Waskesiu Lake, Prince Albert National Park

In July, we spent five days in Prince Albert National Park, primarily paddling on Waskesiu Lake. The lake was very large, but amazing. We paddled off several beaches. I've broken out some of the highlights from our time there.

Main Beach

On the eastern shore of the lake is the town of Waskesiu and the main beach. You can camp, but we stayed at the Lost Creek Resort (very nice). The main beach is about half a km of sand, with a marked swimming area, playground, washrooms, breakwater, and good parking. You can launch off the beach and go north or south. someone in town was renting paddle boards and someone else was giving kayak tours.

The beach was lovely, especially after dinner when most of the families had called it a day. Clean sand, great swimming, almost no one around.

We launched off the beach (which included wheelchair access to the water!).

To the south is Murphy's Bay. This was a very nice paddle with a rocky and forested shore that felt very much like the Canadian Shield.

It was overcast the first day but the bay was calm and it was a lovely paddle.

We also paddled north from the beach one day, up to the top of the map above and then hung out off the main beach while the sun set. We saw all of the usual birds as well as an elk and calf.

Waskesiu Marina and River

To the north of the town in the main marina. You can put in here off the boat launch; parking is in the gravel lot behind the launch. There is a launch fee for power boats but not for kayaks or canoes or SUPs. The main office also rented canoes and kayaks.

This was again a grey-day paddle for us. We went east off the Marina and up the Waskesiu River.

The river was wide and had a manageable current. it was a nice, clean paddle through reeds and fens.

You can go down as far as the bridge before buoys block the way. This was a good paddle on a rougher day out on the lake.

We saw a fox with dinner in its mouth on the way back.

First Narrows

There are a number of beaches you can paddle at as you drive up the south shore of the lake. The furthest west you can go is the First Narrows (which is about half was down the lake). 

There is a camp ground, boat launch, beach, bathrooms, etc. You could rent kayaks and canoes here. We just parked in the day-use area and went off the beach (maybe a 50-foot carry).

We chose this spot on a windy day because the spit of land that juts down from the north provides a sheltered spot to paddle. We went up the west side of the spit, along the north shore, crossed over and came back.

There was a tonne of wildlife. We saw pelicans, loons, and a lake otter.

Tripps Beach

We spent a couple of days at Tripps Beach on the south shore. This was a very clean beach with good swimming and clean toilets. There was almost no one there.

We paddled off the beach one day out to King's Island (about 2km into the lake).

The island was lovely and there were lots of fish in the shallows. Tonnes of birds, including an eagle and osprey.

Best access point to the island is the SE corner, just around a narrow spit of land.

There is a fire pit and picnic bench on the island. We then paddled west back to shore (the wind was picking up) and spent some time swimming off one of the many boat-in only beaches.

Overall, Waskesiu was an amazing lake to paddle and swim on. Lots of boats but the lake is huge so we hardly ever saw one. Clean water, sandy beaches, and no one around. It is a lot like Jasper, minus the mountains and all of the people. I'd totally go back.