Dry Camping Long Island Lake ??

[nick11]

Hey Ladies & Gents, new to dirtbiking / ATVing in the St.Albert area. I was told the long island Lake trails are a great spot, and given our great weather I wanted to get out this weekend. Do you know if there is any issues with camping in the crown land near the staging area??

Hope its not too muddy that my RV would get stuck there....

 

[nick11]

Well just an update on this, no issue camping here but VERY muddy currently. Glad I took the risk as in my opinion this spot makes bruderheim completely obsolete. Really look forward to dry camping, ATVing, Dirt Biking here later in the season...

 

[craggar2011]

It is a pretty good spot but it can be busy and tough to find a decent camping spot on the weekends.

 

[Ballzdeep]

Can also camp or stage at Forfar Lake area. More areas to park and ride the trails from there to Long Island. Nice ride, do have to cross the hwy but nice area.

 

[nick11]

Can also camp or stage at Forfar Lake area. More areas to park and ride the trails from there to Long Island. Nice ride, do have to cross the hwy but nice area.

Nice thanks for this! Looks like a decent campground that actually allows for direct access for ATV's.

Now the only issue is waiting until it's dry enough to get my RV in there. Came this weekend with my F150 & ATV trailer and nearly got stuck.

 

[armascott]

Can also camp or stage at Forfar Lake area. More areas to park and ride the trails from there to Long Island. Nice ride, do have to cross the hwy but nice area.

Are you talking about staging in the campground on the east side of the lake? What are the trails like around there? More dirt bike or more quad friendly?

 

[Ballzdeep]

Are you talking about staging in the campground on the east side of the lake? What are the trails like around there? More dirt bike or more quad friendly?

Yes, that's the area i'm talking about. We used to be able to ride from the camp site no problem, not sure about now if same owners in past few years or not.. Long island they go fawkn nuts if you even ask to ride from that site...there chit IMO. Saddle cicrcle just up the road was supposed to be opening up a area to camp/stage accross the road from them, i haven't heard anymore on this rumor in over a year. The main camp site just off the "pit road" aka the old dump is always packed so we never go there anymore. Forfar side is more quad friendly forsure, i dirtbike and always was dogging big holes to get over the hwy to ride the good stuff. Stay at forfar or area...there are other staging areas im just not sure on actual location but not far from camp ground. Can go long way North/west around the lake to the hwy or take RRd 250 theres trails in the ditch till you hit Hwy 663 youll see another stagging area. Good trails start there. If you on a quad stay right and enjoy mud/skag on a dirtcycle stay left and theres some sweet tight fast trails... Sorry i couldn't be more specific with names of areas.

 

[nick11]

Yes, that's the area i'm talking about. We used to be able to ride from the camp site no problem, not sure about now if same owners in past few years or not.. Long island they go fawkn nuts if you even ask to ride from that site...there chit IMO. Saddle cicrcle just up the road was supposed to be opening up a area to camp/stage accross the road from them, i haven't heard anymore on this rumor in over a year. The main camp site just off the "pit road" aka the old dump is always packed so we never go there anymore. Forfar side is more quad friendly forsure, i dirtbike and always was dogging big holes to get over the hwy to ride the good stuff. Stay at forfar or area...there are other staging areas im just not sure on actual location but not far from camp ground. Can go long way North/west around the lake to the hwy or take RRd 250 theres trails in the ditch till you hit Hwy 663 youll see another stagging area. Good trails start there. If you on a quad stay right and enjoy mud/skag on a dirtcycle stay left and theres some sweet tight fast trails... Sorry i couldn't be more specific with names of areas.

You think they would give me **** for camping just north of the Saddle Club? Only area that is accessibly for my RV this time of year.

 

[Ballzdeep]

You think they would give me **** for camping just north of the Saddle Club? Only area that is accessibly for my RV this time of year.

