Anglin Lake, Prince Albert National Park, SK

In late June, we spent a morning on Anglin Lake, just south of Prince Albert National Park. Anglin Lake is a reservoir and sprawls over a large area. One option for entry is the Great Blue Heron Regional Park on the eastern end. There is a day-use fee here ($10, I think), a campground, standard boat launch, and a beach with put toilets and a picnic shelter.

This entry offers good access to the eastern part of the lake. The water looked lovely and was mostly empty when we were there (one kayaker and one guy unloading a fishing boat).

A second option is the Anglin Lake Bridge, about two-thirds of the way towards the west end of the lake. Again, a day-use fee applies. This allows access to the western basin (down towards the dam or up towards the Spruce River inflow) or the middle basin.

We decided to put in here because it looked the most interesting. Access is down a grassy slope on either side of the bridge. 

The west side looked easier but both required wet feet.

We paddled east, under the bridge and into the middle basin and did a circuit.

The middle basin basically looks like the image below: reeds and grassy slopes give way into an aspen forest. We saw a deer frolicking in the shallows (no picture).

We also annoyed this poor heron who flew off.

The lake was calm and mostly empty. On the south shore of the middle basin, there looks to be a public boat launch and we saw a fishing boat unloading there.

We paddled around a couple of islands before heading back towards the bridge.

A few dragon flies were rescued.

The western basin had more fir trees on the northern shore and was, overall, bit more rugged looking.

You cross into the National Park in this basin.

The inflow of the Spruce River  is just to the left of the trees in the picture below, but we didn't get that far up the lake.

After pulling out, we followed the road to the south end of the lake where the dam is. It was good walk from the parking area along the top of the dam and there were lots of butterflies.

The outflow of the dam itself was surprisingly small.

There is a launch here but this end of the lake looked a bit boring.

Overall, a pretty nice lake with enough to explore over several paddles. The folks we talked to said the fishing was also good (jack and walleye).