Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park

Alberta Parks

Advisories

  • Partial Closure - Causeway Bridge Construction

      Effective Date: November 1, 2025 - Until Further Notice

      Where: Sir Winston Churchill Group Use , Sir Winston Churchill Campground , Sir Winston Churchill PP

      Details: Please be advised that construction activities will be occurring on the causeway bridge at Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park between November 2025 to early March 2026. To accommodate construction, there will be no access to Big Island during the construction period. We recognize the closures are inconvenient; however, they are necessary to ensure public safety and support construction efficiency. The Government of Alberta is committed to improving high-traffic recreational areas across the province. The project will ensure infrastructure meets current standards, improves public safety, and supports positive visitor experiences. To support construction activities, Alberta Parks will have to intermittently close access to some areas of the park to reduce danger to visitors as contractors work in the area with heavy equipment, and to improve efficiency of the contractor to complete the works without having to keep track of the public in the area. Conservation Officers have the ability to enforce area closures under the Provincial Parks Act. Please do not cross construction barriers and follow all signage. Dates are subject to change. Updates to area closures from November 2025 through March 2026 will be posted in the future as construction progresses and project schedule details are finalized. Access to Long Island that has the year-round Comfort Camping, the Community Facility, and Boat Launch will remain throughout construction. The access to these facilities/amenities and operations will not be impacted by the construction. Access to Big Island of Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park will be closed for construction from November 2025 to March 2026.
      KEY POINTS – SEPTEMBER 2025
      • The Causeway Bridge is being replaced, the roadway from this point onwards will be closed. There is no motorized access to Big Island of Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park.
      • There will be no emergency support or maintenance occurring on Big Island of Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park. If users access Big Island of Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park from the lake, it is at their own risk.
      Visitors looking for recreational alternatives can call the Alberta Parks Information Line at 1-877-537-2757. For further information about the closures, please see the attached Area Closure Map and Frequently Asked Questions.

      Map of Affected Area
      FAQs

  • Operational Service Change - Water Services

      Effective Date: October 2, 2025 - Until Further Notice

      Where: Sir Winston Churchill Campground , Sir Winston Churchill Group Use , Sir Winston Churchill PP

      Details: Water services at water-tap stands will no longer be available, as water lines will be cleared due to cooling temperatures. Water will still be available at a dump station and tap at the campground store. Showers & flush toilets at the shower-house are still available for use.

  • Blue-Green Algae - Lac La Biche Lake

      Effective Date: July 30, 2025 - Until Further Notice

      Where: Sir Winston Churchill PP

      Details:

      Please be advised that Cyanobacterial (Blue-Green Algae) has been identified in the water at this location. Additional information can be found online at AHS Health Advisories

      Visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

      • Avoid all contact with cyanobacterial blooms. If contact occurs, wash with tap water as soon as possible.
      • Do not swim or wade or allow your pets to swim or wade in any areas where cyanobacteria is visible.
      • Do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake to your pets.
      • Consider limiting human consumption of whole fish and fish trimmings from this lake, as it is known that fish may store toxins in their liver. People can safely consume fish fillets from this lake.

      As always, visitors and residents are reminded to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any recreational body of water at any time. Boiling this water will not remove the toxins produced by cyanobacteria. An alternative source of drinking water should also be provided for pets and livestock while this advisory is active.

      Weather and wind conditions can cause algae blooms to move from one location in the lake to another. As such, this advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

      Please note: Waters in which the cyanobacterial bloom is NOT visible can still be used for recreational purposes, even while this Health Advisory is in place.

  • Fecal Water Quality - Camper's Beach Advisory

      Effective Date: July 18, 2025 - Until Further Notice

      Where: Camper's Beach Day Use , Sir Winston Churchill PP

      Details:

      The water at this location is tested weekly by Alberta Health Services. Our most recent test has produced fecal indicator bacteria levels that exceed the recommended limits. Additional information can be found online at AHS Health Advisories

      Contact with these waters may cause illness, and swimming is not recommended.

      Never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any lake or reservoir, at any time. Water-borne organisms, including fecal bacteria, can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

      For more information on beach monitoring, please contact Alberta Health Services at 811.

  • Notice - Causeway Bridge Load Reduction

      Updated:  August 31, 2025

      Effective Date: June 23, 2023 - Until Further Notice

      Where: Sir Winston Churchill Campground , Sir Winston Churchill Group Use , Sir Winston Churchill PP

      Details: An inspection by Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors identified structural issues on the bridge on the causeway leading to SWCPP. The identified issues require immediate load reductions to ensure the safe use of the bridge:
      LOADING TYPE JUNE 2023 REDUCTION
      CS1 11.4 tonne (25,100 lbs)
      CS2 19.9 tonne (43,800 lbs)
      CS3 25.8 tonne (56,800 lbs)
      CS1 is defined as an axle spacing of less than 4.5m. This means that any truck / car towing a trailer that has less than 4.5m from the towing (rear) axle to the trailer axle must be less than 15 tonne (total vehicle/trailer weight). CS2 is defined as an axle spacing over 4.5 m. So if the spacing from the towing axle to the trailer axle is over 4.5m, the weight can be up to 25 tonne (total vehicle/axle weight). CS3 is defined as a truck and a full trailer with 2 tandem axles, in the case where the inter-axle spacing between the tandem axle groups is 5.0 metres or more.   What does this mean for campers? You may be unable to bring your motorhome to SWCPP. Class A and Class B motorhomes fall under loading type CS1. Without water and sewage, a Class A motorhome can weigh up to 16 tonnes and a Class B motorhome can weigh up to 10 tonnes.   We are working with Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors to find solutions; however, upcoming reservations will need to be cancelled if your vehicle exceeds the identified weight limits. Please call 1-877-537-2757 or visit to www.Shop.AlbertaParks.ca to cancel or change your reservation. Alternate sites that can accommodate your vehicle and camping unit are available in the area.   We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. For more information about load ratings, visit http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/content/doctype260/production/trans-restricted-bridge-list-for-provincial-highways.pdf.

  • Notice - Kinglet Trail Flooded

      Updated:  May 1, 2025