Backcountry Campgrounds

From a short hike to a multi-day paddling excursion, Prince Albert National Park has something for every adventurer!

Stay at one of the 15 designated backcountry campgrounds and enjoy all the wonders of the backcountry with the benefits of a few simple comforts. Each campground is complete with picnic tables, pit toilets, firewood and bear caches. Some sites are now equipped with a newer “bear bar” style of cache requiring supplies to be strung up on a pole using rope.

Prince Albert National Park’s designated backcountry camping sites are located in four different wilderness areas. Backcountry permits are required for all overnight stays and registration is done at the Visitor Centre or South Gate before departure. Backcountry fees apply and sites are registered to campers on a “first come first served” basis.

* Review all camping safety, regulations and etiquette before departure.

Group Camping

Sandy Lake, Westwind and Northend are designated group camping sites and are available to educational groups. Call the Visitor Centre for more information and to make a reservation.

Random Backcountry Camping

With over 3,800 km² of protected, unspoiled wilderness, the Park offers all adventurers the opportunity to use their wilderness skills. Random backcountry camping is a great way to see the Park without the ‘crowds’. Just remember:

• Register at the Visitor Centre prior to each trip.
• Random camping is prohibited within 2 km of any public highway or designated campground, 50 meters of any designated trail in Prince Albert National Park, and within 2 km of the shorelines of Waskesiu, Kingsmere, Bagwa, Clare, Lily, Ajawaan, Hanging Hearts, Crean, Sandy and Lost Lakes.
• Firewood may be gathered from fallen trees and deadfall on the ground. Do not cut or remove material from standing trees.

Random Backcountry Camping Map

Random Backcountry Camping map — Text version

This map is labelled Random Backcountry Camping. This map shows Prince Albert National Park from a bird`s eye view and depicts prohibited areas for random backcountry camping.

Random camping is prohibited with 2km of any public highway or designated campground, and 50 meters of any designated trail in Prince Albert National Park, and within 2km of the shorelines of Sandy (Halkett), Crean, Lost Lakes, Hanging Hearts, Waskesiu, Bagwa, Clare, Lily, Ajawaan and Kingsmere (except for Sanctuary Lake, Lone Lake and the most easterly lake on the Bladebone Wilderness Route).

The map is divided into 4 zones.
Zone #1 – South end zone – colored light green - most likely used via Elk Trail from Hwy #263
Zone #2 – largest zone – colored light purple – most likely used via Beartrap or 57 Trail
Zone #3 – colored light orange – Bladebone canoe route – potentially accessible via Kingsmere Lake
Zone #4 – North end zone – colored light yellow – access via Wabeno, Wasegam, and Tibiska

The legend includes:
1. A red rectangle with lines through it to indicate large, prohibited areas.
2. A red circle to indicate smaller prohibited areas. This may be where helipads are located, or park work cabins are located.