Calgary 
Don’t let this park’s name confuse you; Cross Lake Provincial Park is located on north-central Alberta’s Steele Lake. While it may be a small lake, this Athabasca-region Provincial Park has a ton to offer campers and day-use visitors.
Credit: Alberta Parks
A Quick Escape to the Boreal Forest
These natural areas, ecosystems, and habitats of north-central Alberta make the more secluded areas, like Cross Lake Provincial Park, attractive to an array of wildlife, big and small. So, while Cross Lake Provincial Park (on Steele Lake) may offer a ton of activities for human visitors, the area is a great slice of nature to enjoy by simply seeing.
Picnics and Beach Days on Steele Lake
Cross Lake Provincial Park offers all amenities needed for a fun day at the beach, a spring or fall picnic, or for time away from the campsite. Whether visiting for day use or as a camper, the day-use area provides a full day of fun.
- Beachgoers can take advantage of the long, sandy space for lazing around, picnic tables for meals, and changerooms for days in the clear waters.
- The beach area also has washrooms, ample parking, a playground, and access to park trails.
- A fall or spring picnic at Cross Lake Provincial Park will be met with gorgeous lakeside foliage, and ample wildlife viewing opportunities.
- Athabasca is a potential picnic pitstop on the way into Cross Lake Provincial Park, with takeout options to bring to your lakeside picnic.
- Additionally, there are highway cafes and rest stops to try like Shelly’s Café (Highway 44), Baptiste Burger Bar (Baptiste Drive), or the Harvest Grill (Westlock).
More Fun on Steele Lake
Steele Lake is a hub for summer water fun, water sports, and general relaxation on the boat or floaties.
- The calm, more remote waters of Steele Lake make it a favourite for more relaxed water activities like fishing, canoeing and kayaking, or lazy floating on inflatables.
- Motorized boats are also permitted which makes way for other activities like waterskiing and tubing.
- Find the boat launch and a fish cleaning station at the Cross Lake day use area.
- The shoreline of the lake, if followed the whole way, creates an 11.5km paddle or boat ride.
Spring & Fall Birding at Cross Lake Provincial Park
This north-central Alberta park is in a prime location for the spring and fall bird migration seasons. The area’s dense forests create an attractive habitat for a huge array of bird species.
The birding opportunities ramp up over spring and fall when migratory birds like the great blue heron or osprey nest by the shores. Other birds anyone is likely to spot include bald eagles, grouse, warblers, sparrows, and grosbeaks. The park also has marked bird viewing areas to offer the best chances of spotting these various species.
If you’re at Cross Lake Provincial Park at any point during the fall months, be sure to capture or simply enjoy the stunning fall colours that surround the lake and trails.
Hiking around Cross Lake Provincial Park
The main large hiking trail at Cross Lake Provincial Park is the 4.5km (one-way) trail from the campground to the walk-in tenting area. The trail follows the northern shore and once at the tent area, there is a bird viewing platform.
- On the other side of the park is a trail that runs parallel to the main road, and which leads to another bird viewing platform. This can be followed as far as the scenic little creek, and can create a loop around 5km.
- The final bird viewing platform is accessible via a short but scenic hike through the trees from the campground and to the shores.
Camping at Cross Lake Provincial Park & More Places to Stay
There are three separate campgrounds at Cross Lake Provincial Park, all of which sit on the shore of the park’s Steele Lake.
- On Steele Lake’s southwest shore is the group campground with a thick line of forest surrounding and sheltering the campground.
- A short way north up the shore is the Cross Lake front country campground that’s open for spring, summer, and fall. Plus, every one of the 130 campsites has a power hook-up. The campground has many other amenities to make for a more comfortable stay, such as washrooms with showers, water pumps, and firewood sales.
- The park’s walk-in tent campground is on Steele Lake’s north shore with seven basic sites (no power). The hike out to the campground is 4.5km out-and-back or 9km round-trip. The campground is equipped with vault toilets and secure food/garbage storage.
- Not a camper? No problem! This southern stretch of forest is home to numerous private cabin and cottage rental options between Airbnb, VRBO, and Hipcamp.
Plan Your Trip – Cross Lake Provincial Park
What: Cross Lake Provincial Park in north-central Alberta surrounds the relatively small Steele Lake. The park’s campgrounds offer a variety of camping types, while the lake is open in the warmer months for swimming, watersports, and fishing. The park boasts a diverse bird population, made easy to spot with park trails and viewing areas. During the winter, the park is open for day-use activities like ice fishing or cross-country skiing.
Location and how to get there: 50km north of Westlock on Hwy. 44, 20 km east on Hwy. 663 & 6 km north on the access road.
Cross Lake Provincial Park is located approximately 150 km (1 hr 50 min drive) north of Edmonton.
Best time to go: open year-round
How much: day use free; camping: $40 & up
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