About Dunvegan
Dunvegan Provincial Park and Historic Dunvegan (provincial historic site) are located together in Northern Alberta where Highway 2 crosses the Peace River. The significance of the the location is that this site marks one of Alberta’s first fur trading posts – Fort Dunvegan. The fort was constructed in 1805 by Archibald Normal McLeod (Northwest Company trader) and is named after his ancestral home – Dunvegan Castle in Scotland. This fort today is a National Historic Site of Canada.
In 1793, Sir Alexander Mackenzie passed through the Dunvegan plains on his journey to the Pacific Ocean and he described the area as such:
“The magnificent theatre of nature has all the decorations which the trees and animals of the country can afford it: groves of poplars in every shape vary the scene; and their intervals are livened with vast herds of elks and buffaloes….. The whole country displayed an exuberant verdure; the trees that bear a blossom were advancing fast to that delightful appearance, and the velvet rind of their branches reflecting the oblique rays of a rising or setting sun, added a splendid gaiety to the scene, which no expressions of mine are qualified to describe.”
Sir Alexander Mackenzie on Dunvegan Plains (1793)
The Beaver First Nations had already been using the area for its abundant hunting and trading possibilities.
In 1956, Dunvegan Provincial Park was created to protect the area.
Today Dunvegan is protected as a historical focused provincial park containing a visitor center, campground, and interpretation material. The park is located on some flat land along the north shore of the Peace River near its southernmost point in Alberta.
See All Alberta Provincial Parks
Summer at Dunvegan
Dunvegan is a popular place to hike, view wildlife and birds, fish, learn about the area at the visitor center, canoe/kayak, mountain bike, and camp. There is a Hudson’s Bay Company house, a church, and a clergy house from the fur trading days. The riverside trails have some stunning views of the entire valley.
Winter at Dunvegan
There isn’t much to do in the wintertime at Dunvegan Provincial Park.
Camping at Dunvegan
Dunvegan Provincial Park has one campground near the riverbanks.
| Campground | Amenities | Type of Site | Amount Available | Cost/Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunvegan Campground (May 18 – October 9) | Firepits, Firewood, Outhouses, Playground, Power Hookups, Sewage Dump, Water (tap), Visitor Center, Wheelchair Accessible | Power (15 amp) | 65 | $38.00 |
Day Use at Dunvegan
Dunvegan Provincial Park does have a day use area near the Highway 2 bridge across the river. This day use area has a cook shelter, firepits, available firewood, outhouses, horseshoes, and water (tap). The visitor center is also nearby.
Distances to Alberta Cities
Distance to Calgary: 792km
Distance to Edmonton: 523km
Distance to Red Deer: 644km
Distance to Lethbridge: 995km
Distance to Grande Prairie: 90km
Coordinates: 55°55’22.9″N 118°36’01.9″W
