Sylvan Lake, located in central Alberta, Canada, is the area’s most popular lake for water recreation. The lake shares its name with one of the most active tourist destinations, the town of Sylvan Lake. The lake has 16.5 square miles (42.8 km2 ) of surface area, which creates the perfect location for water skiing, boating, fishing, and swimming. Jarvis Bay Provincial Park is located on the extreme southwest portions of the lake four miles (6.8 km) from the town of Sylvan Lake. RVers who want to stay in a quiet campground but have access to activities both in and close to the facilities will adore the camping at Jarvis Bay Provincial Park.
RVers should add Jarvis Bay Provincial Park and the town of Sylvan Lake along their route either to or from the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Sylvan Lake is an ideal stopover for RVers because it offers recreation seekers a different kind of beauty than the Canadian Rocky Mountains offers travelers, but both landscapes help to create the perfect image of a picturesque Canadian getaway. After spending time in glacial runoffs and rugged terrain, head east to the shores of Sylvan Lake. Camp quietly along the cliffs overlooking the water, and revel in the beauty that Canada has to offer.
Jarvis Bay Provincial Park is located 102 miles (164 km) north of Calgary and 99 miles (160 km) southwest of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
RVers who want to make Jarvis Bay Provincial Park a stopover on their way to or from the Canadian Rocky mountains can make the journey in less than half a day. Jarvis Bay Provincial Park is 185 miles (298 km) east of Jasper National Park and 162 miles (262 km) northeast of Banff National Park.
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 are permitted when the park is closed for the season.
Campers who desire tree-lined sites next to the water will want to stay at the Jarvis Bay Campground more than one night. The campground, although waterfront, has no access to the water. It is a pet-friendly, seasonally operating facility that has more than one camping loop to choose from. Many of the sites accommodate RVs and trailers over 60 feet in length. The sites are a natural surface with a fire pit, picnic table, and 15 or 30 amp electrical service. Some sites have water hookups, but most are electric-only spaces. The campground has drinking water, a dump station, firewood, a playground, showers, restrooms, and a registration center. Please respect the park’s quiet hours and silence your generators between 11:00 pm until 7:00 am.
Sylvan Lake is a well-known destination for skiing and snowshoeing. Once snow covers the ground, the trails used for hiking and biking turn into Nordic activity trails. Jarvis Bay Provincial Park permits recreationists to use the pathways and roads within the park when it is closed for the season, and numerous groomed trails and paths wind around Sylvan Lake for people to use for winter recreation. More information on cross country skiing and the snowshoeing trail is available online.
After you set up camp, wander around the park’s facilities to stretch your legs and see the park’s scenic views. Although there are not any designated hiking trails located inside of the park, the areas in and around the campgrounds are perfect for leisurely walks. Sylvan Lake is not far from the campground, but it isn’t accessible because of rocky cliffs leading to the water. Hike over to the rocky area for some scenic views of the water, but be careful, and stay a safe distance from the edge. There are more hikes and designated trails located close by outside of the park’s boundaries.
Are you looking for a family-friendly activity that involves electronics and searching for a hidden treasure? Geocaching is a worldwide scavenger hunt that uses GPS locations to help locate hidden treasures. Geocaching isn’t a park-sanctioned activity, but Jarvis Bay Provincial Park allows the secret caches. Bring your handheld GPS devices, and prepare yourself before coming to the park, so you are ready to search for the hidden treasure within the park’s boundaries. The cache is medium sized, and it isn’t tricky to locate because the treasure isn’t far from some of the park’s main walking areas.
Bring your swimsuits, towels, and sunscreen, and take the whole family to Sylvan Lake Aqua Splash. Even though Jarvis Bay Provincial Park doesn’t have swimming activities, you don’t have to go far to find water fun suitable for the family. Just minutes outside of the park, the Sylvan Lake Aqua Splash waterpark is a lake obstacle course designed to entertain and provide excitement for kids and adults. The park operates seasonally. Contact Sylvan Lake Aqua Splash for hours of operation, admission prices, and age restrictions.
If you are an avid golfer, or you are looking to take up a new activity, then try golfing at the Lakewood Golf Course, located minutes away from Jarvis Bay Provincial Park. The course isn’t on the park’s grounds, but it is still a favorite activity for people visiting the park. The course is player-friendly, and it runs alongside Sylvan Lake, creating a dramatic backdrop for the playing greens. The course is nine holes, and there are opportunities for instruction as well as playing time. If you don’t want to leave the facility for lunch, don’t worry, you can eat at one of the snack bars or restaurants on site. Contact the golf course for tee times, rentals, and other golfing information.
Jarvis Bay Provincial Park is mainly a camping park, but there are still day use areas where campers can enjoy the outdoors without having to travel far from their campsite. The park has a playground located in between the two camping areas. There is a parking lot close to the play area so you can drive and park if your camping spot is too far to walk. There is also a group camping area with fire rings and sheltered picnic sites for visitors who want to host an event or activity that requires more space. Contact the park office for more information on reserving a shelter or group camping area.
