Regina 
Northern parts of Saskatchewan is a hub of outdoor activity and recreation year-round. Much of this is due in part to the expansive Prince Albert National Park. Around these forested lake lands are many other parks, recreation areas, and picnic spots to use for all the same adventures you’d enjoy in the bigger national park.
Credit: Tourism Saskatchewan
Great Blue Heron Provincial Park is close enough to Prince Albert National Park that a visit to either could include adventures at both locations. However, the recreational fun and beauty of Great Blue Heron Provincial Park offer many reasons to keep all your recreation within this quieter part of Saskatchewan.
Here are all the activities at Great Blue Heron Provincial Park, so that you can make the best of your trip to the park:
Endless Summer Fun
While Great Blue Heron Provincial Park offers a lot for winter and snow adventures, the warmer months provide even more opportunities for recreation and adventure. The park encompasses two major sections: the north side, centred around Anglin Lake, and the south side, which surrounds Emma Lake. The park’s western boundary aligns with the western boundary of Prince Albert National Park.
So when it comes to summer beach time, the possibilities will seem endless with Great Blue Heron’s two beaches, the Prince Albert NP beaches, or possibly one of the dozens of other lakes in the area. The same applies to activities such as hiking, boating, fishing, or cycling. The routes, waterways, and pathways will seem endless between Great Blue Heron and Prince Albert.
Additionally, this part of Saskatchewan, including Great Blue Heron Provincial Park, offers numerous accommodations. You’ll find lodge and resort stays, comfort camping in many ways, front country camping, and backcountry camping!
Two Lakes & Two Beaches
Both Emma and Anglin Lakes are within Great Blue Heron Provincial Park. And both of these park lakes offer a sandy space for a swim on a hot day. It is roughly 45km between the two day-use areas.
Credit Tourism Saskatchewan/Paul Austring
- The beach at Anderson Point on Anglin Lake is a quieter swim spot located next to the boat launch. Find more amenities at the Murray Point Campground Beach on Emma Lake, where the park offers a playground, changerooms, and flush toilets. Both beaches have washroom access and picnic tables.
- Both lakes are well equipped for fishers as each has a boat launch and fillet/cleaning station. Emma Lake is ideal for walleye or northern pike, while Anglin Lake is full of northern pike, walleye, and perch.
- These are both exceptional lakes for a spring, summer, or fall paddle with numerous narrow areas, bends to explore, or small coves to paddle through.
Summer Programs & Events
Credit: Tourism Saskatchewan/Paul Austring
The events and programs at Great Blue Heron Provincial Park and many other Saskatchewan Parks, ramp up over the spring, summer, and fall seasons. This season, Great Blue Heron Park has numerous activities planned for all ages, featuring various programs and workshops designed for kids. These are excellent opportunities for campers and day use visitors to learn more about the park, the plants, trees, or wildlife, or for kids to get creative.
Anglin Lake Trails & More
Angling Lake is a large chain of lakes that starts in Prince Albert National Park in the west and continues northeast as it turns into Great Blue Heron Provincial Park. This is where you’ll find some of the best hiking opportunities around the large Provincial Park, with options for both easier and more moderate hiking challenges.
- Get the best views of the park from above with the Fire Tower Trail at 6km out-and-back. This leads up a gentle hill to the Tower Cabin, which sits on a hill overlooking Anglin Lake.
- A looping trail winds around the east side of Anglin Lake to create a simple but scenic 9km route. The trail offers beautiful scenery any time of the year, with spring and summer wildflowers, bright green foliage in the summer, and the colourful fall foliage.
- Great Blue Heron’s Valleyview Trail is off of SK-953, about halfway between Emma and Anglin Lakes. The 6km loop is yet another trail that shows off the park’s diverse beauty, from the flowers to the water, the trees, shrubs, and wildlife.
- The Murray Point Trail is where you’ll get the best views of Emma Lake as it loops around the campgrounds and follows the beach for a little way. The 6km loop is a perfect way to kill an afternoon before lunch or dinner at the campsite!
Camping & More at Great Blue Heron
There are a few different options when it comes to planning how to stay overnight at Great Blue Heron. This northern Saskatchewan park and the 50km or so between its two lakes have several campsites and more (also more comfortable) accommodation options!
Credit: Tourism Saskatchewan
- Great Blue Heron Provincial Park has many accommodation options and many different types of camping options. This includes the backcountry campsites, while the front country campground offers the options for electrical hook-up, non-electric, or economy sites. All of those sites are considerably spacious and provide the choice between full tree coverage or more open areas.
- More camping options include accessible sites with paved surfaces, or long-term and seasonal sites for those who fall in love with the park.
- Stay within a bit more comfort with the park’s onsite Land of the Loon Resort with four cabin options for rent, or in the park’s comfort camping yurts.
- There are two convenience/grocery stores on the south side of the park for extra camping snacks, gear, ice, drinks, and more.
More to See & Do around Great Blue Heron
There is enough to see and do in this region of Saskatchewan that you’ll want to plan ahead to ensure you can see or do most of these activities!
- The Treeosix Adventure Park Waskesiu location is about 30km north of Anglin Lake and offers an incredible opportunity for boreal forest exploration. The park offers a zipline, giant swing, and climbing wall, a mini zipline for kids, a disc golf course, and e-bike rentals!
- With all the outdoor adventures available in the area, it’ll be handy to note the local dining options, too. Highway SK-263, which leads to Emma Lake and Prince Albert National Park, has several dining options as it winds around the Provincial Park. There are a couple beside the Adventure Park, including The Wyld at Elk Ridge Resort, or Fredrich. Plus, there are more to the south, including Papa G’s Pizza, Rendez-vous, or the brand new Buns Bagels Bakery & Coffee
- Last but certainly not least on the list of things to see around Great Blue Heron is the neighbouring park of Prince Albert National Park. The park’s north entrance at Waskesiu is closer to Anglin Lake, while the south entrance is closer to Emma Lake. Prince Albert has more beaches and boating opportunities, several more kilometres of hiking trails, an adorable waterfront summer village, more camping, and more comfort camping.
Planning Your Trip – The Great Blue Heron Provincial Park
Credit: Tourism Saskatchewan/Kevin Hogarth Photography
What: The Great Blue Heron Provincial Park is a relatively large park which shares a boundary line with the east side of Prince Albert National Park. The Great Blue Heron has two large lakes, each with its own campgrounds, boat launch, and beach. And while the park has tons to do during a summer trip, it is also open in the winter for activities such as snowshoeing, skiing, ice fishing, and snowmobiling. As with many lakes in the area, the fishing opportunities and boating routes are a significant draw for visitors from all over the country and the United States.
Location and how to get there: 62km north of Prince Albert via SK-2 and SK-953
Best time to go: June to Thanksgiving weekend
Cost: camping Varies depending on the type of accommodation; Day use $11 per group or vehicle.
For more information:
Great Blue Heron Provincial Park
