Prince Albert National Park

Prince Albert National Park
IUCN category II (national park)

Lake Waskesiu

Lake Waskesiu in Prince Albert National Park
Prince Albert National Park

Location of Prince Albert National Park in Canada

Location Saskatchewan, Canada
Nearest city Prince Albert
Coordinates 53°57′48″N 106°22′12″W / 53.96333°N 106.37000°W / 53.96333; -106.37000Coordinates: 53°57′48″N 106°22′12″W / 53.96333°N 106.37000°W / 53.96333; -106.37000
Area 3,874 km2 (1,496 sq mi)
Established March 24, 1927
Visitors 258,613[1] (in 2015-16)
Governing body Parks Canada
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/sk/princealbert/visit/index_e.asp

Prince Albert National Park encompasses 3,874 square kilometres (1,496 sq mi) in central Saskatchewan, Canada and is located 200 kilometres (120 mi) north of Saskatoon. Though declared a national park March 24, 1927, it had its official opening ceremonies on August 10, 1928 performed by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King.[2] The park is open all year but the most visited period is from May to September. Although named for the city, the park's main entrance is actually 80 km (50 mi) north of Prince Albert via Highways 2 and 263 which enters the park at its southeast corner. Two additional secondary highways enter the park: No. 264, which branches off Hwy. 2 just east of the Waskesiu townside, and No. 240, which enters the park from the south and links with 263 just outside the entry fee-collection gates.

The park ranges in elevation from 488 metres (1,601 ft) on the western side to 724 metres (2,375 ft) on the eastern side.

Waskesiu[3] is the only town within the park, located on the southern shore of Waskesiu Lake. Most facilities and services one would expect to find in a multi-use park are available, such as souvenir shops, small grocery stores, a gas station, a laundromat, restaurants, hotels and motels, rental cabins, a small movie theatre (which adds showings on rainy and cold days), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) detachment, camp grounds, three marinas, many beaches, picnic areas, tennis courts and lawn bowling greens. The facilities and services combine recreational and nature experiences. Notably, the park contains the Waskesiu Golf Course[4] designed by famed golf course architect Stanley Thompson who also designed the course in Banff National Park.

The park also contains the cabin of naturalist and conservationist Grey Owl, on Ajawaan Lake.

The development of the park as a recreation destination has led to the region immediately southeast of the park boundaries – locations such as Christopher Lake, Emma Lake, Sunnyside Beach, and Anglin Lake, themselves becoming popular recreation destinations.

Until the establishment of Grasslands National Park in the 1980s, this was the province's only national park.

Biology

Mixed forest alongside roadway

Prince Albert National Park represents the southern boreal forest region of Canada. It is a rolling, mostly forested landscape that takes in the drainage divide between the North Saskatchewan and Churchill Rivers.

The very southern part of the park is predominantly aspen forest with an understory of elderberry, honeysuckle, rose and other shrubs and openings and meadows of fescue grassland. The fescue grasslands are considered ecologically important because of their rarity; outside the park, most of the native fescue grasslands have been lost to the plough or to urban development. The aspen forest/meadow mosaic in the southwest corner of the park is particularly unique as it sustains a growing herd of more than 400 plains bison, the only free-ranging herd in its original range in Canada that has a full array of native predators, including wolves.

Most of the park is dominated by coniferous forests, with the cover of jack pine and white spruce becoming more prevalent the farther north one looks. Woodland caribou from a regional population that is declining due to loss of habitat to forest logging range sometimes into the park, but their core habitat lies outside the park to the north. White-tailed deer, elks and, locally, moose are the common ungulates. Wolves are fairly common.[5]

The park is noted for its numerous lakes including three very large lakes - Waskesiu, Kingsmere and Crean. The water quality is high and fish populations robust, except for lake trout that were commercially fished to near-extinction in Crean Lake in the early 20th century and, in spite of protection, have yet to recover their former numbers. Northern pike, walleye, suckers and lake whitefish are among the most common larger fish. One of Canada's largest white pelican colonies nests in an area closed to public use on Lavallee Lake in the northwest corner of the park, and pelicans, loons, mergansers, ospreys and bald eagles are common in summer. Otters are seen regularly, year round. Winter is an especially good time to find otters as they spend considerable time around patches of open water on the Waskesiu Lake Narrows and the Kingsmere and Waskesiu Rivers.

Ecosystems

The boreal forest extends northerly into the Canadian Shield area from the agricultural zones of southern Canada. Prince Albert National Park lies south of the Shield in landscapes that were shaped by Pleistocene glaciers that deposited glacial till, sand and other materials that were later colonized by trees and shrubs. The ecosystems of Prince Albert National Park are lush and productive. During the warm, humid summers there is abundant insect life and numerous fungi, sustaining a remarkable diversity of boreal birds and other wildlife. There are many lakes and rivers creating wonderful water systems for a variety of waterfowl.[5]

Wildlife

Some of the many animals are elk, moose, red foxes, beavers, white-tailed deer, badgers, plains bison, river otters, red squirrels, black bears, coyotes, and timber wolves. A herd of plains bison roams in the southern areas of the park where grasslands mix with woodlands. Flycatchers, Tennessee warblers, double-crested cormorants, red-necked grebes, brown creepers, nuthatches, three-toed woodpeckers, bald eagles, osprey, great blue herons, many species of ducks, and the common loon are just a few of the water fowl and birds which make their home in the park. There are 21 species of fish recorded in the park, including Iowa darter, yellow perch, brook stickleback, spottail shiner, cisco, northern pike (locally called "jack fish"), walleye (locally called "pickeral"), and lake trout.[5] Although most people visit the park in summer, the best wildlife watching is often in the winter.

