Meadow Lake Provincial Park, Provincial park in Saskatchewan, Canada
Meadow Lake Provincial Park is Saskatchewan's largest provincial park, covering 1,600 km2 of boreal forest along the Waterhen and Cold Rivers. It holds more than 25 lakes and stretches about 113 km from Cold Lake on the Alberta border to the eastern shore of Waterhen Lake. Aspen, birch, pine and spruce grow here, and the Mostoos Hills rise in the north.
Meadow Lake Provincial Park was founded on 10 March 1959 and is the largest provincial park in Saskatchewan, covering about 1,600 km2 along the Waterhen and Cold Rivers. It was named after the city and lake of Meadow Lake, which lie outside the park about 40 km south-east of the nearest entrance. The Boreal Trail, a 135 km route through the park, was officially opened in June 2011.
The park lies in the ancestral territory of First Nations of northern Saskatchewan, and the name Waterhen Lake reflects the Cree word for the American coot, a bird still seen on the lake. Fishing for walleye, northern pike and lake trout continues the region's long use of these waters. The Boreal Trail, opened in June 2011, is the only year-round long-distance trail in Saskatchewan's provincial park system.
Visitors can arrive throughout the year, with summer months best for camping, hiking, and fishing activities. Winter months offer snowshoeing and skiing opportunities, though these require proper equipment and experience with cold weather conditions.
The Boreal Trail system allows hikers to undertake multi-day journeys through different forest types and wetlands. These routes remain relatively uncrowded, allowing visitors to experience the landscape with fewer interruptions.
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