Activities
[edit]
There are many things to do in this park:
Scenic driving tours[edit]
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 midway between Kingsmere and Waskesiu lakes, and a trail through a railway portage to Kingsmere Lake.
Picnicking[edit]
There are many picnic sites within the park, set up with picnic tables, scenic views, campfire pits and swimming areas.
Namekus Lake
Sandy Lake
South Gate
Meridian Day
South Bay
Trippes Beach
King Island
Paignton Beach
The Narrows
Waskesiu River
Waskesiu Landing (Main Marina)
Point View
Birch Bay
Heart Lakes
Kingsmere
Hiking[edit]
These trails are 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) in length or less. They each have descriptive guided brochures which help to identify the natural sights along the way.
Boundary Bog Trail
Mud Creek Trail
Treebeard Trail
Waskesiu River Trail
Kingsmere River Trail
Red Deer Trail (Red, Blue, and Yellow)
Ice-Push Ridge Trail
Narrows Peninsula Trail
Spruce River Highlands Tower Trail
There are longer trails for the backpacker and hiker which vary from 13 kilometres in length and to 54 kilometres (return).
Kingfisher Trail
Grey Owl Trail
Fish Trail
Hunters Trail
Spruce River Highlands Trail
Swimming[edit]
Surrounding Waskesiu Lake there are several beaches to take in swimming during the hot summer months. There are also good beaches at the south end of Kingsmere Lake (boat or trail access), Namekus Lake, and Sandy Lake.
Canoeing[edit]
Bagwa Canoe Route and Bladebone Canoe Route are two canoe routes of varying lengths. As well the park offers a multitude of lakes which are amenable to the canoe enthusiast. Amiskowan, Shady, Heart, Kingsmere, and Waskesiu lakes are just a few of them.
Boating[edit]
Power boats are only permitted on some of Prince Albert National Park's lakes. Motor boats are allowed on Waskesiu, Crean, Kingsmere, Sandy, and the Hanging Heart Lakes. There is a limit of 40 horsepower motors on Kingsmere. The Waskesiu Marina, Heart Lakes Marina, and the Narrows have boat launches (permit and fee required) and docks. Boat, canoe, and kayak rentals are available at all three, by the hour or by the day. The Waskesiu Marina has a concrete breakwater and a permit is required to use boat launch facilities. Personal watercraft are not allowed on any lakes. Canoes, kayaks, and sail boats are allowed on all waters.
Fishing[edit]
Just like those who used the waters for commercial fishing in the early 20th century, campers may also find relaxation fishing for northern pike, walleye, lake trout, whitefish, or yellow perch. The park requires purchase of its own licences to fish in the park and limits and seasons are different from the province of Saskatchewan. Some areas, e.g., spawning grounds, are closed to fishing.
Camping[edit]
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.
Open fires are allowed at campsites (Excluding Red Deer Campground), after payment for a "fire permit" (fire permits are not required in picnic areas).
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 Lake and Sandy Lake Campgrounds have septic tank toilets, water source (not drinkable without treatment). These sites are also first come, first served.
There are a series of boat-accessible campsites – the level of waves that can come up with overnight weather changes on Waskesiu, Kingsmere, and Crean lakes, provide some risk for boats that cannot be completely pulled out of the water at night.
Interpretive programs[edit]
The nature centre in the Waskesiu townsite has information about interpretive programs
Freight Trail – 27 km one way
Elk Trail – 39 km one way
Fish Lake Trail – 12 km one way
Hunters Lake Trail – 12 km one way
Westside Boundary Trail – 37 km one way
Red Deer Trail – three loops totalling 17 km
Kinowa Trail – 5 km one way
Amyot Lake Trail – 15.5 km loop
Bicycle rentals are available in Waskesiu townsite.
Wildlife and bird watching[edit]
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.
Golfing[edit]
Stanley Thompson designed an 18-hole golf course in the park. It was built in the early 1930s. Its official name is the Waskesiu Golf Course, but is often called "The Lobstick" after a tournament it hosts each year.
