About Carson-Pegasus
Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park is a medium provincial park located about 23km north of Whitecourt, Alberta. The park exits around McLeod Lake (renamed from Carson Lake), and Little McLeod Lake. The park was created to protect the boreal forest in the area but also has lots of wetlands, marshes, and provides habitat for a diverse set of wildlife.
The park serves as a good home base for adventures to the Holmes Crossing PLUZ or the Whitecourt Sandhills PLUZ.
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Summer at Carson-Pegasus
Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park is an excellent summer destination for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, and camping. With its diverse range of activities and breathtaking natural beauty, Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park is the perfect place to spend your summer vacation.
One of the main attractions of Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park is its extensive network of hiking trails. The park’s trails wind through dense boreal forests, over hills, and alongside lakes. If you prefer to explore the park on two wheels, Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park offers some great biking trails as well. Hiking and biking are excellent ways to explore the park’s natural beauty and get some exercise at the same time.
Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park is also a popular destination for anglers. The park’s five pristine lakes are home to a variety of fish species, including northern pike, walleye, and yellow perch. Fishing is permitted in all of the park’s lakes, and there are several boat launches and fishing piers throughout the park. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just starting, Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park offers a fantastic fishing experience.
Canoeing is another popular activity at Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park. The park’s two beautiful lakes are perfect for exploring by canoe. Canoeing is an excellent way to enjoy the park’s stunning natural beauty and get some exercise at the same time.
In addition to its many hiking, biking, fishing, and canoeing opportunities, Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park also boasts a beautiful beach area, making it an excellent spot for swimming and sunbathing. The park’s beach is located on the shores of McLeod Lake, the larger of the two lakes. Visitors can enjoy the sandy beach and cool water, perfect for swimming and splashing around on a hot summer day.
Finally, Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park offers several camping options for visitors who want to stay overnight. The park has over 200 campsites, including tent sites, RV sites, and group camping areas. The campsites are located in the heart of the park, offering visitors easy access to all of the park’s activities.
Winter at Carson-Pegasus
While Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park is a popular summer destination, it’s also a fantastic winter getaway for those who enjoy outdoor activities in the snow. The park offers two main winter activities: ice fishing and off-site snowmobiling.
Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park’s lakes freeze over in the winter, making it a great destination for ice fishing enthusiasts. McLeod Lake is accessible VIA the boat launch day use area in the wintertime. Visitors can drill a hole in the ice and drop their fishing line to catch northern pike, walleye, and yellow perch. Ice fishing is a unique and thrilling way to enjoy the park’s natural beauty in the wintertime.
While snowmobiling is not permitted within Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park, there are several off-site snowmobiling opportunities in the surrounding area. The park is located near several snowmobiling trails, including the Swan Hills Snowmobile Trail System. Visitors can explore these trails and enjoy the park’s stunning winter scenery from the back of a snowmobile.
In addition to these two activities, Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park offers winter camping for visitors who want to stay overnight. The park has several winter camping sites that are open year-round, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience the park’s beauty in the winter months.
In conclusion, while Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park may be a popular summer destination, it offers plenty of opportunities for winter activities as well. Ice fishing and off-site snowmobiling are both excellent ways to enjoy the park’s natural beauty in the wintertime, and winter camping is available for those who want to stay overnight. So, pack your warmest gear, grab your fishing rod or snowmobile, and head to Northern Alberta for a memorable winter adventure.
Camping at Carson-Pegasus
Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park has a large main campground on the southern shores of McLeod Lake and three group use areas spread throughout the park. Group Area C is right on the shores of McLeod Lake whereas the other two will require a bit of a hike to get to the lake. Group Area B is closest to Little McLeod Lake and about the same distance to the shores of either lake.
| Campground | Amenities | Type of Site | Amount Available | Cost/Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson-Pegasus Campground (Year-Round) | Boat launch, firepits, firewood (sold), pay phone, pier, fish cleaning stations, flush toilets, playground, pier, outhouses, showers, power hookups, sewage dump, water taps, supply store, wheelchair accessibility | Power (15/30 amp) | 182 | $43.00 |
| Walk-In Tenting | 15 | $35.00 | ||
| Winter Camping | 27 | $22.00 – $30.00 | ||
| Group Camping | ||||
| Area A Group Use (May 18 – September 10) | Firepits, firewood (sold), fish cleaning stations, horseshoes, picnic shelter, outhouses, sewage dump, warmup shelter, water pumps. | Unserviced | 15 units | $245/5 units + $35/extra unit |
| Area B Group Use (May 18 – September 10) | Firepits, picnic shelter, outhouses, power hookups | Unserviced | 15 units | $245/5 units + $35/extra unit |
| Area C Group Use (May 18 – September 10) | Firepits, picnic shelter, outhouses, power hookups | Unserviced | 15 units | $255/5 units + $35/extra unit |
Day Use at Carson-Pegasus
There is two day use areas at Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park – one of each of the park’s two lakes: McLeod Lake, and Little McLeod Lake.
- McLeod Lake – This is the main day use area in Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park. It has a wide range of amenities such as a boat launch, firepits, firewood (sold), flush toilets, a hand boat launch, lifejacket loaner station, pay phone, outhouses, showers, and tapwater. This day use are is open year round and is a perfect spot to have a picnic, or launch a boat on McLeod Lake.
- Little McLeod Lake – This day use area doesn’t have much for facilities and exists primarily to provide access to the Little McLeod Lake. There is one a pier and outhouses on this lake. It is open between May 1 and September 30.
Distances to Alberta Cities
Distance to Calgary: 471km
Distance to Edmonton: 205km
Distance to Red Deer: 325km
Distance to Lethbridge: 676km
Distance to Grande Prairie: 287km
Coordinates: 54°16’38.2″N 115°39’01.7″W
