Grey Owl Trail

Grey Owl Trail is a difficult, difficult-level hiking route in Prince Albert National Park that follows the eastern shore around Kingsmere Lake to Grey Owl’s cabin (Beaver Lodge). It’s commonly done as an out-and-back backpacking trip, with Parks Canada describing a 19.9 km one-way hiking distance (so about 40 km round-trip).

Plan on a multi-day schedule: it’s typically completed in 2 to 3 days as a backpacking trip. The trailhead is the Kingsmere River parking lot and day-use area, 32.5 km down Kingsmere Road from Waskesiu.

The route breaks naturally into backcountry camping stops along Kingsmere Lake. Key campgrounds are Southend (branch off near the start), Westwind Group Campground at 3.3 km, Chipewyan Portage Campground at 6.7 km, and Sandy Beach Campground at 12.8 km; Northend Campground is at 16.8 km and is a main overnight option on the hiking section.

From Northend, Grey Owl’s cabin is a further 3 km side trip on Ajawaan Lake (described as 3 km from the Northend picnic site). Beaver Lodge sits on Ajawaan Lake’s shoreline, with a main cabin built in 1931 and an upper cabin built in 1932 for Anahareo and Shirley Dawn.

The hiking section is set in boreal forest and includes some steep sections; expect technical footing over distance, with roots and rocks cited as making the experience strenuous. The route is also tied to the Grey Owl story and conservation legacy, with the cabin complex and nearby graves a core destination for most parties.

There’s a separate watercraft option that some groups use in place of part of the hike: Kingsmere River rail portage plus paddling on Kingsmere Lake is described as the boating access approach. For non-motorized watercraft users, the route guidance emphasizes staying close to the east shore of Kingsmere Lake, where conditions can change quickly.

More information: Visitor information, Visitor information, 2 Days Backpacking the Grey Owl Trail in Saskatchewan