Taking up 654 hectares of land, the Echo Valley Provincial Park is an all-around recreational park that is a riot during the summers, exciting during the winters and has something to offer to people of all ages. It is situated in the legendary scenic region of Qu'Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan, Canada.
This provincial park is located right between Echo and Pasqua Lakes and offers gorgeous natural surroundings. The two beaches, with all their beachside amenities, allow vacationers and campers to partake in a variety of water activities and make some unforgettable memories during the summers. You can go canoeing, kayaking, or swimming in the lakes, or you can fish or sunbathe on the strip of sand separating the two lakes.
Is there anything that sounds better than lush lawns, barbecues by the beach, a kid’s playground, and plenty of wildlife all around?
The landscape of the Echo Valley Provincial Park is just as rare and unique, with green rolling hills and ravines that testify to its origins as a valley naturally carved out by ice age glaciers.
The scenic interpretive trails, the beach, the winter activities, and all the lively recreational opportunities make this park a haven for activity and fun all year long.
Located on the east side of secondary Highway 210, Echo Valley Provincial Park is 8 km west of the town of Fort Qu'Appelle. Once you reach the town, you can simply follow the signs to reach the park entrance. The roads are wide and generally well-maintained and the drive to the park is scenic, to say the least.
Echo Valley Provincial Park is home to a huge number of campsites for tents, RVs and group campers. There are more than 300 sites in total in all the different campgrounds of Echo Valley Provincial Park. 176 of these sites come with 20/30 amp electric hookup.
Most sites are pull-through with spectacular raised fire capable barbecues and the wood is provided by the park authorities free of charge.
Aspen campground comes with a total of 81 sites, all-electric. This campground has several wheelchair-accessible toilets and campsites. Water taps are situated throughout the campground. There are toilets, restrooms with showers, a kid’s playground, and a volleyball/basketball court.
There are 22 campsites at Lakeview A for RV camping, and all of them are electric. The campground has several water taps, toilets, and also a nearby playground. There’s also a dump station and garbage disposal at this campground.
There are 63 campsites at Lakeview B, and 14 of them are unserviced while the rest offer electric hookup. The campsites are equipped with water taps, toilets, firewood, playground, and, also provide wheelchair-accessible toilets and campsites. Both Lakeview A and B campgrounds have sites facing the lake that offer some truly amazing views.
This campground is humongous with 245 campsites, all-electric except for two unserviced sites that offer a more primitive camping experience. There is a playground, laundry facilities, and restrooms with showers, garbage disposals, dump station, firewood station, and wheelchair accessible campsites. This campground is divided into two parts, A and B.
Morning View is a small yet completely new campground that offers 14 full-service campsites. The sites are large and well-treed with back-in access. Wheelchair accessible toilets are also provided here. The electric hookups are of 15/30/50 Amps. All the facilities are modern and new which makes for a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
With access to two lakes, this park is a haven for anglers. The lakes and rivers offer some excellent burbot, pike, walleye, and perch fishing. Don’t be surprised if the size of your catch is huge because Echo Valley Provincial Park is home to some of the largest recorded species of Walleye and Perch. There is a fish cleaning station present near the water as well. Ice fishing is also actively pursued in this park during the winter months.
With such mesmerizing views, hiking trails are bound to be on the cards. There is a 10 km long challenging hiking path with steep hills, fitting for experienced hikers. During the hike, you’ll come across many Saskatoon bushes heavy with ripe fruit. And there are simply breathtaking views of the valley below.
There is also the Qu'Appelle interpretive program, with a three-kilometers long nature trail that allows campers to explore the park and expand their knowledge regarding the region’s history and wildlife
The beach during the summer is a hive of activity and most of these summer vacationers are found dipping into the lake and enjoying the excellent clear weed-free water. There are designated swimming areas in the lake, marked by buoys. Swimming is, however, unsupervised and it is advised for campers and vacationers to take necessary precautions before diving in. Pets are not allowed on the beach. A boat launch area offers boating enthusiasts a chance to take to the waters in their kayaks, canoes, and boats.
The public beach area is a mix of coarse sand and pebbles and a hub of activity especially during the summer months. Those wanting to spend a day out picnicking at the beach can enjoy a multitude of beach-side activities from volleyball courts, picnic tables, and a kid's playground to simply relaxing on the soft sandy areas. Looking out at the beautiful lake waters and surrounding scenery, one can enjoy any picnic experience they want at Echo Valley Provincial Park.
Winters don’t stop the vacationers and campers from visiting this recreational provincial park. There are four groomed trails called Mink, Ermine, Fox, and Jack Rabbit that are open for cross country skiing for those hardcore winter enthusiasts.
Mink is classified as intermediate while Ermine is for experts. Fox and the Jack Rabbit are for novice hikers or skiers.
The park offers some excellent single track and jeep track trails that wind up and down the valley and take bikers through forests of aspen, poplar, and open prairie grasslands. The trail is 10km/6.2 miles long and is classified as a novice to an intermediate level trail which makes it great fun for biking enthusiasts of all ages and skill.
