Park Report: Backcountry Canoeing Where the Shield Meets the Prairie

Backcountry Canoeing Where the Shield Meets the Prairie

By: Craig Romano

Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan's Prince Albert National Park is a rich and diverse land in a province that many envision as nothing more than monotonous croplands. Situated almost right dab in the middle of the province, Prince Albert protects 3,875 square kilometres of pure wilderness. This is the transition zone between prairie, aspen parkland, and boreal forest. Where ecosystems converge, you can be assured that there's plenty of plant and animal diversity.

Wolves and moose wander all over this wild country. A free-ranging herd of plains bison can also be found here. Wolverines and lynx also have healthy populations here. The park protects some exceptional breeding grounds for the rare white pelican. And although they nest in a remote corner of the park, these beautiful birds can often be seen skimming lakes throughout Prince Albert.

Much of Prince Albert is wilderness and only the most experienced backcountry travellers can access it. Trails do traverse the park, but they can be wet and boggy. The best way to experience this special park is by canoe or kayak. Crean, Waskesiu, and Kingsmere Lakes are large bodies of water and they provide excellent open-water paddling. Scores of smaller lakes dot the park and punctuate the thick spruce forests.

Beautiful stands of jack pine grace some of the shorelines. Rivers, streams and portage routes allow for countless days of exploration. Some nice circuits exist as well. A popular destination is the trip to Gray Owl's cabin and grave on Lake Ajawaan. Gray Owl (Archibald Belany) was Parks Canada's first naturalist and a beloved conservationist. He lived here in this remote backcountry for seven years from 1931 until his death in 1938.

If you'd rather hike to the cabin than take to the waters, a 20-kilometre trail will lead you there. Other land-based backcountry routes include the Freight Trail, a 27-kilometre former fur-trappers' route, and the Kingfisher Trail, a 13-kilometre loop great for bird watching.

If you ever tire of Prince Albert's lakes and boreal forests, you may want to venture to its grasslands. A small area in the southwest corner of the park preserves a native fescue prairie. It's a long trail to it though, but it's nice just knowing that this special ecosystem exists within this very diverse park.

Prince Albert National Park is located 180 kilometres north of Saskatoon.

For more information visit: http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/sk/princealbert/index_e.asp