Pinehurst Camping - Expansion

[chrispee]

Just a few quick questions never camped here before.

I've read its first come first serve...is that still the case?

Also with the new expansion (https://www.albertaparks.ca/media/42..._expansion.pdf)

Is it still first come first serve?

Does it get full and is there some other place close a guy could use as a fall back?

Thanks

[Blastoff]

It's busy that's why they are expanding, with only walleye tags only I would think there is better choices around, but not many with all the lakes shut down. Some big pike in there. I am not sure but I think it's still first come for a site.

[pikeslayer22]

There are a few alternative campsites close by...Iron wood being one....this was our go to lake for many years but with this expansion its time to move on...not sure why this province needed another lake with serviced hook ups but whatever

[Safety D]

Pinehurst needs a new campsite that old one is horrible.

[Freedom55]

Any timetable regarding start/completion dates?

[chrispee]

Originally Posted by Freedom55

Any timetable regarding start/completion dates?

I've read that it would be ready for the 2017 season.

[Safety D]

I was there last fall hunting. With the crappy spring weather and where they were at I can't see it being ready tell later this year

[cube]

Originally Posted by Blastoff

It's busy that's why they are expanding, with only walleye tags only I would think there is better choices around, but not many with all the lakes shut down. Some big pike in there. I am not sure but I think it's still first come for a site.

It is still first come first served.

While the new campground construction is underway it will not be open until 2018 (spoke with the guy doing the work)

There will not be an expansion per say. ie the old campground will be closed and the new one will only have the same number of spots as the old one.

There will be no new services. Not sure where people heard it but none are on the plans. So it will still be a very noisy generator farm in the future with out houses.

Only real effect is the campers will be moved back away from the water and the small beach to the east will be developed. The old campground loop by the boat launch will be day use and the other loop will be closed completely.

I walked through the new place a couple of days ago and it is quite hilly so most of the spots are not level for what it's worth.

[LCCFisherman]

Kudos to NDP finally putting money into our provincial campgrounds again.. PC's let them rot for decades...

[Drake slayer]

Originally Posted by LCCFisherman

Kudos to NDP finally putting money into our provincial campgrounds again.. PC's let them rot for decades...

Sure if u don't mind paying for fire wood

[ecsuplander]

We've been paying for firewood for years, can't hang that on the NDP.

[Mister Bee]

Originally Posted by ecsuplander

We've been paying for firewood for years, can't hang that on the NDP.

Not at Pinehurst

[FISHBATTEREDBEER]

keep in mind that there is approx 30k of gravel.It gets very muddy when it rains and dusty when dry.The firewood is usually soggy.I take my own spruce and mix it.There is a rock pile to the left of the small island directly across from the launch,a few guys have ripped the leg off there boat.

[7magtime]

I spoke with Lakeland Park a month ago and was told the new sites might be open some time in July......

[7magtime]

Originally Posted by pikeslayer22

There are a few alternative campsites close by...Iron wood being one....this was our go to lake for many years but with this expansion its time to move on...not sure why this province needed another lake with serviced hook ups but whatever

From what I was told the Pinehurst sites will be rustic with no services. Can you still camp at Ironwood? I thought it had switched to day use a few years back....

[cube]

Originally Posted by 7magtime

I spoke with Lakeland Park a month ago and was told the new sites might be open some time in July......

It will not be open this year. At least not until very late. I was speaking with the "forman" when I was there and he said "we should have been in there a month ago but it is just too wet". So they are at least a month behind already this year. He also said that because of the wet season last year a number of things will have to be redone. I walked the whole new campground and they have a lot of work and things are still very wet up there.

[cube]

Originally Posted by 7magtime

From what I was told the Pinehurst sites will be rustic with no services. Can you still camp at Ironwood? I thought it had switched to day use a few years back....

Yep

"9
Keep as is, rustic wilderness camping, no pavement, no commercialization
The sites will be kept as rustic campsites with no power hookups. Water will be provided by cisterns that will be accessible by hand pumps. The campground roads and stalls will not be paved (with possibly the exception in the future of an accessible handicap stall)."

[cube]

Originally Posted by FISHBATTEREDBEER

keep in mind that there is approx 30k of gravel.It gets very muddy when it rains and dusty when dry.The firewood is usually soggy.I take my own spruce and mix it.There is a rock pile to the left of the small island directly across from the launch,a few guys have ripped the leg off there boat.

The water is very high right now so the rock pile is well covered. More likely to take a leg off on the rock extension of said island that goes to the east if you get anywhere close.

[full_throttle]

How bad are the caterpillars there right now?? Last year this time of year you could hear them.

[Blastoff]

Originally Posted by full_throttle

How bad are the caterpillars there right now?? Last year this time of year you could hear them.

I was there last year the trees were stripped, I drove south of St. Paul today and they are not bad but jut string to move, so they will get worse. Saskatoon has them bad I seen.

[Mister Bee]

Originally Posted by full_throttle

How bad are the caterpillars there right now?? Last year this time of year you could hear them.

They just starting to show up this past week. But they are back