High Prairie is a town of about 2,600 people (2016) in the Peace River Country region of Alberta.

Understand edit

High Prairie developed when the railway from Edmonton to the Peace Country was chosen to go through the town as opposed to Grouard, a neighbouring village on the northwestern shore of Lesser Slave Lake. Today, High Prairie's main industries include agriculture, forestry, and oil and gas.

Due to its proximity to the western shores of Lesser Slave Lake, High Prairie has a thriving tourism industry, particularly in the warmer summer months. There are many attractions at the lake, including events such as the Golden Walleye Classic. Winagami Lake Provincial Park, approximately 33 km to the north of High Prairie, and Kimiwan Lake, approximately 49 km to the northwest, are attractions for bird-watching enthusiasts. Winagami Lake and Kimiwan Lake are within the general area where three major migration paths meet – the Central Flyway, the Mississippi Flyway, and the Pacific Flyway.

Get in edit

High Prairie is on Highway 2, 4 hours northwest of Edmonton.

The High Prairie Airport is 4 km south of the town; there are no scheduled flights.

By bus edit

Get around edit

See edit

Do edit

  • 1 Hilliard's Bay Provincial Park (40 km NE of High Prairie; from Hwy 2 take Hwy 750 to Grouard, then go east on Willow Point Rd), +1 780-849-7100. It's on the north-western shore of Lesser Slave Lake. The park has an overnight campground, a beach, boat launch site, and playgrounds.    
  • 2 Winagami Lake Provincial Park, Highway 679 (33 km NW of High Prairie), +1 780-751-2598. Winagami Lake offers good boating opportunities, and the option to fish from the breakwater. Swim or relax on the sandy beach. If you enjoy birding, this is a good place to find many species of waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds.    

Buy edit

Eat edit

Drink edit

Sleep edit

Connect edit

Nearby edit

Driftpile edit

Driftpile is 49 km (30 mi) east of High Prairie on Highway 2.

  • 3 North Country Fair. Weekend around June 21. Six thousand or so hippies and friends come out every year at summer solstice for music and workshops.    

Grouard edit

Grouard, also known as Grouard Mission, is located 13 km (8 mi) north of Highway 2 on Highway 750, 33 km (21 mi) northeast of High Prairie.

  • Native Cultural Arts Museum (St. Bernard’s Mission), 64 Mission St, Grouard (Northern Lakes College Grouard Campus), +1 780-751-3306, . Part of Northern Lakes College, the museum collection celebrates various aspects of Indigenous cultures, with a special focus on Métis and Cree peoples of northern Alberta. Interpretive guided tours of the museum and the St. Bernard’s Mission are offered year-round.

McLennan edit

McLennan is 50 km (31 mi) northwest of High Prairie on Highway 2.

  • Kimiwan Birdwalk, 302 3rd Ave NW, McLennan, +1-780-324-2004. Boardwalk along Kimiwan Lake and an excellent sport for birdwatching. Interpretive Centre is open from May until September, while the birdwalk is open year-round.

Go next edit

Explore the east shore of Lesser Slave Lake and visit the town of Slave Lake.

Routes through High Prairie
Peace RiverFalher  W   E  Slave LakeEdmonton


This city travel guide to High Prairie is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.