Backroad Mapbook: Northern Alberta, 4th Edition

With diverse geography ranging from the Rocky Mountains to extensive prairie and grasslands, plus sweeping boreal forest, rolling hills, massive lakes, sand dunes and much more, Northern Alberta has a lot to offer outdoor recreationists. And with few major cities outside of Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray, you will have no problem finding a little chunk of picture-perfect wilderness to call your own. From the fertile wildlife habitat of Hay-Zama Lakes Provincial Park to the mighty waters of the Peace River and beyond, there is no shortage of incredible adventure destinations in northern Alberta.

To help you make the most of your time in the area, the Backroad Mapbooks team has created the most comprehensive and detailed recreation Mapbook for the region ever! The 4th Edition Northern Alberta Backroad Mapbook features numerous additions and expansions from our last edition, including labelled fish species, added Crown and private land, expanded Oil & Gas coverage, new provincial parks and grazing reserves, fish stocking and hiking trail charts and much more! Featuring 97 maps starting at 1:250,000 scale, hundreds of detailed Adventure listings, an easy-to-use index and much more, this is your ultimate guide to exploring Northern Alberta.

Topographic Maps

In your durable, heavy-duty, spiral-bound 21.5 x 26 cm (8.5 x 11 in) Northern Alberta Backroad Mapbook you will find 97 detailed topographic maps spanning the region, complete with labelled campgrounds, amenities, highways, backcountry roads, trails and other Points of Interest. These user-friendly maps boast a level of cartographic sophistication unparalleled even by government sources, making them the maps of choice for Oil & Gas workers and Search and Rescue teams.

Service Directory

In addition to our maps, we list Northern Alberta’s best accommodations, services, outfitters and amenities, including information on the region’s best outdoor tours and hunting and fishing suppliers.

Adventures

Our detailed adventure section is one of the features that makes your Backroad Mapbook so much more than just a map of Northern Alberta. From hiking to hunting, ATVing, paddling, wildlife viewing and beyond, our team of writers and researchers have come up with the most comprehensive adventure information available anywhere for this region.

Index

Our easy-to-use index is divided into Map and Adventure sections to make it even simpler to navigate. Here you will find page numbers and map coordinates for each activity and location, plus important numbers, distance charts and an advertiser list for easy referencing. We also include a Resource Index with Oil & Gas facilities complete with LSD grid number and contact information.

Backroad Adventures

In the latest edition of the Northern Alberta Backroad Mapbook you will find close to 60 listings for the best things to see and do while travelling the region’s highways, secondary roads and backroads. From historic sites to conservation areas, museums and unique geographic features, there is a fascinating attraction around every corner, including the Athabasca Sand Dunes, the Fort Vermilion Heritage Centre, Fort Chipewyan and more.

Fishing Adventures

Home to over half of Alberta’s fish bearing lakes, Northern Alberta has a well-earned reputation as an excellent place to fish. From easy-access roadside lakes and rivers to remote fly-in lakes that rarely see a line, there is something for every angler in Northern Alberta. Your Northern Alberta Backroad Mapbook contains close to 370 of the region’s best fishing lakes, rivers and streams, complete with information on species, stocking, access, regulations and more. From the waters of Bistcho Lake to Lake Athabasca, Iosegun Lake, Peerless Lake, the Little Smoky River, Peace River and beyond, we’ve got you covered.

Hunting Adventures

With so much open country to explore and an incredible diversity of habitats, hunters in Northern Alberta can enjoy some of the finest hunting opportunities in the province. From big game like moose, deer and bear to ptarmigan, grouse and waterfowl, there is lots of incredible hunting to be had. In the 4th Edition Northern Alberta Backroad Mapbook you will find written descriptions for 42 of the region’s Wildlife Management Units, from the Swan Hills to Rainbow Lake and beyond, plus descriptions of common game species and tips on how to find them.

Paddling Adventures

There are a lot of big rivers in Northern Alberta, many of which have been travelled for countless generations by local First Nations and now serve as premiere wilderness canoe routes. In your Northern Alberta Backroad Mapbook you will find close to 90 detailed descriptions of the region’s best paddling rivers and lakes, from the Clearwater River to the Hay River, Crow Lake, Lesser Slave Lake and beyond, complete with information on put-ins and take-outs, portages, campsites, difficulty and more.

Park Adventures

Northern Alberta is home to numerous provincial and regional parks that protect some of the area’s most impressive natural areas, plus Wood Buffalo National Park, which is Canada’s largest national park. In your 4th Edition Northern Alberta Backroad Mapbook you will find close to 140 park listings complete with information on camping, amenities, activities, and access, from Cross Lake Provincial Park to Grand Rapids Wildland Park, Iosegun Lake Recreation Area, Queen Elizabeth Provincial Park and many more.

Trail Adventures

Whether you are hiking, horseback riding, cycling, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, there are a lot of trails to explore in Northern Alberta, especially if you don’t mind putting a bit of extra effort into route finding or bushwhacking. In your Northern Alberta Backroad Mapbook you will find over 100 detailed multi-use trail descriptions, complete with distances, elevation gains, trail access, and highlights, including the Birchwood Trail System, the Trans Canada Trail, the Sir Winston Churchill Park Trails and many more.

ATV (OHV) Adventures

In addition to designated ATVing areas, Northern Alberta is full of abandoned or rarely-used backroads that make for some excellent ATVing amidst a dramatic landscape. From muddy forest trails to sand dunes, hill climbs and hidden play areas, there is plenty to discover. Your 4th Edition Northern Alberta Backroad Mapbook contains over 60 detailed listings for the best places to ATV in the region, from Lakeland Provincial Park to the Richardson River Sand Dunes and beyond, including information on staging areas, trail length, elevation gain and more.

Snowmobile Adventures

Northern Alberta enjoys a long winter season with an abundant snowfall, making snowmobiling one of the region’s most popular pastimes. From steep mountain climbs leading to open alpine bowls to casual rides along a forested trail, Northern Alberta has it all. In the 4th Edition Northern Alberta Backroad Mapbook you will find over 30 detailed listings for the best places to snowmobile in the region, including the Anzac Snowmobile Area, Golden Triangle Snowmobile Route, Vista Ridge Snowmobile Area and beyond.

Wildlife Adventures

Northern Alberta is full of fascinating wildlife, from large mammals like wood bison, caribou, elk and bear to the millions of migrating birds that pass through the region each spring and fall. Spotting a wild animal is usually easy, but there are a few places that are especially productive for wildlife viewing. In the 4th Edition Northern Alberta Backroad Mapbook you will find over 40 detailed descriptions for the region’s best wildlife viewing hotspots, from Chinchaga Wildland Provincial Park to Saskatoon Island Provincial Park and beyond, complete with information on access, species, and optimal viewing times.

Winter Adventures

Winter is unavoidable in Northern Alberta, and many outdoor explorers choose to embrace it by exploring the snow-covered landscape with a pair of cross-country skis or snowshoes. Often, the already impressive scenery is made even more beautiful by the generous dumping of snow that covers the landscape for many months at a time. In the 4th Edition Northern Alberta Backroad Mapbook you will find over 60 detailed listings for the best places to get outside in the winter, from Cold Lake Provincial Park to the Rocky Lane Skit Trails and beyond, complete with information on access, trail length and more.