30+ Family-Friendly things to do in Waskesiu
My family has been visiting Lake Waskesiu in Saskatchewan's beautiful Prince Albert National Park since I was a kid, so putting a post together about things to do at this gem of a place was a breeze. Now dear reader, perhaps you haven’t yet been to Waskesiu. But the other day on Instagram, I referred to it as “Saskatchewan’s mini Banff where instead of mountains, there’s endless lake and sky… and you’ll run into friends” and there was a lot of virtual nodding, so I’m certain that some of you know it as well as I do. That’s why I ask that if I’ve missed a favourite, family-friendly thing to do at Waskesiu in high season, that you’ll please let me know. I aim to compile the most comprehensive, living lists on my website and this one is no exception. EDITED JULY 2023. And now, the Waskesiu checklist:
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1. Walk the beach! I know, starting with the obvious here. But no matter the weather, being by the lake is calming and a real memory-maker. If you find the main beach too choppy or busy, Birch Bay is always calmer and doesn’t draw the same big crowds.
2. Play at the playground. One of the best parts of the centrally-located Bears on the Beach playground is that kids can make lake friends. And so can you.
3. Go for ice cream. Is it even the lake without? Go visit Big Olaf’s for my favourite Foothills Creamery flavours and eat it on the go. Or if it rains, there’s sometimes a dine-in option at The Scoop. New is The Shack, a burger and fries joint which also serves up Chapman’s ice cream.
4. Shop local. Waskesiu has clothing stores, gift shops, a candy store, and everything in between.
5. Eat local. Sure, you can use your kitchenette but in Waskesiu, you’ve gotta save room for some yummy meals out! Some highlights are:
Pizza Pete's (properly titled Pete's Terrace), our go-to.
Pietro offers fantastic fine dining but is also baby and kid friendly.
Hecho En Waskesiu tacos is an adorable airstream walk-up with at-the-bar swings.
Stanley’s Pub at Waskesiu Golf Course offers a simple and satisfying menu.
Hawood Inn Restaurant has a good Sunday brunch.
New! The Post, which offers mocktails, salads, and unique dishes like bimimbap.
New! Happy Campers Bar & Grill, a cool place for burgers and drinks.
6. Go to a movie. Rainy day or just want to beat the heat? Matinees were such a treat when I was a kid and there's usually a family flick playing in the afternoons at Twin Pines Cinema. And fun note: they serve Dole Whip! Their concession is open to the public all day.
7. Treeosix. Fly across an amazing zipline course over the Boreal Forest, play disc golf, brave the giant swing, go fatbiking, or climb the wall. Treeosix is made for thrillseekers and also has a kid course.
8. Get your BINGO on. Every Wednesday evening in July and August, the Heritage Museum hosts.
9. Golf. Whether it’s the full 18, back 9, or you just wanna drive, the Waskesiu Golf Course or Elk Ridge Resort courses are both excellent by all accounts.
10. Camp. It’s an activity unto itself! Historically, my family stays at Kepasawin, Lost Creek Resort, or the Hawood but we took a chance last May long and had so much fun tenting at Beaver Glen, which has all amenities plus oTENTiks available to book (kind of like a yurt, very cute). With over 500 campsites in the PANP, find the one that suits you best.
11. Rent a bike, double bike, Chariot, or the ever-popular quadracycle from Grey Owl Centre.
12. Paddleboard. This is wildly popular because paddleboards are easy and the cost to buy has come down so much. Don’t want the commitment? Rent one, $55 for 4 hours.
13. Go boating. Grey Owl has canoes but you’ll want to check out Waskesiu Marina Rentals has it all: paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, fishing boats, and pontoons.
14. Fish. You don’t need a boat to cast off. Head to the breakwater and let the perch, trout, and Northern Pike come right to you.
15. Try the free outdoor adult gym at Waskesiu Recreation, let the kids go wild on the Ninja Gyms, or if you’ve got toddlers, let them explore the tiny tot playground.
16. Little Al’s Mini Golf is also on the Waskesiu Recreation site and is the prettiest outdoor course with so many cool nods to the history of the park. It’s a must! Kids under 5 golf free.
17. Play sports on courts! Last to get its own listing in the Waskesiu Recreation lineup is sports that have their own surfaces: tennis, pickle ball, basketball, floor hockey, and dodge ball. Full court rentals are available if you’re having a family reunion or the like.
