Hiking Trails Located In Waskesiu , Prince Albert National Park

Red Deer Trail

Explore Treebeard Trail with Prairies North (formerly Saskatchewan Naturally magazine). Article by Thomas Porter

"Environmental stewardship for our community and our park"

HIKE WASKESIU

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1 Kingfisher Trail
Moderate terrain, staircases, 13 km loop Start: 2.1 km from Alternate trailhead - Park Nature Centre, lakeside - 17 km loop. The Kingfisher trail leads you along the southern edge of Waskesiu Lake before returning through the woods to Red Wing Bay.

2 Shady Lake Trail Trail
Moderate terrain, 1.7 km loop Stairs span a vertical of 150 feet Start: 8 km from From the viewpoint, you can see Shady Lake and the Waskesiu Hills. Hike down towards the lake in a counter-clockwise direction. East of the lake, a 1.0 km spur trail brings you to the 10m high Height-of-Land Tower.

3 Freight Trail
Easy terrain, 27 km one way. There are four entrances to the Freight Trail. One is located off of the Narrows Road (see Amiskowan Hiking Trail description). Alternate trailheads are located approximately 15 km, 19 km, and 29 km from From mixed woods and wild flowers to creeks and steep hills, this historic trail dates back to the late 1800s when furs and supplies were hauled between Prince Albert and La Ronge.

4 Spruce River Highlands
Strenuous terrain, 8.5 km loop Start: 29 km from Ascend the path for 0.7 km and climb to the top of a 10m tower. Below, the Spruce River meanders through a characteristically glacial landscape. The hills of the aspen parkland are radiant in their fall foliage.

5 Anglin Lake Trail
Moderate terrain, 16 km one way Start: 30 km from An old gravel road guides you through the aspen and poplar forest and along the Spruce River.

6 Kinowa Trail
Moderate terrain, 5 km one way Start: 34 km from The hilly landscape through which the trail passes is covered with open forests of trembling aspen and patches of fescue prairie grasslands. The trail ends on the shores of Anglin Lake.

7 Elk Trail
Moderate/strenuous terrain, 39 km one way Start: 40 km from Rolling hills and long grass make this one of a few challenging routes. Some of the grades are steep, especially around Hunters Lake. Cookson Road (gravel, narrow, hills & curves)

8 Fish Lake Trail
Moderate terrain, 12 km one way Start: 11 km west of Southgate on Cookson Road. Pass several small lakes as you cycle over gently rolling hills and through the aspen forest to the Fish Lake campground.

9 Hunters Lake Trail
Strenuous terrain, 12 km one way Start: 16 km west of Southgate on Cookson Road Similar to parts of the Elk Trail, this trail offers a challenging experience including some steep hills and exposed rocks along the trail.

10 Westside Boundary Trail
Easy terrain, 37.5 km from Cookson Road to Sturgeon Crossing Picnic Area, 22 km from the picnic area to the north end of trail. Start: 17 km west of the South Gate on Cookson Road at Hwy #240 junction. This trail provides access to the Fescue Grasslands and the Sturgeon Lookout Trail (1 km) 25 km West of the Cookson Road/Hwy #240. Please take extra caution if biking this trail. It is not being maintained and there are several areas of high grass and hidden washouts along the road and at creek crossings, as well as fallen trees, some small ones hidden in the grass and larger ones that require going around. Use caution when crossing bridges.

11 Amyot Lake Trail
Moderate terrain, 15.5 km loop Start: Westside Picnic Area Explore sedge meadows in the free roaming bison home range and return via the Westside Trail. The Narrows Road (narrow, paved in places, gravel in others)

12 Amiskowan Trail
Easy terrain, 1 km loop Start: 2.3 km down the Narrows Road The Amiskowan trail winds through aspen forest to the edge of Amiskowan Lake. Past the lake, the trail heads up a steep hill. The old road to the right continues as part of the 27 km Freight Trail.

13 Mud Creek Trail
Easy terrain, 2 km loop Start: 4.5 km down the Narrows Road, on the east (right) end of South Bay day use area. The trail skirts the lake and then follows Mud Creek. An active beaver lodge and dam can be seen on the creek. In the spring, spawning fish attract black bear to the area. A self-guiding brochure is available at the trailhead.

