Beauvais Lake Provincial Park

Located deep in the foothills 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) southwest of Pincher Creek and around an hour’s drive from Waterton Lakes National Park, Beauvais Lake Provincial Park is a wilderness area with a rich history of early settlement. Foundations of buildings are all that remain of the first homesteaders’ efforts to survive in what was then a remote location. The park’s most famous settler was James Whitford, one of General Custer’s scouts at the famous Battle of Little Bighorn. He is buried at Scott’s Point, accessed from the end of the road along the lake’s north side. Most of the network of hiking trails are at the other end of the lake, including a short walk to a beaver pond. The lake is also good for boating and is stocked annually with rainbow and brown trout.

Beauvais Lake Provincial Park Campground, at the lake’s western end, is open year-round. It’s fairly primitive (pit toilets, no showers), but 53 of the 87 sites do have power hookups. If you’re tent camping, continue beyond the summer cabins to a group of roadside walk-in sites. This campground is extremely popular and you’ll need reservations. Make these up to 90 days in advance of your planned stay through the RESERVE ALBERTA PARKS online reservations system.

Dawn at Beauvais Lake.