Long Lake Provincial Park — Attraction in Alberta

On our yearly family camping trip we decided to go someplace new and decided on long lake because of the "great reviews". This was not the case. Racially profiled with false accusations. We were the only indigenous people there with all Caucasians. Well we got in Friday around 6 pm and set up camp and cooked supper, park ranger (conservation officer Julie Crawley) came drove through slowed down and watched us, then left. Kids played for a bit and we went to bed. Lady then came back in the afternoon the next day with a complaint warning. Meanwhile we were all in bed and there was partying all around us in our loop. We try to argue our point and to tell her she has it wrong. She does not listen or give us a chance. We say whatever and take the warning just to avoid conflict. So the next night we make darn sure there cannot be no reason to come back to our camp (again partying going on all around us for a second night). Well this was not the case. As we were packing up in the morning 9 a.m (checkout at 2pm). She proceeds to come pick on us some more and give a noise complaint ticket($300), Which was bogus and we were shocked and in disbelief. We argue and told her we were in bed that there is no way. Even got 8 other campsites to vouch for us. She would still not listen. She still gave the ticket. She had the most disgusting face while dealing with us. And was being so rude. She left to her vehicle and we played our music while we were packing the stuff up and by then its 10 a.m. she comes out tells us to turn it down so we did. And she proceeds to go to the vehicle again and then writes us a eviction. Even though we were already leaving. She would not show us the "complaints" when asked. I will be going higher up and higher up until this lady is held accountable for her actions. Also, my site was full of water, sleeping on a lake and creek. Our firepit was a lake of water from the stream. Tried to scoop it out and it would fill back up. Couldnt even have a good fire. If your indigenous, save yourself the headache and do...

Spent the September long weekend here camping. First the positives... Clean warmish lake with plenty of clean soft sand. A roped off area for kids/swimming that isn't deep. Beautiful large pull through site in D loop. Lots of trees. Free sewer disposal. A gas station just outside the park with all sorts of things to buy plus great pizza and ice cream. A great beach to take kids.

The negatives. Absolutely NO cell service phone or internet anywhere. You have to drive up to Gold Happy gas station on the highway to make calls and go a few miles down the road to get internet. Showers had dirty floors covered in dirt and hair and cost $1 for 2.5 minutes. The women's had hot water and decent spray but one stall with no door lock. The mens had wimpy spray and some were out of order or ice cold.

Not much for patrols by park rangers. Someone was setting off either fireworks or loud bear bangers after 11pm one night which was disruptive. Beach got crowded. Motorized boats were largely ignorant coming too close to canoes and people floating when they could have gone far away given the lake is big.

Wasps were horrific. Outdoor toilets were pitch black with no lights. The showers had sinks and no soap or hand sanitizer. C loop had a children's park but the RVs in the loop were packed in like sardines with no privacy and a full beach (campers only).

The campground was full and is spread out over loops A, B, C, D, E, and F, making most of it unwalkable. The playgrounds are only really accessible by driving depending on the loop you are in. Same thing with the shower building located near the beginning of the park. You have to drive there, five to 8 minutes depending on your loop. Ditto for the beach. You need to drive there if you want to take floaties or have kids to haul. It's too far to walk.

Overall the really nice beach has to be weighed against the lack of cell service and other...

Pro: Lots of lake front camp sites. Varying sites (some hilly, some in the open, some in between trees, some right at the water, some close to each other, some further apart). Water is relatively clean. Road is well maintained. Check-in process was quick and easy. Great walking trail along the length of the lake. There is a place to rent paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, peddle boat. Nice little beach area. Great day area and overnight stay. There is concession stand and grocery store— didn’t go in so don’t know the extent of items they may have.

Cons: because of the water the is A LOT of bugs so be prepared for that. Some sites can use a bit more space between. Some RV sites directly obstruct lake views for a lot of people which is unfortunate. Lot of the area doesn’t have reception so it’s hard to keep in touch with family that couldn’t make it camping. At the dump area the fresh water you have to hold the handle while it fills and it fills extra slow… took us 25 min for an average tank size. I understand the safety reason for that but maybe a different system or a faster system would be better instead of holding it for so long? Otherwise dump station is very accessible and generally clean. Bathrooms are outhouses, unfortunately no flushing toilets. Our fire pit was full of ash...