Lakeside camping near Prince Albert with campfires
Surrounded by huge parks, this small Saskatchewan city makes a great pit stop for adventurers.
- Prince Albert
Popular camping styles for Prince Albert
Lakeside camping near Prince Albert with campfires guide
Overview
With four museums, an art gallery, lots of dining options and all the services you need, Prince Albert is a sweet little city that's worth stopping in before exploring the vast parks that it sits between. Recreation opportunities abounx in and around Prince Albert, and campers can find something awesome to experience all year-round. Locals embrace even the coldest days as opportunities to ski, snowmobile, or ice fish, and within a few hours' drive of the city are amazing camping spots that showcase the very best of Saskatchewan's forests, lakes, and wildlife.
- If backcountry camping in the national park, be aware that there is no potable water supply and cell phone coverage may be non-existent in places.
- You'll need a vehicle to get around Prince Albert. The small airport doesn't support any major airlines, so your best bet is to travel in from Saskatoon.
- Black flies and mosquitoes can be intense in the summer months, so pack extra-strength bug spray (or plan to visit either in spring before they peak or in early fall when they ease off).
Where to go
Prince Albert National Park
With 1,500 lakes teeming with fish and edged by beaches, superb hiking, kayaking, boating, unparalleled wildlife (if you want to see wolves or a bison herd, this is the place), Prince Albert National Park is one of Canada's most stunning parks. Within the park is the resort town of Waskesiu Lake, which offers a range of restaurants, stores, and equipment rentals, as well as a wide range of frontcountry and backcountry campsites.
Lac La Ronge Provincial Park
Follow historic fur-trapper routes along the Churchill River in this massive park ,which has more than 100 lakes and 30 designated canoe routes. Naturally awesome, Lac La Ronge isn't just about the water—there are tons of hiking and skiing trails, plus private campsites in the lush forest. The park is also home to Saskatchewan’s oldest building, the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, and numerous service centres where you can grab what you need for your trip.
Narrow Hills Provincial Park
In Narrow Hills, hike through the boreal forest for incredible views out over crystal-clear lakes (some stocked with trout ready for fishing), and camp in the pristine wilderness. Carved by glaciers, the park has valleys and terrain to explore, and fantastic bird and wildlife viewing opportunities, as well as maintained beaches and facilities alongside frontcountry campsites.
When to go
If your idea of heaven is warm nights, swimming, and beaches, you'll want to wait until mid-June (with temperatures reaching the mid-70s in the height of summer), but from May to September, weather is pleasant. Winter camping is also popular, with plenty of winter activities on offer in the national park and beyond. Winter landscapes offer the best wildlife viewing opportunities, especially if you want to see wolves.
