camping

courtesy WBNPSituated in Wood Buffalo National Park, Pine Lake is an aquamarine lake in the middle of the boreal forest, about 60 km (a 45-minute drive) from Fort Smith. Created by a series of three sink holes, the lake is a get-away destination for residents of Fort Smith.

courtesy WBNP

Wood Buffalo National Park is Canada’s largest national park. It was established in 1922 to protect the world's largest herd of free-roaming wood bison, currently estimated at more than 5,000. It is the only known nesting site of whooping cranes.

photo by Heidi Selzler

Little Buffalo River Falls Day-Use Area is located approximately 50 km northwest of Fort Smith on Highway 5.

The site has a kitchen shelter, tables, fire pits, and outhouses.

A short distance from the site is the boat launch to the Little Buffalo River.

Queen Elizabeth Territorial Park is a full-service campground catering to campers in both RVs and tents. Queen Elizabeth Territorial Park is located at the eastern end of the Wood Buffalo route, close to the centre of the community of Fort Smith, gateway to Wood Buffalo National Park. There are trails around the park, and to the Slave River and the Rapids of the Drowned.

Axe Handle Hill

Axe Handle Hill Park is located at the eastern end of the Town of Fort Smith between Pine Crescent and Park Drive.

When using the trails along the Slave River during the summer (May through October), it is important to be aware of wildlife, particularly black bears. Be Bear Aware. Black bears use the river as a migration route, and though human encounters with bears are rare, they do happen. Inform yourself about how to avoid an encounter with a bear, and know how to react if one does occur.