14 Ice Push Ridge
Easy terrain, 150m one way Start: 11 km down the Narrows Road See evidence of the force of winter ice on Waskesiu Lake described by an interpretive exhibit at the lakeshore.

15 Treebeard Trail
Moderate terrain, 1.2 km loop Start: 17.6 km down the Narrows Road Ascend the steep, winding trail through a white spruce and balsam fir forest. The trees along this path are among the oldest and largest in the park. As you descend, watch for a spur trail to the right. It leads to a small, fern-edged creek, dark and cool. A self-guiding brochure is available at the trailhead. Kingsmere Road (extension of #264, 1st 15 km paved with narrow shoulders; last 17.5 km gravel)

16 Waskesiu River Trail
Easy terrain, 2.5 km loop. The first 0.5 km is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Start: 6 km from From the parking lot, walk towards the river and across the pedestrian bridge. Special displays are on exhibit along this boardwalk. The trail parallels the rock-filled river for 0.5 km before leaving the river's north shore to loop through aspen and spruce forests and a sedge meadow.

17 Narrows Peninsula
Trail Moderate terrain, 3.0 km loop, staircase Start: 22 km from This trail passes through a variety of habitats following the shore of Waskesiu Lake. Of particular interest is a spectacular fern bed, luxuriant and green in the early summer. In the 1880's, a fur trade post was set up on the point by an independent trader.

18 Kingsmere River
Trail Easy terrain, stairway, 1.5 km one way Start: 32.5 km from , at the end of Kingsmere Road. The path follows the east bank of the Kingsmere River. The trail crosses the river and follows a rail portage, then passes through a spruce forest and ends on the east side of the Southend Campground on Kingsmere Lake.

19 Grey Owl Trail
Moderate terrain, 20 km one way Start: 32 km from The trail follows the east bank of Kingsmere River until you reach a junction at 0.3 km. The trail to Grey Owl's cabin branches to the right. Kingsmere Lake becomes visible 1.5 km from this junction. From there, the trail follows the Lake's eastern shoreline. See page 9 for more information on backcountry routes. Highway #264 (paved, with shoulders)

20 Boundary Bog Trail
Easy terrain, 2 km loop Start:4.5km from Outdoor privies are provided. Boundary Bog is an excellent representation of the many black spruce bogs that exist in the Park. A self-guiding brochure is available at the trailhead.

21 Red Deer Trail (NEW!)
Easy to strenuous terrain; three loops totalling 17.0 km; very high likelihood of seeing wildlife. The Trail is for both recreation and maintenance of the Community Fuel Break. South Loop Moderate to strenuous terrain Start: at Rendezvous (located on the corner of Waskesiu Drive -and Lakeview Drive - by the "big rock") The South Loop of The Trail takes you 7.5 km through a variety of habitats from townsite, to lakeshore through the rolling hills south of Waskesiu. Central Loop Easy terrain Start: at Rendezvous(located on the corner of Waskesiu Drive -and Lakeview Drive - by the "big rock") The Central Loop of The Trail takes you 4.4 km through a variety of habitats from townsite through the Community Fuel Break and back along the lake shore. North Loop Easy with some strenuous terrain at the north end Start: at the corner of Waskesiu and Adjawaan or from your Beaver Glen campsite access the trail where it joins the Beaver Glen Road on the east side of the campground. The North Loop takes you 5.1 km around Beaver Glen Campground, through the rolling hills north of Waskesiu, then back along the shore of Waskesiu Lake. If you are walking, you may choose to leave the trail and walk on the beach from Kapasiwin to Orchid.

A PANP TRAIL GUIDE IS AVAILABLE AT THE FRIENDS OF THE PARK GIFT SHOP. LOCATED IN THE OLD INFO CENTRE ON WASKESIU DRIVE. CAUTION: Watch for slippery or broken boardwalk on various trails. Report any required repairs or maintenance to park staff.

The Waskesiu Community Council is democratically elected to represent your views to Parks Canada. We assist Prince Albert National Park in establishing practices for the operation of Waskesiu. Our council operates under the terms of a Memorandum Of Understanding outlining responsibilities to you and to Parks Canada.