Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park in Alberta protects eight islands in Lac La Biche. The majority of the provincial park is on Lac La Biche’s largest central island.
Credit: Government of Alberta
The main island, where you’ll find camping and the day use areas (all seven of them!), is protected for good reason, too, as this forest of trees is over 300 years old! Among the wooded areas, water, and islands, is a rich ecosystem of wildlife, over 200 types of birds, and other small plants or flowers.
You can explore Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park any time of year, with cabins open for winter campers or adventurers.
There are groomed cross-country ski trails or plenty of spaces for exploring on snowshoes. The remainder of the campsites, including a few tipis, open in spring. This is also when the park opens up to many other outdoor recreations like hiking, boating, swimming, and more.
1. Photo Walks or a Boardwalk Trail Hike
If you’re on the hunt for amazing Alberta scenery for hiking, photo opportunities, or special occasions, then the park can offer beautiful views in several settings. An especially beautiful trail is the Old Growth Alley which borders forest and lake, and which also connects you to the Boardwalk and Longpoint Trails. A great place to start in the Old Growth Alley is the Pelican Islands Viewpoint.
Be sure also to hike the park’s newest trail, Miyo Mahkamikisi, which tours the camping areas.
2. Birdwatching and wildlife viewing
Winston Churchill Park is considered one of the best birdwatching locations in the entire province thanks to the boreal forest areas and the large Lac La Biche. Visit during the migration seasons and you may spot larger species like bald eagles, osprey, or a great-horned owl.
Watch or listen for some of the colourful and smaller species like yellow, blue, or orange warblers, or an olive-sided flycatcher.
3. Boating around Lac La Biche
Exploring Lac La Biche’s islands is easy with a canoe, kayak, or powerboat. And if you do get the chance to use a powerboat on Lac La Biche, the area is large enough to allow for more thrilling watersports like wakeboarding, tubing, or waterskiing. The boat launch is on your way into the park for both power and non-powered boats.
4. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
You can tackle an 8km cross-country skiing adventure along groomed trails in the park, making for a peaceful winter escape. A few of the picnic areas also have cooking areas where you can warm up around a roaring fire or find some shelter.
5. Winter comfort camping
Enhance the winter adventuring in the park with a cozy cabin to return to each night. The park cabins can fit up to eight people and include necessities like heat and somewhere to cook, as well as conveniences like a private deck, hookup for an additional trailer, and access to a store.
6. RV and tent camping
All the campsites within Sir Winston Churchill PP offer power, so the sites have a bonus for tent campers! The scenic sites are among the old-growth woods and offer some privacy for each set of campers.
Planning Your Trip – Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park
What: Winston Churchill Provincial Park consists of eight islands on Lac La Biche. The main island is accessible by car, so it is not technically an island. A narrow stretch of road leads you from the town of Lac La Biche and out onto the lake before you arrive at the PP camping and day-use areas. Sir Winston Churchill PP has a special section of the old-growth boreal forest made of tree roots dating back over 300 years.
Fall is an especially beautiful time to visit because of these massive, beautiful trees. The park is, however, open year-round for summer and winter recreation, as well as year-round camping.
Best time to go
RV and tent camping open May 14 – October 11, 2026
Cabins open year-round, and tipis open May-September
How to get there: 11 km northeast of Lac La Biche off Hwy 881, Alberta
For more information
Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park
Phone:
Toll Free: 1–877–537–2757
Campground (seasonal) (780) 623–4144
Cabin/Hall Information (780) 623–1783
Lakeland District Office (780) 623–7189