Campgrounds and RV parks near Smoky Lake County, AB

Water activities anchor most trips. Long Lake supports canoeing, kayaking, power boating, sailing, windsurfing, water skiing and fishing, with long beach stretches and playgrounds on the campground loops. North Buck Lake has many bays and coves suited to watersports and fishing, with a sandy beach and swimming areas. Garner Lake is best suited to paddling, swimming and fishing, since low water levels mean the boat launch is hand-launch only and not suitable for motorboats. On land, families can hike or mountain-bike the loop trails inside Long Lake Provincial Park and the longer White Earth Valley Trail in the adjacent natural area. Garner Lake adds about five kilometres of walking and cycling trails through boreal forest. Metis Crossing runs guided tours, voyageur canoe paddles and cultural programming, and the surrounding county is known as the Pumpkin Capital of Alberta with seasonal agritourism stops.

The provincial campgrounds in this area run a short season. Long Lake and Garner Lake typically open in mid-May and close around Thanksgiving in early October, with peak demand on weekends from late June through August when Edmonton families head north. Long Lake fills quickly on summer weekends because of its sandy beach and proximity to the city, so weekday arrivals find more choice. Spring shoulder season can be muddy and cool, with overnight frost possible into May. Bugs, especially mosquitoes and horseflies, peak in June and early July after spring runoff. July and August deliver the warmest weather, longest daylight and best swimming, but also the highest chance of afternoon thunderstorms and wildfire smoke drifting in from northern Alberta. September brings cooler nights, fewer insects and fall colour in the aspen and birch stands. Winter camping is generally not supported at these provincial sites, though Long Lake Provincial Park stays open for day use, ice fishing and access to an adjacent downhill and cross-country ski area.

Expect a mix of basic and power sites at the provincial campgrounds; full hookups are uncommon in this corner of Alberta. Long Lake offers unserviced and power sites plus six walk-in tent sites, with a sani-station and potable water for filling RV tanks, flush toilets, showers, and a concession with basic groceries and laundry at the day-use area. North Buck Lake has waterfront sites, electrical hookups in part of the campground, hand-pump well water and a sandy beach with a boat launch. Garner Lake offers basic and power sites, showers, potable water and a sewage dumping area. Cell service can be patchy at all of these lakes. Firewood is sold on site at most locations, and fire bans are common in dry summers. Bears, moose and deer are present, so store food securely.