Prince Albert National Park

Introduction

Prince Albert National Park encompasses 3,874 square kilometres in central Saskatchewan, Canada and is located 200 kilometres north of Saskatoon. Though declared a national park March 24, 1927, it had its official opening ceremonies on August 10, 1928 performed by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. Until the establishment of Grasslands National Park in the 1980s, this was the province's only national park.

Geography

The park ranges in elevation from 488 metres on the western side to 724 metres on the eastern side. The landscape varies from open plains where buffalo (bison) roam wild to northern lakes with dense forest cover and many lakes.

Sights and Activities

Scenic driving tours

There are a few main roads through the park:

• The Narrows Road along Waskesiu Lake's southern shore, with many points of interest and picnic areas, ending at a 200-metre narrows, where there is a campground.
• Lakeview Drive or Scenic Route 263 which provides access to several other lakes: Namekus, Trappers, Sandy (also called Halkett); as well as many trails.
• Highway 264 to Kingsmere River, which accesses a small boat or canoe launch site mid-way between Kingsmere and Waskesiu lakes, and a trail through a railway portage to Kingsmere Lake.

Wildlife and bird watching

Flycatchers, Tennessee warblers, red-necked grebe, brown creepers, nuthatches, three-toed woodpeckers, bald eagle, osprey, great blue herons, common loon are just a few of the many bird species to be seen in the park. Elk, black bear, fox, moose, beaver, deer, otter are a sampling of wild life of the park area.

Although most people visit the park in summer, the best wildlife watching is often in the winter. Wolves often travel on the frozen lakes and along the ploughed roads, and elk and deer are common right in the town of Waskesiu. Open water at the Narrows on Waskesiu Lake and where the Waskesiu River exits from the lake makes otter sightings very reliable. Foxes, including the red, cross and silver colour phases, are frequent sightings in winter too.

Opening Hours

The park is open all year but the most visited period is from May to September.

Cost

A national park pass or daily fee for entry applies. Special fishing licences are required. Camping permits are required, and so are fire permits within camp grounds. It is free to burn wood at picnic sites to cook your supper.

Getting There and Around

By Car

Saskatchewan Highway 11 starts in Regina (capital of the Province of Saskatchewan), proceeds north through Saskatoon and Prince Albert, then along the eastern side of the park. Most travellers will either fly into Saskatoon and rent a car, or drive north from the TransCanada highway which passes through Regina, or the YellowHead highway (highway #16, another trans-Canada route from Edmonton to the West to Saskatoon and east to Winnpeg).

By Bus

Passenger bus service is available into the townsite of Waskesiu.

Eat/Drink

Sleep

At this park one can choose from serviced or unserviced 'front country' camping or go by canoe/boat and backpacking, and choose 'back country' camping. Most back country camping occurs on Kingsmere and Crean lakes. Permits and fees are required for all camping, whether front or back country. Front country sites can be reserved by website or telephone. The following are accessible by automobile and can accommodate trailers and motorhomes:

• Beaver Glen Campground on the east margins of the Waskesiu town site has electricity to half of its 213 sites (no water or septic hook-ups), washrooms with hot and cold water and showers, central septic tank service and drinking water. Sites can be booked in advance through the Parks Canada Campground Reservation Service through a toll free number or via online reservation. Details about how to reserve can be found at the Parks Canada website.
• Red Deer Campground, formerly "Trailer Court" is to the immediate South-West of Beaver Glen in the Waskesiu townsite. This site has power, water and sewage hookups at each of its 161 pull through sites and is designed for large trailers and motorhomes. There are no open fires are allowed at Red Deer. Sites in Red Deer can be booked in advance in the same way as Beaver Glen.
• The Narrows Campground has flush toilet washrooms with cold water only, and no other services. Sites at The Narrows are First Come First Served.
• Namekus, Trappers, Sandy Lakes have septic tank toilets, water source (not drinkable without treatment). These sites are also First Come First Served.

External Links

• Official Website