Calgary 
There are several parts of the Peace River shores that are remote, uninhabited, and secluded, further from any nearby roads, with lush forests. Among those remote wilderness areas, there are almost as many sections of the Peace Riverbanks protected by parklands with public access.
This access to the river gives campers, adventurers, boaters, hikers, and day trippers a chance to get up close with the fast-moving water and to learn about the river’s significance to the people of the Peace Region over time and throughout history.
Dunvegan Provincial Park is a perfect example of where the river scenery or beauty, local history, and outdoor adventure all come together to create an ideal destination in the warmer months.
Here are the top activities and ways to make the best of your trip to Dunvegan Provincial Park:
A Provincial Park with Rich History
As Europeans began to arrive in Western Canada, they too saw the draw for settling near this important transportation and trade route. So, in 1805, the first trade post, named Dunvegan, was set up here for the Northwest Trading Company. This is the second building on display at the park!
About 40 years later, Catholic missionaries began arriving in the Peace River Valley, a time in the region’s history that is on display in the St. Charles Church and Rectory. The roaming actors help to bring visitors right back in time, while guided tours during the spring, summer, and fall, offer several more facts and stories on the historic site.
The Dunvegan Suspension Bridge, the longest for vehicles in Alberta, was not joined to the scenery until 1960. The bridge removed a huge barrier for crossing the Peace River: prior to bridge construction, this was a ferry crossing. Today, the bridge stands as a beautiful landmark across the river and adds to the surrounding scenery (especially during sunrise or sunset!).
Riverside Camping
The Dunvegan Provincial Park campground is within the lush Peace River Valley, with the trees providing shelter and a bit of privacy between the sites. Campers can take advantage of access to washrooms, a playground, firewood for sale, and all the surrounding fun of the Provincial Park or Historic Site.
All 65 of the park’s campsites offer electrical hookups, along with a fire pit and picnic table at each site. And while Highway 2 separates the campground from part of Historic Dunvegan, a path under the bridge connects the two areas for easy access. A 2km path east from the campground will lead campers to the Dunvegan Gardens.
Explore Historic Dunvegan
A day at Historic Dunvegan could be spent with a self-guided tour and walking around the grounds, by joining the guided tours, or by adding a picnic to the day’s plans. Historic Dunvegan is a living history museum with period actors and four restored buildings. All around the park are opportunities through the buildings and interpretive signage to learn about the Indigenous history of the Peace River, fur trade, and Hudson’s Bay history.
Credit:
Government of Alberta
- The four historic and restored buildings of the site include the Hudson’s Bay Company Factor’s House, St. Charles Church and Rectory, Revillon Freres fur trade post, and a Native Encampment.
- Guided tours are available on a drop-in basis and by reservation. Self-guided explorers can grab maps or guides from the Historic Dunvegan Visitors Centre.
- The area is lined with picnic tables near the River, under the mature trees, and on the other side of the bridge. Other picnic amenities and features include two playgrounds, washrooms, shelters, water taps, and firewood sales.
- The grounds also include well-manicured gardens and garden features that make the area even more picturesque.
- From the church, there is a short trail which leads closer to the Peace Riverbanks and offers incredible views of the Dunvegan Bridge over the Peace River.
Dunvegan Gardens
There is a short trail between the campground and Dunvegan Gardens, which makes the stop an easy and convenient one for anyone at Dunvegan Provincial Park. The Dunvegan Gardens are a full greenhouse and landscaping store with a market that sells local products of all kinds. Campers and picnickers at the Provincial Park can take advantage of the Dunvegan Market’s fresh produce, homemade preserves, farm-fresh beef, and gifts or souvenirs.
On the Mighty Peace River
Exploring the scenery around the Peace River by boat is sure to create a memorable day with the sheer size of the river, the wildlife along the shores, the waterfowl or fish, and the dozens of creeks created by the river’s watershed. Dunvegan Park offers guests access to a public boat launch for motorized boats and paddle boats like canoes or kayaks.
- Paddlers with canoes or kayaks can traverse the waters and create a day trip out of Pratts Landing to Dunvegan Provincial Park. The route can take about 3-6 hours, depending on the river’s flow rates. A second option is to leave from Dunvegan on a 42km paddle out to Camp Island, where there is a paid campground and a more basic free campground.
- Zip around the river waters at a faster pace with motorized boating permitted along the Peace River.
The Best Nearby Hiking Trails
Dunvegan Provincial Park is home to gorgeous riverside trails on both sides of the Dunvegan Bridge. And from these, there are great chances for views of the Peace River as the massive bridge spans across the water. The Peace Region is filled with many other sights to see from the trails, including more lush forests, small sand dunes, abundant wildlife, and more river views.
- One of the closest hiking trails to Dunvegan Provincial Park is at the Maples Recreation Site opposite the park across the Dunvegan Bridge/highway. The park offers roughly 2.5-3km of trails, more beautiful riverside picnic spots, and more great views of the River and bridge.
- The Sand Hills Natural Area is about 30km north on Highway 2 and offers enough trail to provide a full day’s worth of hiking. The name of the park is quite literal with the park having small dunes throughout the forest. This is also a popular cross-country skiing destination in the winters.
- The town of Fairview, a bit closer to Dunvegan than Sand Hills, has wetland areas on the north end with trails winding around the ponds. Northeastern Alberta’s wetlands see a great deal of migratory birds during the spring and fall and are busy all summer with those plus permanent residents.
Planning Your Trip – Historic Dunvegan & Dunvegan Provincial Park
What: Dunvegan Provincial Park and its campground sit beside the banks of the Peace River and on a designated historic site. The park, on the north banks and the east side of the Dunvegan Suspension Bridge, received its name from the original trading post that was set up here in the early 1800s. The post is among three other buildings that remain and are open from spring to fall for visitors to explore. Historic Dunvegan is open for the summer as a living history museum, while the park is open during the same times for overnight camping.
Location and how to get there: Historic Dunvegan is located 26 kilometres south of Fairview, Alberta on Highway 2.
Historic Dunvegan is located approximately 90 km (1 hr drive) from Grande Prairie and 525 km (5 hr drive) from Edmonton.
Best time to go: May Victoria Day Weekend – October Thanksgiving Weekend
Cost: day use free; camping $38 per night; Historic Dunvegan Admission $2-$5 per person
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