mature forest flanking the fairways. For those who prefer golf of the mini variety, Little Al’s Mini Golf is a recent addition to the park and part of the redeveloped recreation area that includes resurfaced tennis and pickleball courts, a new multi-sport court, shuffleboard, outdoor fitness facility, ninja course for kids, and a renewed lawn bowling green, which has a 70-year history in the park. Spikeball, bocce ball, outdoor chess and checkers, foosball, table tennis and disc golf (course in the Day Use Area) are also available.
Canoeing (and Grey Owl)
Learn about famed conservationist Grey Owl at the Friends of the Park Bookshop, or visit his cabin first-hand with an interpretive tour guided by Waskesiu Marina Adventure Centre. By foot, canoe or boat, make the pilgrimage to the one-room log cabin on the shore of Ajawaan Lake. Built in 1931, the cabin was home to the acclaimed naturalist, his wife Anahareo, and their pet beavers, Jellyroll and Rawhide.
Ziplining
Get your adrenaline pumping by soaring up to 21 m above the ground on a two-hour zipline tour at the Waskesiu location of Treeosix Adventure Parks. With seven lines, an outdoor climbing wall, slackline park, giant swing and spikeball court, prepare to see the forest from a new vantage point. Recent additions to basecamp activities include axe throwing and electric fat bike rentals.
Explore Waskesiu townsite
Following a day of outdoor pursuits, look for the comforts of home in the Waskesiu townsite. Pick up some summer fashions and keepsakes at unique boutiques and shops and enjoy a delicious dinner at one of the many local restaurants, such as Restaurant Pietro, Pete’s Terrace or Hecho en Waskesiu. Grab an ice cream cone for dessert at Big Olaf Sundaes and walk the length of the breakwater overlooking the park’s expansive beach or catch a family-friendly movie at Twin Pine Cinema.
From your campsite to the golf course and backcountry to the beach, opportunities to connect with your family are endless.
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