Canada's Lesser-Known Lake Park Is A Boating Paradise To Enjoy Fishing, Beaches, And Camping

When it comes to lesser-known outdoor escapes in Canada, not many of them can boast world-class fishing, sandy beaches, and a photogenic campground all in one. There is a small park in Manitoba, though, that fits the bill perfectly. Bakers Narrows Provincial Park is 358.3 acres of natural splendor, featuring the 70,000-acre Lake Athapapuskow as its cerulean centerpiece. Officially designated in 1961, it's a quick 15 minutes from nearby Flin Flon, Manitoba, via Provincial Trunk Highway 10. 

The park is open from May until September, and the nearby Flin Flon area hosts the annual, multi-day Flin Flon Trout Festival. Between the excellent boating and fishing, the relaxing beach day opportunities, and the photogenic campground, Bakers Narrows Provincial Park is an idyllic, lesser-known adventure, perfect for nature lovers looking to hide away for a while. Be sure to obtain a vehicle permit and any other necessary licenses before you arrive, and display your vehicle permit in your windshield at all times.

While Bakers Narrows Provincial Park is open from May until September, its campground is, too. Here, you'll find an assortment of group and individual camping accommodations, including 71 RV pull-through sites as well as primitive campsites and sites with water and electricity. The campground features modern amenities such as hot showers, updated washrooms, a dumping station, and provided firewood. There's also a playground and designated picnic areas. If glamping is more your speed, there are six yurts available for booking. These come pre-equipped with double futons, bunk beds, and tables with chairs, but it's up to you to bring your coziest bedding, cooking gear, and utensils for the most comfortable experience. Yurts 1 and 2 are pet-friendly, and yurts 2 and 3 are ADA-accessible. Call ahead to reserve yours.  

There are official swimming beaches perfect for lounging and playing at Bakers Narrows, including spots in the southwest and southeast corners of the campground. These are by far the best spots on the lakeshore for sunbathing and relaxation, as the rest of the shoreline tends to be very rocky. The beaches are soft, sandy, and white, attractively contrasting with the cobalt blue of the lake and lined generously with coniferous and deciduous trees. Dip your toes in the cool, clear water and listen to the birdsongs in the background or take a swim. Lifejackets are strongly recommended, and if you don't have one, you can borrow one for free from the park. If you find yourself craving even more excellent beaches in Manitoba, Lake Manitoba itself has water so blue it could pass for the Mediterranean.  

To say the fishing at Bakers Narrows is "good" is to understate things just a smidge; lake trout weighing more than 63 pounds have reportedly been caught here twice (one in 1930 and another in 2008), and fish longer than 35 inches are regularly pulled from the water as well. There are two fish-cleaning areas conveniently located onsite to clean and prep your catch. You can anticipate reeling in some trout, smallmouth bass, walleye, and perch. 

If you have a watercraft, you'll find the ADA-friendly public boat launch at Bakers Narrows to be quite helpful. No boat? No problem. Boat rentals are available from the nearby Bakers Narrows Lodge. Take your pick from 18- or 20-foot Lodge boats, or a triple pontoon boat, depending on your needs. As always, make sure you have an up-to-date fishing license before you cast your line.

Of course, fish are far from the only critters one can expect to encounter at Bakers Narrows. In fact, the Narrows is nestled within Manitoba, which happens to be the one province where you can spot each of the country's "Big Five": polar and black bears, bison, moose, and even beluga whales. If you happen to have time to explore the vast wonderland that is Manitoba beyond Bakers Narrows, we definitely recommend visiting Nopiming Provincial Park, Canada's own "entrance to the wilderness."