History

Grey Owl's cabin "Beaverlodge", Ajawaan Lake.
Graves of Grey Owl, Anahareo and Shirley Dawn at Ajawaan Lake.
The beaver lodge inside Grey Owl's cabin.

BP – before present.

There are archaeological traces of pre-history in the park reserve in the form of tools which have been located.

At Waskesiu Lake was an early Hudson's Bay Company fur trade post between 1886 and 1893.

In the early 20th century the industries of fishing and logging were carried out in this boreal forested area. The large 1919 forest fire eliminated the logging industry.[6]

The park was the subject of a short film in 2011's National Parks Project, directed by Stéphane Lafleur and scored by Andre Ethier, Mathieu Charbonneau and Rebecca Foon.

Grey Owl

The Dominion Parks Service hired Grey Owl, Archibald Stanfield Belaney (1888-April 13, 1938) as the first naturalist. He lived on Ajawaan Lake in Prince Albert National Park and wrote of wilderness protection: Pilgrims of the Wild (1935), Sajo and the Beaver People (1935) and Empty Cabin (1936).[7]

Activities

There are many things to do in this park:

Scenic driving tours

There are a few main roads through the park.

Picnicking

There are many picnic sites within the park, set up with picnic tables, scenic views, campfire pits and swimming areas.[8]

Hiking

These trails are less than 2 kilometers in length. They each have descriptive guided brochures which help to identify the natural sights along the way.

There are longer trails for the backpacker and hiker which vary from 13 kilometers in length and to 54 kilometers (return).

Swimming

Surrounding Waskesiu Lake there are several beaches to take in swimming during the hot summer months. There are also good beaches at the south end of Kingsmere Lake (boat or trail access), Namekus Lake, and Sandy Lake.

Canoeing

Bagwa Canoe Route and Bladebone Canoe Route are two canoe routes of varying lengths. As well the park offers a multitude of lakes which are amenable to the canoe enthusiast. Amiskowan, Shady, Heart, Kingsmere and Waskesiu lakes are just a few of them.[9]

Boating

Power boats are only permitted on some Prince Albert National Park lakes. Motor boats are allowed on Waskesiu, Crean, Kingsmere, Sandy and the Hanging Heart Lakes. There is a limit of 40 horse power motors on Kingsmere. The Waskesiu Marina, Heart Lakes Marina and the Narrows have boat launches (permit and fee required) and docks. Boat, canoe and kayak rentals are available at all three, by the hour or by the day. The Waskesiu Marina has a concrete breakwater. A permit is required to use boat launch facilities. Personal watercraft are not allowed on any lakes. Canoes, kayaks and sail boats are allowed on all waters.

Fishing

Just like those who used the waters for commercial fishing in the early 20th century, campers may also find relaxation fishing for northern pike, walleye, lake trout, whitefish, or yellow perch. The park requires purchase of its own licences to fish in the park. Limits and seasons are different than in the province of Saskatchewan. Some areas, e.g., spawning grounds, are closed to fishing.[10]

Camping

At this park one can choose from serviced or unserviced 'front country' camping or go by canoe/boat and backpacking, and choose 'back country' camping. Most back country camping occurs on Kingsmere and Crean lakes. Permits and fees are required for all camping, whether front or back country. Front country sites can be reserved by website or telephone.[11]

Open fires are allowed at campsites (Excluding Red Deer Campground), after payment for a "fire permit" (fire permits are not required in picnic areas).

The following are accessible by automobile and can accommodate trailers and motorhomes:

There are a series of boat-accessible campsites – the level of waves that can come up with overnight weather changes on Waskesiu, Kingsmere and Crean lakes, provide some risk for boats that cannot be completely pulled out of the water at night.

Interpretive programs

The nature centre in the Waskesiu townsite has information about interpretive programs

Bicycle rentals are available in Waskesiu townsite.

Wildlife and bird watching

Flycatchers, Tennessee warblers, red-necked grebe, brown creepers, nuthatches, three-toed woodpeckers, bald eagle, osprey, great blue herons, common loon are just a few of the many bird species to be seen in the park. Elk, black bear, fox, moose, beaver, deer, otter are a sampling of wild life of the park area.[12][13]

Although most people visit the park in summer, the best wildlife watching is often in the winter. Wolves often travel on the frozen lakes and along the ploughed roads, and elk and deer are common right in the town of Waskesiu. Open water at the Narrows on Waskesiu Lake and where the Waskesiu River exits from the lake makes otter sightings very reliable. Foxes, including the red, cross and silver colour phases, are frequent sightings in winter too.

