I was lucky enough to be invited along to Fort Carlton Provincial Park with my son’s class on a field trip. We stepped back in time to the original site of a Hudson’s Bay fur-trading post from the early 1800s. It was fun to take part in the tour and learn about all the different areas. One of the rules was to not touch anything without asking first, and the kids did an amazing job respecting this and were able to touch quite a lot of things in the interactive rooms. We had a tour, and then the kids had time for lunch and to run around a little bit, and then they headed for a walk before the bus left.
The negotiation of Treaty 6 took place at Fort Carlton place, making it a very significant historic site. While there, you can tour the recreated fort and buildings with a park interpreters.
From 1810 to 1885, Fort Carlton was a hub for the Hudson’s Bay Company. They have reconstructed the trade store and clerks’ quarters. The kid’s enjoyed exploring the trade store, and spend A LOT of time asking questions. The interpretive guide did such a good job as he patiently answered every single question the kids had.
All the kids and chaperones, enjoyed walking around the fort at the top. It gave us a chance to see everything from a different perspective. We saw the tipis, the vast prairies, and the inside of the fort. My son also enjoyed looking at all the moss on the wood. My son and I had a little extra time at the end (because we skipped the chaos of the bus) so we walked around it one more time before we left.
There is a lot to see and do when you visit, and they have a small campground as well. In fact, I remember a school trip when I was a kid that involved camping there. We drove from a lot farther away though.
Fort Carlton has walking paths that lead you to the beautiful North Saskatchewan River, and it is perfect to run off a little energy before getting back into a vehicle to head home. I loved taking in all the trees, wild flowers, and nature smells surrounding us on the walk.
Fort Carlton Provincial Park
Dates: May 16 to August 16, 2026
Hours: Thursday to Monday, 10 AM to 5 PM
Address: 212 Hwy, Duck Lake No. 463, SK S0K 0W0
Website: saskparks.tourismsaskatchewan.com/fort-carlton
