Looking for a relaxing RV getaway in western Alberta? If so, look no further than Young's Point Provincial Park. Young's Point Provincial Park is a fantastic family friendly park that is located on the northwest shore of Sturgeon Lake. The park came to be after the boreal forest ecosystem that is found within the park was identified as being important and that is should be protected. The official opening date was August 3rd, 1971 and the park now encompasses a massive 2,690 acres (10.89sqkm). The park takes its name from Frederick Campbell Young who was a homesteader in in the area back in the 1920s.
A lot has changed in the area since the 1920s but the park is a nice throwback to days gone by. The most popular place to be at the park during the summer is by the lake with boating, swimming and swimming all possible and highly recommended. There are also over 12 miles (20km) of trails for you to explore and many lovely spots to relax and have a picnic. The fun doesn't stop in winter at the park either with ice fishing and cross-country skiing both being fun things that you can do.
The camping facilities at Young's Point Provincial Park are very modern and will provide you with a very comfortable stay in your RV. In total there are four loops within one large campground that contains 124 sites for visitors to call home. 78 of these have 15 and 30 amp electrical hookups with 46 being primitive. Camping is only available during the peak months, which run from May until October.
Young's Point Provincial Park is located in western Alberta and is situated on the north-west side of Sturgeon Lake. The park has one main entrance road that splinters off to two roads that will take you to either the campground or the day-use area.
Young's Point Provincial Park has a few towns around that will provide you with the amenities you will need to enjoy your stay at the park however there are none that are under a 20 minute drive. The closest towns are Valleyview (around 20 miles or 32km), Debolt (around 21 miles or 32km) and Little Smoky (around 49 miles or 80km). The closest city to Young's Point Provincial Park is Grande Prairie, which can be found 58 miles (94km) to the west of the park.
Accessing the park should be very straightforward as the roads are very wide and flat and the park is not too far from the Alberta Highway 43. The road into the park is kept in very good condition and there will be no obstacles that will hinder your journey. During the winter the park is still open and you can access the main area of the park, however if you do plan on visiting the park during winter make sure you call the park in advance to confirm that you will have road access.
There is plenty of parking available at Young's Point Provincial Park.
RV camping is easy and comfortable at Young's Point Provincial Park with one large campground available for you to call home. In total there are 124 sites, 78 of which have 15 and 30 amp electrical hookups and 46 are non-powered primitive sites. Most of the sites at the campground are large, flat and compacted with gravel which makes for an easy setup. There is no limit on RV size at the park and it has been remarked that big rigs will have no problem fitting on the campground roads and into the sites in the Big Horn Loop.
Many visitors to Young's Point Provincial Park are impressed with the modern camping amenities once they arrive at the campground. Some of these include coin operated showers, flush toilets, boat ramps, a playground, picnic area and a dump station. The park is also pet friendly but they must be kept on a leash at all times.
Throughout most of the year reservations are allowed but if you are visiting right at the start or the end of the season all sites will be first come, first served. Reservations can be made online or by contacting the park office.
If you aren't a skier, you will still be able to enjoy the winter recreational activities that are found at Young's Point Provincial Park. Perhaps you can give ice fishing on Sturgeon Lake a try, or if fishing isn't your thing you can go for a skate on the outdoor rink that is located in the day use area. Snowshoeing is also an option and you are welcome to explore the park in all areas besides the cross-country skiing trails. If you are more of an extreme fan snowmobiling is allowed but you can only do it on the lake.
Once the snow starts to fall in Young's Point Provincial Park the hiking trails transform into some great terrain for the cross-country skiers. The trails range from easy to intermediate in difficulty and total around seven and a half miles (12km) in length. The trails are not patrolled and due to the freezing weather all skiers should be prepared for any emergencies. Park staff suggest you carry your cell phone and an emergency kit containing an extra ski tip, wire, pliers, cord, a pocket knife, screw driver and screws.
Young's Point Provincial Park also has other recreation options besides those at Sturgeon Lake. There are some great hiking trails available for visitors to explore and adventure on that total to 12 miles (20km) in length. The trails are located north from the campground and one main trail will take you to where the individual loop trails are located. If you can only do one loop we recommend the Boreal Trail so that you can experience some the rare ecosystem that the park was established to protect.
There are no public transport options that will take you to the park.
It wouldn't be fair to mention recreational activities at Sturgeon Lake without touching on fishing. The lake is a very popular place to cast out a line and try to catch the big one and attracts fisherman from all over to come and try their luck. Since the lake is quite large you will have plenty of fishing spots to choose from for those in boats or fishing from the banks. Some of the most common fish caught include northern pike, walleye and yellow perch. For fishing rules and regulations contact the park office.
Sturgeon Lake is also a fantastic boating area due to its large size and open waters. Power boating is allowed within the lake so you will be able to zoom along to wherever you want to and explore as much as you like. There is a boat launch available for your convenience that is perfect for the majority of boats that can use the lake. There are no guarantees that boat rentals will be available during your stay so make sure to bring your own watercraft if you think you would like to get out on the water.
You can't beat going for a refreshing dip on a hot summer's day and for visitors to Young's Point Provincial Park you will have the chance to do so thanks to the seasonal beach at Sturgeon Lake. The beach has shallow, clear waters with a large amount of natural reeds and weeds. Once you are finished swimming there is a grass area that is a great picnic area. There are no lifeguards on patrol anytime at the beach so make sure that you swim to your abilities.