Aurora watching

Due to the park's northern latitude, Auroras are very common on dark nights even with low solar activity. There is usually a display once every three nights making it a prime spot for photographers and amateur astronomers.

Golfing

Stanley Thompson designed an 18-hole golf course in the park. It was built in the early 1930s. Its official name is the Waskesiu Golf Course, but is often called "The Lobstick" after a tournament it hosts each year.[4]

Climate

Waskesiu experiences a borderline humid continental/subarctic climate (Köppen Dfb/Dfc). The highest temperature ever recorded in Waskesiu was 36.5 °C (98 °F) on 5 June 1988.[14] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −48.3 °C (−55 °F) on 21 January 1935.[14]

Climate data for Waskesiu Lake, 1981−2010 normals, extremes 1934–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 12.1
(53.8)		 15.0
(59)		 19.0
(66.2)		 27.8
(82)		 33.5
(92.3)		 36.5
(97.7)		 36.1
(97)		 35.0
(95)		 31.7
(89.1)		 28.3
(82.9)		 17.5
(63.5)		 10.5
(50.9)		 36.5
(97.7)
Average high °C (°F) −11.7
(10.9)		 −6.3
(20.7)		 −1.0
(30.2)		 8.8
(47.8)		 15.1
(59.2)		 19.9
(67.8)		 23.5
(74.3)		 21.7
(71.1)		 15.5
(59.9)		 7.5
(45.5)		 −2.4
(27.7)		 −8.0
(17.6)		 6.9
(44.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −16.5
(2.3)		 −11.8
(10.8)		 −7.0
(19.4)		 2.7
(36.9)		 9.0
(48.2)		 14.4
(57.9)		 17.7
(63.9)		 16.2
(61.2)		 10.4
(50.7)		 2.9
(37.2)		 −6.1
(21)		 −12.3
(9.9)		 1.6
(34.9)
Average low °C (°F) −21.1
(−6)		 −17.3
(0.9)		 −12.9
(8.8)		 −3.4
(25.9)		 2.8
(37)		 8.8
(47.8)		 12.0
(53.6)		 10.7
(51.3)		 5.2
(41.4)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 −9.8
(14.4)		 −16.5
(2.3)		 −3.6
(25.5)
Record low °C (°F) −48.3
(−54.9)		 −47.0
(−52.6)		 −40.0
(−40)		 −30.0
(−22)		 −13.7
(7.3)		 −7.8
(18)		 −4.4
(24.1)		 −3.9
(25)		 −10.0
(14)		 −23.0
(−9.4)		 −35.0
(−31)		 −42.2
(−44)		 −48.3
(−54.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 15.6
(0.614)		 16.0
(0.63)		 21.7
(0.854)		 27.0
(1.063)		 46.9
(1.846)		 71.3
(2.807)		 86.1
(3.39)		 64.7
(2.547)		 57.9
(2.28)		 31.3
(1.232)		 19.0
(0.748)		 22.2
(0.874)		 479.7
(18.886)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 0.02
(0.0008)		 0.3
(0.012)		 5.5
(0.217)		 18.5
(0.728)		 45.6
(1.795)		 71.3
(2.807)		 86.1
(3.39)		 64.7
(2.547)		 57.5
(2.264)		 22.5
(0.886)		 3.5
(0.138)		 0.0
(0)		 375.4
(14.78)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 13.5
(5.31)		 17.1
(6.73)		 15.6
(6.14)		 8.5
(3.35)		 1.3
(0.51)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 0.4
(0.16)		 8.8
(3.46)		 15.6
(6.14)		 23.5
(9.25)		 104.2
(41.02)
Source: Environment Canada[15][14][16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Parks Canada Visitation Records Accessed November 17, 2016
  2. ↑ "Prince Albert National Park of Canada – Park Era History". Parks Canada. 2009-08-10. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  3. ↑ "Waskesiu Community Council". Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  4. 1 2 "Course History". Waskesiu Golf Club. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  5. 1 2 3 "Teacher Resource Centre – Prince Albert National Park of Canada". Parks Canada. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  6. ↑ "Prince Albert National Park of Canada – Pre-Park Area History". Parks Canada. 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  7. ↑ "Prince Albert National Park of Canada – Grey Owl". Parks Canada. 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  8. ↑ "Prince Albert National Park of Canada – Picnicking & Day Use". Parks Canada. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  9. ↑ "Prince Albert National Park of Canada – Canoeing". Parks Canada. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  10. ↑ "Prince Albert National Park of Canada – Fishing". Parks Canada. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  11. ↑ "Prince Albert National Park of Canada – Campground Reservations". Parks Canada. 2010-01-25. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  12. ↑ "Prince Albert National Park of Canada – Cycling". Parks Canada. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  13. ↑ "Prince Albert National Park". Virtual Saskatchewan. 2007. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  14. 1 2 3 "Waskesiu Lake". Environment Canada. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  15. ↑ "Waskesiu Lake". Environment Canada. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  16. ↑ "Waskesiu Lake". Environment Canada. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Prince Albert National Park.
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