PRINCE ALBERT NATIONAL PARK ‑ Whether you’re looking for adventure, fun family activities, a chance to explore nature or a winter getaway in a quiet, tranquil setting, Prince Albert National Park is open and welcomes visitors to enjoy the whole year through.
The park welcomes visitors to embrace a healthy and active winter lifestyle.
Possibilities include:
• Cross-country skiing – Close to 50 kilometers of ski trails are groomed and maintained in the park. There are skate and classic ski trails with varying degrees of difficulty. Updates on trail conditions are available on the Prince Albert National Park trail conditions page. Visitors also can create their own adventure from Prince Albert National Park to Great Blue Heron Provincial Park; a one-kilometre spur trail connects the Spruce River Highlands trail to 18 kilometres of ski trails in the Anglin Lake area.
• Snowshoeing – Inspired by nature and developed by Indigenous peoples throughout the global north, snowshoes make you lighter on your feet, giving you access to areas you couldn’t travel with regular winter footwear. Visitors will find a range of designated snowshoe and hiking routes around the Waskesiu townsite or via easily accessible ploughed roads.
• Picnicking – Set up a family meal in one of the five enclosed shelters in the park during the winter. You can find them at Birch Bay, Paignton Beach, Waskesiu Beach near the playground, the Crean day use area at the end of the Crean Lake ski trail, and at Southend Campground on the shores of Kingsmere Lake. Each shelter has a wood stove for warmth and meal preparation, making them the perfect sanctuary for a winter picnic with your family or household group. Firewood is provided.
• Stargazing – After dark, visitors can look up and find an overhead marvel; the Milky Way, northern lights and constellations fill the sky above Prince Albert National Park. Visitors can enjoy wide open views of the night sky at South Bay or Paignton Beach along the Narrows Road. In January and February, take in the Gateway to the Stars interpretive presentation on Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. on the breakwater near the Waskesiu Beach. Weather dependent.
• Photographing wildlife – There is no more beautiful time of year to take pictures in Prince Albert National Park. Crystalized snowflakes and windswept vistas are everywhere. Wildlife are sporting winter coats, with fluffier and differently coloured fur, to keep warm and better blend in during colder temperatures. With fewer visitors around, the opportunity to see elk, wolves, deer and foxes from the safety of vehicles is far more likely than at other times of the year. Silent forests and shorelines offer the perfect opportunity to listen for the hardy birds that stay in the park through the winter. Visitors can even take a scenic drive to the Narrows and watch for otters fishing in patches of open water or sliding on the ice.
• Ice fishing: Families can plan a trip to the park to experience ice fishing on Waskesiu Lake. Bring your fishing gear and enjoy the season, which runs until March 31. Prince Albert National Park fishing licences can be purchased at the Visitor Centre upon arrival. If it’s slow between catches, visitors can scout the lake or shoreline for animal tracks.
• Camping adventures: A winter camping experience is unlike any other. Cold, perhaps, but a true personal victory against the elements. The park has two designated campgrounds – Birch Bay and Paignton Beach - offering access to firewood, pit toilets and enclosed camp kitchen shelters. There are also several designated backcountry campgrounds to explore. Visitors should register and pay their camping fees at the Visitor Centre before any overnight excursion and for information on random winter camping.
Prince Albert National Park is offering two engaging family activities this winter:
• Pick up a Family Forest Walk activity pamphlet at the Visitor Centre and take a tour along a short trail to learn more about local wildlife that thriv
Reservations for camping in Prince Albert and Grasslands National Parks open Feb. 4.
Reservations are strongly recommended, especially in the peak summer season and on weekends.
In Prince Albert National Park, visitors can make reservations for Beaver Glen Campground or Red Deer Campground. The reservation period is May 20 to Oct. 9.
In Grasslands National Park, visitors can make reservations for Frenchman Valley Campground, West Block backcountry camping and Rock Creek Campground. The reservation period is May 1 to Oct. 9.
Reserve your 2022 campsites starting February 4, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. CST, the local time zone in Saskatchewan, online at www.reservation.parkscanada.gc.ca or by calling 1-877-737-3783.
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