Saskatchewan is tailor-made for camping, allowing us to go to places that may not have other accommodation options. In addition to provincial, national, and regional parks, there are numerous campgrounds in communities throughout the province. When we head into the north, the possibilities for wilderness camping are practically endless.
These are 15 places that we like, representing a cross-section of Saskatchewan’s varied landscapes and regions. We chose them not so much for campground amenities but for their amazing locations, some off-the-beaten-path. Most are easy to get to, but a few are meant for those looking for more adventure.
West Block, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
On the Saskatchewan side of the park which is located in the southwest corner of the province, we can choose from full-service campgrounds in the Centre Block, or head to the West Block near the Alberta border where the campgrounds are basic with no electricity or other services. Our top choice is the West Block where the experience feels more “out there” with fewer people and closer to nature.
Two campgrounds along meandering Battle Creek are less than a kilometre from each other and close to prime attractions such as the Conglomerate Cliffs and historic Fort Walsh. To reach the campgrounds simply follow the main road running through the West Block.
Pine Cree Regional Park
This small park on the eastern edge of the Cypress Hills ranks among our favourite places to camp in southern Saskatchewan. Unlike many regional parks which keep adding modern conveniences to the point that they resemble urban enclaves, Pine Cree has purposely kept things simple, with no electricity, running water, or fast food. Because of its steep hilly approach, vehicles longer than 25 feet are not allowed.
The enjoyment of nature takes centre stage in a stunning setting in a deep valley beside the headwaters of Swift Current Creek. Most of the spacious campsites are spread along the creek. Prairie grasslands cover the adjoining hills, while the valley is heavily forested. This combination of woodlands and prairie makes for extensive wildflower displays. Nature trails head into the hills and the park makes a great base for exploring the surrounding countryside or visiting the T-Rex Discovery Centre in nearby Eastend, home to Canada’s largest T-Rex skeleton.
To get to Pine Cree, take Highway 13 between Eastend and Shaunavon and follow the signs.
Frenchman Valley Campground, West Block, Grasslands National Park
When people ask whether they should camp in the West Block or East Block of the park, we always recommend staying in both, since each has different attractions. The West Block abounds with grand vistas with wild buttes, dark skies, scenic drives, and hiking trails galore. It’s also the best area for wildlife such as bison, mule deer, moose, rattlesnakes, the only black-tailed prairie dogs in Canada, and rare birds such as burrowing owls and loggerhead shrikes.
Frenchman Valley Campground is right in the middle of it all. It has 20 sites with electricity plus four oTENTiks. The large cooking shelter has seating, tables, electricity, and gas barbecues for campers’ use. The campground is frequently completely booked, but we never let that deter us because the large overflow is close to all services. You won’t have a table or electricity in overflow but you’ll pay considerably less as well.
To reach the campground, follow the main park road through the Frenchman River Valley.
Rock Creek Campground, East Block, Grasslands National Park
The campground and visitor centre sits in a former ranch yard next to Rock Creek. It has 24 sites with electricity plus eight oTENTiks. It also features a nice camp kitchen with gas barbecues. You can start some great hikes right from the campground. Other than the approach to the campground, there is only one other road in the East Block but it’s one of the top scenic drives in Saskatchewan.
The Badlands Parkway starts near the campground and winds along the rim of Rock Creek Valley where we look down into a spectacular set of badlands. From pull-offs and parking areas along the road, we can hike further into the badlands or enjoy the view from Parks Canada’s iconic red chairs. By staying in the campground we have easy access to the drive at prime time for photography such as near sunrise and sunset.
To get to the East Block head south of Wood Mountain on Highway 18 and follow the signs.
Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park
Located where the South Saskatchewan River meets Lake Diefenbaker, the park offers a chance to explore wild prairie in a compact easy-to-access area. The park sits at a historic river crossing dating to the early homesteading days. An ornate stone building from that era now serves as the park visitor centre.
The large campground with over 300 sites in a wooded area next to the lake has all the amenities, but its main attraction is its location amidst the valley slopes with some great hiking options. One short trail starts right near the campground entrance. We can follow designated trails, or better yet, wander anywhere along the scenic slopes in the open landscape. It’s a great area for wildflowers as well as for bird-watching, and the wooded coulees are favoured by a variety of wildlife.
Saskatchewan Landing is about 50 kilometres north of Swift Current along Highway 4.
