The best camping near Prince Albert National Park

The million acres of Prince Albert National Park offer a mix of easily accessible leisure activities and epic opportunities to view roaming bison, timberwolves, and millions of wild birds. With lakefront country campsites within walking distance of the park’s resort town of Waskesiu townsite and plenty of remote backcountry camping, you can have whatever kind of experience you want here. Stargazing is top-notch at Prince Albert, and canoeing, fishing, wakeboarding, and swimming are especially popular, with rentals on Waskesiu Beach). The adventurous will enjoy the multi-day trek out to Grey Owl’s Cabin, the historic home of turn-of-the-century conservationist Archibald Stansfeld Belaney.

• Best for families: Beaver Glen Campground has oTENTiks and full facilities.
• Best for beach lovers: Sandy Lake Campground is a lakefront spot with a boat launch.
• Best for RVs: Red Deer Campground has 161 fully serviced pull-through sites with hook-ups.

1. The sites at Prince Albert National Park are a mix of first-come, first-served spots and reservable campsites bookable online with Parks Canada. Reservations open in mid-January, and it’s always a good idea to book in advance for coveted sites and oTENTiks.
2. There are plenty of frontcountry and backcountry camping sites, so you’re likely fine to just show up and snag a spot when they open at 2pm each day—except in the height of summer or on a Canadian long weekend, when a lot of folks from Saskatoon make the two-hour drive to go camping.

June through September are the most popular times at this year-round park, when water activities are most pleasant due to warmer lakes and rivers. Fall brings pleasant weather, a slower pace, and red and gold fall leaves. Although winter activities are plentiful, campground and facility access is limited outside of from October to April.

• Wifi is only available in the nearby town of Waskesiu, and cell phone service in the park can be patchy or non-existent, especially for backcountry campers and hikers. Grab maps from the visitor centre to be safe.
• In summer, Wakesiu Lake can get busy with day-use visitors who come for the boat launch, picnic areas, and facilities. If you’re looking for a quiet spot on the beach, you might want to pick a campsite away from this area.
• The park is home to black bears, so visitors should stay aware on trails and keep safety practices in mind.