I wouldn't, cops frequent that place quit often now and probably give ya chit. If you drive past the camp/stagging site up the road there is another lease road/open field and people have used that as over flow for camping. We stayed in there once and cops didn't say anything, they just stopped by to say hi and drove off. When warmer if you can drive your RV past the pits there's another two smaller open fields that people have used as camp sites too. Road up the hill at the pit area can be deep sand so risky if your dragging heavy weight. Not sure when i'm gonna get out there again Nick, but ill shoot you a PM when i do and can show you some good areas if you up for it.

 

[nick11]

I wouldn't, cops frequent that place quit often now and probably give ya chit. If you drive past the camp/stagging site up the road there is another lease road/open field and people have used that as over flow for camping. We stayed in there once and cops didn't say anything, they just stopped by to say hi and drove off. When warmer if you can drive your RV past the pits there's another two smaller open fields that people have used as camp sites too. Road up the hill at the pit area can be deep sand so risky if your dragging heavy weight. Not sure when i'm gonna get out there again Nick, but ill shoot you a PM when i do and can show you some good areas if you up for it.

Thanks man, definitely need meet more people who ride. I live in St.Albert myself.

I think its absolutely insane how bull**** Alberta is these days, why would the cops have issue with me driving my insured & registered ATV on crown land and then sleeping with my wife in our RV rather then driving home.... Coming from a guy who was born and raised here but had the privilege to live in the Yukon for 10 years in which you are actually free to enjoy life as long as your not hurting others.

Anyways I will probably heed your advice and just head out there for the day with my truck this time....

 

[sweins]

Haven't been in that area yet, usually that neck of the woods we are out at Vega. Interested in meeting up with you guys, specially if you plan a mid week trip. I work shift work and have a pretty flexible schedule. Always looking to new area's to explore and take the family out to.
Was just out at redwater on friday and very little snow left, starting to get dusty in the high spots, and with the frost still in the ground, lots of water pooled in the low spots. None of the sport quads had any difficulty and ran into a couple dirtbikers offloading when we were packing up.

 

[bigmikeystylez]

Im actually very interested in this area by Long island lake myself.

I went quadding there friday for the first time at this location. Loved the trails, and loved the fact that there were the 2-3 open staging areas where we could hopefully camp as well for 3-4 days at a time.

Nice and close to Edmonton. I was planning on trying to camp at this spot July long wknd but worried about getting a spot to camp there.

 

[Ballzdeep]

Im actually very interested in this area by Long island lake myself.

I went quadding there friday for the first time at this location. Loved the trails, and loved the fact that there were the 2-3 open staging areas where we could hopefully camp as well for 3-4 days at a time.

Nice and close to Edmonton. I was planning on trying to camp at this spot July long wknd but worried about getting a spot to camp there.

Drop off trailer thursday night...only way to score a spot up there.

 

[bigmikeystylez]

Drop off trailer thursday night...only way to score a spot up there.

Thank you.....thats prob a good idea!

 

[CamoCat700]

Does anyone have directions from Edmonton to one of the staging areas? I would like to check the area out as well!

 

[win]

Following as I’m also interested

 

[whoDEANie]

I could not create a pin to the staging area but could to the Saddle Club: https://goo.gl/maps/6FryjyPR7U49Fra28

Follow the direction to get to the Saddle Club. There is a snowmobile staging area across the road. Keep driving East past the Saddle Club and hang a right at the stop sign - the main staging area and fire pits wil be right there.

 

[CamoCat700]

I could not create a pin to the staging area but could to the Saddle Club: https://goo.gl/maps/6FryjyPR7U49Fra28

Follow the direction to get to the Saddle Club. There is a snowmobile staging area across the road. Keep driving East past the Saddle Club and hang a right at the stop sign - the main staging area and fire pits wil be right there.

Awesome! Thanks for the info. I will definitely be planning a ride out there soon.

 

[whoDEANie]

Awesome! Thanks for the info. I will definitely be planning a ride out there soon.

Very welcome. ...just make sure your winch is working!!!

 

[bigmikeystylez]

Is that the spruce island lake natural area? A friend said it was pretty swampy out there this time of year.....but dries up quite a bit in the summer (other than a few bogs here and there)