18. Other offerings from Waskesiu Recreation Facility & Services:
Lawn Bowling - equipment rental for lawn bowling balls and mats
Shuffleboard – court rental and rental equipment available
Disc golf – disc golf course is free to use (discs available for sale or rent)
Outdoor Table Tennis – table rental and rental equipment available
Outdoor Foosball Table – table rental and rental equipment available
Indoor Table Tennis – table rental and rental equipment available
Spike Ball - equipment rental available
Bocce Balls - equipment rental available
Horseshoe Pits – rental equipment available
Baseball – rental equipment available
Football – rental equipment available
19. Join a game of volleyball at the beach.
20. Visit the Waskesiu Heritage Museum. Take a peek at the original shack tent setup, complete with every accessory of the time. And in the museum, grab the photo scavenger hunt book for a bit of extra fun for the kids.
21. Borrow some books from the library. There’s no charge and no local address required to borrow books from this well-stocked, volunteer-run library. Just remember to return your books on the way out of town!
22. FREE Parks Canada programming:
Daily Curiosi-tent 9:30am to 11:30am behind the Visitor Centre overlooking the Main Beach. Stop by the green tent to discover natural and cultural treasures from the park.
Wednesdays- Bioblitz 10am to 12pm meeting at the Nature Centre
Explore the park off the beaten track using the iNaturalist app. Gather data to help monitor species at risk and stop invasive species from spreading. Bring a vehicle and a smart phone. Different location weekly.
Thursdays- Nature CSI 10am to 11am outside the Nature Centre. Uncover the clues as we investigate an incident in nature. What clues were left behind?
Thursdays- Art in the Park 7pm to 8pm on Campfire Hill next to the Visitor Centre. A new nature-themed presentation and craft each week. Great for visitors of all ages.
Fridays- Morning Hikes for Tots and Tykes 9am to 10am meeting at the Nature Centre. An entertaining and easy walk introducing our youngest visitors to nature through music and stories, reading and rhythms. Strollers and early walkers welcome.
Fridays- Wolf Howl 7pm to 9pm meeting at the Main Beach washroom shaded platform. Learn the ways of the wolf and their packs. Activities and stories to learn more about how and why wolves communicate long-distance with each other. Bring your vehicle for an additional hour, driving out to different locations to howl for wolves and see if they howl back!
Saturdays- Health and Wellness Hike on Mud Creek10am to 12pm at the Mud Creek trailhead. A 2.3km walk and learn about the healing properties of plants, join in group singing, and try mindful meditation through charcoal art.
Saturdays- Waskesiu River Critters 1pm to 3pm at the second bridge of Waskesiu River Trail. Meet the macroinvertebrates that have an essential place in nature's food web. Zoom in with a magnifying glass and learn how to identify these delightful water creatures.
Saturdays- Bear Aware 7pm to 8pm at Campfire Hill next to the Visitor Centre. Learn about bear safety through story, song and theatre.
Sundays- Sparks in the Park 2pm to 4pm at Campfire Hill next to the Visitor Centre. Practice your fire lighting skills with a buffet of materials from newspaper to birch bark to lichen to everything in between. Light a fire using flint and steel, magnesium fire strikers, or matches. Test your skills against your friends and family!
23. Go for a hike! There are well-marked beginner trails all around the lake and townsite. Or, plan a bigger hike— Here’s a link to 10 great ones. Don’t miss Height of Land though… this easy-to-climb 15M structure is fun for the kids and puts you at 100 M above Waskesiu with a beautiful lookout point.
24. Swim. Duh.
25. Picnic. You can find little picnic spots throughout the park. Here are the locations with fire pits and shelters available:
Main beach area
Paignton Beach (I’ve heard there’s purple sand there!)
26. Stay in and play! Pack some old fashioned games like pickup sticks, wire puzzles, cup and ball, and marbles. Sounds boring but it's not-- you'll be surprised how competitive things can get. And of course you need kid-friendly boxed games like Connect 4, Spot It, and Snakes & Ladders but pack a few for when the littles go to sleep. Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit, Cards Against Humanity... you know, the classics.
27. Visit the Prince Albert National Park Nature Centre. There are costumes, puppets, and other hands-on learning activities for little ones.
28. Grab a coffee. Evergreen serves up pretty cappuccinos in their cafe or on the deck. Or, get it in a takeout cup and enjoy it to go. And new this year, The Post serves coffee and has a lovely patio!
29. Catch minnows. Give a child a pail of shallow water & a net — they’ll figure it out fast.
30. Watch for wildlife. We’ve spotted elk, deer, foxes, bears (usually from the safety of our car, thankfully), and a ton of littler critters.
I’m ending the list at a round 30 but am happy to add if you’ve got a suggestion. Feel free to comment or DM me via Instagram where, you might already know, I have an active page where I share all my favourite places to go and things to do. If you’re not already, I hope you’ll follow along at @sneaksandlipstick! On TikTok? Me, too… finally. Catch more Sask fun by hitting follow there, too.
Happy Waskesiu-ing,
xo Maygen
