Categories: Travel

There’s a stunning provincial park in Alberta with a three-day paddling circuit

Image via @alberta_parks/Instagram

Nestled in northern Alberta and dotted with crystal-clear lakes is a provincial park you absolutely have to visit.

Lakeland Provincial Park is home to lakes, dense forests, and trails that wind through unspoiled terrain. It’s also where you’ll find an impressive three-day paddling circuit that should be on any avid canoeer’s bucket list.

If you’re up for a drive that delivers on serenity and scenery, this Alberta park is more than worth the trip.

What to expect

Image via Travel Alberta

Lakeland Canoe Circuit

If you love to paddle on crystal clear waters amid stunning scenery, the Lakeland Canoe Circuit is a must-try. While not as widely known, it’s among the best in the province according to Travel Alberta.

The main circuit goes on for about 38 km and takes three days to complete. You’ll find backcountry camping along the route, but spots are first-come, first-served.

Things to do

Lakeland Provincial Park has year-round activities to enjoy, so you’ll find something to do no matter when you visit!

In the summer, you can expect excellent birdwatching, swimming, fishing, power boating and water skiing. There are also many hiking and mountain biking trails in the area.

Wintertime means ample snowshoeing trails along with cross-country skiing, and ice fishing – if you’re adventurous.

Here are some more details on activities to try when you visit Lakeland Provincial Park:

Backcountry camping: There are 16 designated backcountry camping areas in Lakeland Provincial Park, along with five backcountry camping areas in the adjacent Lakeland Provincial Recreation Area. Random backcountry camping is not permitted in Lakeland.
Camping: Lakeland Provincial Recreation Area, located alongside the provincial park, has four basic front-country campgrounds.
Birding: Spot sharp-tailed, Le Conte’s and swamp sparrows, osprey, bald eagle, northern saw-whet, barred, great grey, boreal and great horned owls and (in winter) finches and crossbills throughout the area.
Canoeing: Try the famed canoe circuit that goes through Jackson, Kinnaird, McGuffin, and Blackett lakes, accessible from Jackson Lake Staging Area. You can bring your own canoe or get a rental from the local Lakeland Expeditions.
Cross-country skiing: Enjoy approximately 30 km of groomed ski trails throughout Shaw Lake and Mosquito Lake trails.
Ice fishing: Catch your dinner! You’ll have to take a snowmobile from the north on Mile 10 Trail from Touchwood Lake road; access to the south on the Blackett Lake and Helena Lake Trails from Pinehurst Lake access road at Blackett Lake Staging Area.
OHV riding: Find the access on Mile 10 trail to Jackson Lake, and with Lakeland Provincial Recreation Area trails to Dabbs Lake, Blackett Lake and Helena Lake from Blackett Lake Staging Area.