Last Mountain Regional Park
Located near the north end of Last Mountain Lake, roughly halfway between Saskatoon and Regina, the park features a beach, watersports, golf, fishing, and excellent wildlife viewing. The campground has everything from full-service sites to basic tent sites.
We especially like this park because it is part of the Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area – the oldest bird sanctuary in North America. During spring and fall migration, visitors are welcome to watch the bird banding taking place at the Last Mountain Bird Observatory in the park. Just to the north, we can take a scenic 14-kilometre loop road beside the lake and marshlands to see a lot of birdlife. Short hiking trails and viewing towers offer additional options to explore the area. This is among the most important bird areas in the country, with a resident pelican colony along with about 280 other species. Migrating geese and cranes sometimes number in the hundreds of thousands.
Take Highways 11 then 20 north of Regina and watch for the signs to the regional park.
Namekus Lake Campground, Prince Albert National Park
Prince Albert National Park has 5 front country campgrounds which you can drive to – Beaver Glen, the largest with all the services and hookups, Red Deer which caters to big RVs, The Narrows, Sandy Lake (favoured by those who like fishing), and Namekus Lake.
While each has its attractions, Namekus is usually our go-to spot. It’s the smallest campground with only 20 sites, 6 of which are walk-in tenting sites right on the edge of the sandy beach. At these prime spots, you look over the lake from your tent and are only steps away from your canoe, kayak or paddle board. Motorboats are not allowed on Namekus Lake, so it tends to be a peaceful location. The campsites are first-come first-served, and services are basic with no electricity, but it along with Sandy Lake is the cheapest campground in the park.
To get to Namekus Lake, head about 10 kilometres south of Waskesiu townsite on Highway 263 and follow the signs.
Paradise Hill Campground
We can find some hidden gems in campgrounds run by small towns and villages throughout Saskatchewan. One we especially like is in Paradise Hill, northeast of Lloydminster. Located in a pleasant, quiet, wooded and grassy area on the edge of town, it has both electric and non-serviced sites, a washroom with showers, and comes at a bargain price.
Paradise Hill makes a great base to explore this part of Saskatchewan with its attractive mix of forest and farmlands. Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church in Paradise Hill is famous for being filled with masterful religious paintings done in 1929 by Count Berthold von Imhoff, a German count who settled nearby and became renowned for his religious art. The Imhoff Gallery, a short drive east on the family homestead near St. Walburg, displays many more paintings from his extensive collection.
Just to the north is the hamlet of Frenchman Butte with its scenic setting on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. It has won awards for having the best small community museum in Saskatchewan. Nearby we can wander through the Frenchman Butte battle site where the Canadian militia clashed with Chief Big Bear’s Cree in one of the last battles of the 1885 conflict.
Gem Lakes, Narrow Hills Provincial Park
The Gem Lakes consist of five tiny kettle lakes named after gemstones – Jade, Diamond, Sapphire, Opal, and Pearl. While small, the deep lakes have almost unreal colours from emerald to aqua blue. A 5.5-kilometre hiking trail winds through the forest to all the lakes, some of which are stocked with trout.
You can book wilderness campsites at Jade Lake, just a minute or two walk from the parking lot, and at Diamond and Opal Lakes which are a bit farther away. You can hike to the other lakes, or if you have a canoe, you can access all the lakes by short portage trails.
Narrow Hills Provincial Park is around 150 kilometres northeast of Prince Albert. To get to the Gem Lakes head north through the park on Highway 106, then turn west on Highway 913 and follow the signs.
Boreal Trail Backcountry Campsites, Meadow Lake Provincial Park
The longest hiking trail in the province, the Boreal Trail runs for 135 kilometres through the forested lakelands of Meadow Lake Provincial Park. The beauty of this trail is that you don’t have to do it all at once. It crosses the main road running through the park in several places so you can also opt to hike shorter sections on day trips. Along the way are 13 wilderness campsites with pit toilets and bear-proof food lockers, well away from the hubbub of this popular park. One campsite we especially enjoyed was right on the banks of the swift-flowing Cold River. A detailed guide to the trail along with maps is available from Tourism Saskatchewan’s website here.
You can access the trail system from several places in the park. Book backcountry sites online or at the park office.
Devil Lake Campground, near Missinipe
As we travel north of La Ronge to Missinipe and the Churchill River, we have the choice of several lakeside campgrounds. About 5 kilometres north of Missinipe, Highway 102 crosses the Churchill River at spectacular Otter Rapids. There is a nice campground here but we like the one at Devil Lake, about 2 kilometres farther down the road, even better.
Devil Lake Campground has only a handful of basic sites. From here you can follow a hiking trail through the forest and along the shore to Otter Rapids. From the walkway on the bridge, you can often watch canoes shooting the wild rapids. If you have a canoe, it’s a short paddle across Devil Lake to Mosquito Rapids, where a portage trail leads to the Barker Lake area which is the most popular whitewater playground on the Churchill River. Here the river spreads every which way around islands and drops through a maze of rapids and waterfalls. Several wilderness campsites are available on Barker Island and on rocky outcroppings and points in the area.
Robertson Falls, Otter Lake, Churchill River
Part of the Churchill River system, Otter Lake extends south from the town of Missinipe, about 80 kilometres north of La Ronge. At the south end of the lake, a short portage dating back to long before the days of the voyageurs takes us around Robertson Falls to the next lake in the Churchill River. A beautifully situated primitive campsite sits right beside the portage trail and overlooks the falls. It’s a great place to spend a day or two in the wilderness that is reasonably easy to access. Fabulous fishing comes as a bonus.
The only way to get to Robertson Falls is by water. You can rent canoes in Missinipe if you don’t have your own, or take a trip led by a local outfitter. This is a popular short canoe trip through the island-studded lake. Or the more adventurous can keep going south on the historic waterway.
Sand Beach Campground, Amisk Lake
Amisk Lake in northeast Saskatchewan is unusual. The north end of the lake is a classic Canadian Shield boreal forest with jagged ancient rocks spread across rugged terrain. In contrast, limestone deposits from an ancient inland sea typify the south end with easily eroded stones sporting wildly colourful rocks, caves, and crevices. Isolated Sand Beach Campground lies at the south end near many of those formations. The 12 basic sites are available on a first-come first-serve basis with self-registration. In the fall we have had the entire campground to ourselves.
Just past the campground, the road ends where the Sturgeon-Weir River empties out of Amisk Lake. During the fur trade, the river was a crucial link for canoe brigades travelling between the Saskatchewan and Churchill River systems. Limestone Point, once a resting spot for voyageurs, has some of the most colourful rock formations.
Follow Highway 167 southwest from Creighton to just short of the end of the road and watch for signs to the campground.
Kettle Falls, Churchill River
The Churchill River abounds with great wilderness camping, but if we had to pick a favourite spot it would be Kettle Falls in the river’s eastern reaches. The expansive falls got its name because the constant spray rising from the churning water resembles a boiling kettle. The natural camping area is so ideal that it couldn’t get any better had we designed it. A huge flat rocky outcropping resembling a paved patio overlooks the falls. Just behind it, a wooded area provides shelter for tents. And talk about a fishing paradise — just stand on the edge of the “patio” and prepare to reel in the abundant walleye. Camping doesn’t get any better than this.
Kettle Falls is remote, far from roads or communities. The only practical option is to visit as part of a canoe trip on the Churchill River. This is a very demanding section of the river. Paddlers need experience with whitewater skills, or you can join an organized trip led by a qualified outfitter.
Thomson Bay, Lake Athabasca
If you like wilderness camping in gorgeous places, this is about as remote and gorgeous as it gets. The Athabasca Sand Dunes back part of the south shore of the lake with an almost non-stop sandy beach. Thomson Bay, which sweeps in a long arch for 25 kilometres, features many of the nicest beaches with fine sand and shallow sandbars extending far into the water. If lake conditions are fairly calm, we can camp right on the sand next to the water. However, when the lake erupts in one of its tempestuous moods, as it often does, small protected woodlands just back from the beach provide shelter from the wind. Far from everywhere, solitude is practically guaranteed.
Getting there isn’t easy, with no roads or services of any kind. The nearest road access is Stony Rapids, almost 200 kilometres away in Saskatchewan’s far north. The only access is to take a chartered flight and land on the south shore or travel by boat or canoe. But if you do make it, you’ll be treated to one of the most unforgettable places anywhere in the country.
Final Thoughts
These are only a few of the many places to camp throughout Saskatchewan. As you can see, camping offers us the chance to explore some of the most amazing parts of the province. For more camping ideas, Tourism Saskatchewan has an extensive listing of private, municipal, provincial, regional and national campgrounds on their website here.
Want more things to do in Saskatchewan? Check out our travel guides below:
Great article! Quite a few of my personal favourites in there!