Calling Lake Provincial Park, located in Calling Lake, Alberta, Canada, is a park known for its lakefront camping and water recreation. The park is located in the Boreal Forest region of Alberta, making the land’s distinct characteristics and abundant wildlife part of the ideal camping experience for any style of camper.
The campsites at Calling Lake Provincial Park are tree-lined and wooded with a mix of pine, spruce, poplar, and birch trees. Depending on the time of year, campers may sleep in a green and thickly forested setting or have the colorful leaves of fall surround the campsite. During the park’s operating season, the high temperatures range from 61 ℉ (16.5 ℃) in May to 47 (8 ℃) in October with lows ranging from 36 ℉ (2 ℃) in May to 28 ℉ (-2 ℃) in October. The chilly weather combined with the summer rainy season is perfect for campers who like to spend their days outside and their nights inside a tent or camper with the windows down. The cool breeze and the sound of rain on the roof are sure to lull any camper to sleep.
Calling Lake Provincial Park is the place to camp if you value your time outside and you prefer a more simple place to stay. While staying in the north-central Alberta region, add a few nights at Calling Lake to your itinerary.
Calling Lake Provincial Park is a seasonally-operating park located in the north-central region of Alberta, Canada. The park is located 34 miles (56 km) north of the town of Athabasca. Athabasca is the closest town to the park and is the ideal place for RVers to get water and prepare for an overnight stay by getting gas and any needed camping items.
If you need a larger city with more than just a few places to buy food, the closest city to Calling Lake Provincial Park is Edmonton, Alberta. From Edmonton, the park is located 131 miles (211 km) north.
The park is open from 7:00 am until 11:00 pm. Park entry fees vary depending on the facility and use. Contact the park for more information. The park is open seasonally, but winter recreation like cross country skiing and snowshoeing may be permitted when the park is closed for the season.
The Calling Lake Campground is a seasonally-operating waterfront campground. All of the campsites have 15 or 30 amp electrical hookups, a fire pit, and a picnic table. The spaces are large, with many sites accommodating RVs, trailers, and tow vehicles over 60 feet in length. The campground has drinking water, but campers are not able to fill up the tanks on their RVs with the water available. Campers may only fill small containers of water. The campground has amenities like vault toilets, firewood sales, a dump station, a playground, and it is close to the pier. Leashed pets are permitted in the camping area, and campers may use a generator, but only outside of the park’s quiet hours between 11:00 pm and 7:00 am.
Campers staying at Calling Lake Provincial Park during the peak season may enjoy the lake in more ways than one. Although the lake isn’t known for swimming, because the beach is small and the sand isn’t soft, people still like to swim to cool off on the warmer days of the year. Before jumping in the water, it’s best to ask about the algae levels in the lake, as high algae levels impact the usability of the water from time to time.
Kayakers, canoers, and paddleboarders who want to see Calling Lake from a different perspective other than walking along the lake’s shore should spend a day on the water paddling. Calling Lake is large and has 33,920 acres of water to explore; that’s a lot of space to paddle! The park has two boat launches, making it easy to get to the water. The park doesn’t rent boats, so bring your kayak, canoe, or paddleboard and all of your equipment with you, or if you need to rent a boat, visit the town of Athabasca and inquire about boat rentals and guided water excursions.
Many people who visit Calling Lake Provincial Park come to spend time on the water, and Calling Lake is one of the locals' favorite places for boating. The best time to bring a boat is between August and September because the water is warmer, making activities like water skiing and windsurfing more comfortable. Calling Lake permits electric-motorized boats on the water, and it is easy to access the water from one of the two boat launches in the park, and then park your trailer at the parking area. If you need more information on boating rules and restrictions, give the park a call.
Calling Lake Provincial Park’s most popular recreational activity is fishing. The park has two boat launches and a fish cleaning area, so anglers can get to the water, fish, and clean their catch—all in one location. The lake’s most abundant species are burbot, lake whitefish, yellow perch, walleye, northern pike, and brown trout. Before heading to the lake, make sure you understand Alberta fishing regulations, as fishing limits, bait, and other rules change seasonally. Contact Alberta sport-fishing regulations for details and more information.
The mashy shoreline of Calling Lake is a habitat that shelters and provides the perfect home for waterfowl and other bird species. The park, located along a migratory path, is both a resting point for birds as well as a nesting place. Before coming to the park to look for birds, prepare by downloading a Birds of the Athabasca County bird identification booklet. The booklet outlines the entire Athabasca Region, and it pinpoints the common bird sighting areas, the seasons the birds pass through the area, and the probability of sighting birds at Calling Lake.
Once the park closes for the season, Calling Lake Provincial Park becomes a quiet, snow-covered winter wonderland. If the cold and the snow doesn’t bother you, why not try exploring the park during the winter? The gates are not open during the offseason, but cross country skiers, snowshoers, and ice fishers still may access the park with the understanding that all of the facilities are closed for the season. Before heading out for your winter activity, ensure the conditions are safe and that you’ve prepared yourself for the weather. Find information on ice fishing and other winter activities on the park’s website.
