Even with the long weekend being a distant memory, there could still be trouble finding that perfect camping spot in the area.
Even with the long weekend being a distant memory, there could still be trouble finding that perfect camping spot in the area.
“A few of the provincial parks and campgrounds in the area are extremely popular and fill very quickly,” said Athabasca district conservation officer Leslie Sullivan. “On long weekends, most if not all are filled to capacity. However, even during the week and on other weekends we are seeing a majority of the camping areas either full or close to it.”
Long Lake Provincial Park, located just 21 kilometres south of Boyle, is the busiest and most popular park in the region, attracting tourists, outdoorsmen and day-trippers from the big city. Over at Cross Lake Provincial Park - only 62 km southwest of Athabasca - there are some spaces to be had, but you also have to be quick in getting a reservation in.
“At Long Lake, once the online reservation system opens in the spring, a lot of the spots and dates fill up rather quickly. It's one of the most well-liked parks in the province. In fact, many have to reserve a spot up to three months in advance in order to get one of the coveted power sites,” said Sullivan.
Cross Lake can be just as busy, but depending on when you want a spot and what the weather is like, there is still a chance you could find some place to camp, Sullivan added.
There are also a number of other recreation areas and campgrounds in the district that are attracting more attention. Places such as Calling Lake Provincial Park, a short 56 km drive north of Athabasca, and North Buck Lake Recreation Area, just 25 km east of Boyle, have seen an increase in popularity over the past few years with more amenities being added as the numbers continue to rise.
“Calling Lake has a large number of power sites now and you can book any site there online. It was always been very popular with fishermen, especially early on in the season. Although, it is now becoming a bigger draw among the public looking for a getaway that may not be as busy,” Sullivan said.
“Over at North Buck, there are some power sites now and a portion of the overall campground is available to reserve online. It does still have more of that rustic feel to it, so that attraction for the more adventurous campers remains.”
One issue that has come up in recent years and has had some effect on attendance is the presence of blue-green algae warnings on area lakes. More specifically at Long Lake and Cross Lake, this year and in the past couple of years.
Blue-green algae blooms usually occur when bodies of water warm up and become too rich with the nutrients phosphate and nitrogen. The nutrients can be found normally in the soil or lake bottoms in high levels, but the higher level can sometimes be attributed to runoff from agricultural or other human sources. The warmer water then activates the naturally occurring bacteria to reproduce - or bloom - that then causes the release of a toxin that can be harmful if it is ingested and can cause severe illness in both humans and animals.
“Long Lake had a bloom a few years ago and Cross Lake was identified last year,” Sullivan explained.
“It's a fairly-widespread problem in Alberta and once a lake has one, it then becomes monitored much more closely and often. It has had an effect simply because I think the public is more aware, but so long as they head the protective measures, the public can still enjoy the lakes and parks.”
For information on reserving a camping spot, check out reserve.albertaparks.ca.
