Edmonton 
Protecting provincially significant esker and kettle from retreating glaciers ~10 000 years ago in the northern part of Central Alberta, Whitney Lakes Provincial Park located 20 minutes east of the town of Elk Point truly has it all and offers outdoor or leisurely fun all year-round.
Credit: Alberta Parks
Whether you’re here to enjoy the lake in the summer with lazing around the beach, boating and fishing, camping at one of the best beach and lake campgrounds in Alberta or looking for a rustic and secluded back-country experience, there are so many ways to enjoy this large central Alberta Provincial Park. There is beautiful Lakeland scenery to discover from every season, and you can do so by boat, bike, ski, or snowshoe.
Things to See & Do at Whitney Lakes Provincial Park
The four lakes of Whitney Lakes Provincial Park – Whitney, Ross, Laurier and Borden- are surrounded by forests and provide hours of outdoor activities, whether you choose to do it on land or on the water.
Borden Lake is the smallest of all the lakes and is where you can take a scenic hike to a backcountry campsite. Motorized boats are not permitted on this lake, but it is a great place for a calm canoe or kayak.
Laurier is the largest of the three lakes and provides the best fishing. There is a day-use area with a boat launch and fish-cleaning station on Laurier’s eastern shore, which can be accessed by RR 42, or RR 43.
Whitney and Ross Lakes are where you’ll find the two provincial campgrounds as well as day-use areas. These large campgrounds provide all the necessary camping amenities like showers, washrooms, and playgrounds for kids.
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In the summer, Whitney and Ross Lake offer sandy beaches, beach volleyball, and their large size makes them great for water skiing and tubing. Alberta Parks holds SUP, yoga and fitness programs at the park during the summer months.
Laurier, Whitney, and Ross Lakes all permit motorized boats, and each has its own designated boat launch.
If you are interested in wildlife watching, the park protects a variety of wildlife, including tiger salamander, boreal chorus frog, moose, beaver, and flying squirrel. Remember that this is bear country and black bears are common in the park during summer months, so be “Bear Smart.”
There are over 30 km of trails that traverse the shores of the four lakes and the Esker Trail at Borden Lake will take you to the long,g narrow ridges of sand or “Esker.”
The park is also far away from towns, making it an excellent place for stargazing.
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A trip to Whitney Lakes in the winter is great for cross-country skiers, snowshoers, and bird-watchers. The trails are groomed for skiers and can wind you through the entire park and around all the lakes. There is also plenty of ice-fishing to do on Whitney and Ross Lakes.
Planning your trip to Whitney Lakes Provincial Park
Credit: Alberta Parks
What: A series of four lakes formed from retreating glaciers ~10 000 years ago. The park offers backcountry, and front-country camping, as well as opportunities for boating, fishing, hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The extensive trail system covers 30 km of the park and can lead you to a protected Esker, another remnant of the glacial period.
Best time to go:
The park is open year-round.
Camping open May – September.
How much: day-use area and trails are free to use
Ross Lake Campground: non-serviced $32/night or Power $40/night
Whitney Lake Campground: non-serviced $30/night or Power $38/night
Getting there:
Whitney Lakes Provincial Park is located 30 km SE from Elk Point, 65 km SE from St. Paul, and 240 km NE (2 hr 30 min drive) from Alberta’s Capital, Edmonton.
Address: Via Highway 646 and RR 44 Lindbergh – Southeast of Lindbergh on Highway 646, and north of Heinsburg on Highway 893.
For more information:
