Lakeland Provincial Recreation Area, a sprawling 171 square miles of Canadian wilderness, offers rolling hills and four picturesque lakes. For those who want to experience this beauty and spend a night under the stars, Pinehurst Lake Campground is the spot. It's suitable for both tents and RVs, and it sits right on the shores of Pinehurst Lake.

Pinehurst Lake is in an isolated part of eastern Alberta, which has been dubbed the "most desirable region" in the world for 2025 - though you might have to brave some gravel roads to get there. The recreation area boasts a 3-day, 24-mile canoe circuit and is a Dark Sky Preserve, thanks to its remoteness and lack of light pollution. That means prime stargazing opportunities. Wildlife like caribou, deer, moose, wolf, otter, and beaver roam the area, making it a birdwatcher's paradise. Swimming, boating, sailing, and fishing are all popular on Pinehurst Lake, along with camping at the quiet campground.

But beware: the campground is in bear country, so you'll want to bear-proof your campsite properly. Cell signal is spotty, and there's no on-site dump station, so it's best to empty your cassettes (and refill water) before you arrive. One Google reviewer summed it up nicely: "Quiet campsite, has privacy, clean toilet and lake is clear. Saw a bear on [the] side road. Will probably come back!"

Pinehurst Lake Campground has 125 powered sites to reserve, and it's open from mid-May to early September. Each site comes with a picnic table and fire pit, and drinking water is available seasonally from hand pumps - no water hookups here. The campground has vault toilets with motion sensor lights and a playground for kids between the two loops. Swim or sunbathe at the beautiful lake and spacious beach, or admire the wildflowers. If you're lucky, the northern lights might even make an appearance.

Fishing on the 9,775-acre Pinehurst Lake is excellent, especially for northern pike and walleye - though these species are catch and release only. Anglers might also reel in yellow perch, burbot, or lake whitefish, with a maximum of 15 for yellow perch and 10 for lake whitefish and burbot. The lake is open for fishing from May 15 to March 31 the following year, but note that Snug Cove (Mud Bay) is closed to fishing year-round. There's a fish cleaning station at the campground and a boat launch.

To reach Pinehurst Lake Campground, it's about a 40-minute drive from Lac la Biche in Alberta, or about 2 hours and 45 minutes from the youthful city of Edmonton.

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