Candle Lake Provincial Park at Minowukaw Beach

Minowukaw, Saskatchewan
Managed by North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper

Minowukaw Beach is rated one of the top inland beaches in Canada. It features very fine sand that is white and almost sparkles in the sun. Some sections of the beach even have sand with a pink hue. Reeds and other woody debris wash up along sections of the shoreline. The shoreline across from and surrounding the beach is very natural and features dense forest giving the lake a natural feel. Candle Lake Provincial Park is split into two sections – highway 120 leads to the eastern half and highway 265 leads to the western side. These highways are connected by Main Street (which is unpaved). Minowuakaw Beach is located in the eastern part of the park. There is a paved parking lot near the swimming area, and another designated parking lot near the boat launch. A wooden walkway bridges the parking lot and beach area.

The depth of the water drops off after a few meters but the bottom remains sandy. The boat launch and swimming area are about half a kilometer apart with a long stretch of beach between them. The beach is over a kilometer in total length. The beach is long and somewhat exposed, so waves from boats and wind can be fairly large. There is a designated swimming area marked by buoys, and all swimming is unsupervised. No pets or ATV’s allowed in the beach area.

The beach is backed by a dense forest with a few walking trails running throughout it. There is a playground near the boat launch, and a basketball court near the beach parking lot. There are outhouses near the boat launch and the beach parking lots. There is a campground nearby for those wishing to stay overnight. Minowukaw Beach is a natural sand dune environment, so the provincial government urges beach-goers to remain on the paths and beach area rather than walking on the local plant life. Angling restrictions apply to Candle Lake so check the provincial regulations before fishing!

Get directions to this beach
COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread.

Water Quality
  • Passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time

  • Historical Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on July 28th, 2022. North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on August 5th, 2022 at 2:09 PM.
For water quality icon legend, click:  
  • Report Pollution
Monitoring Frequency

Candle Lake Provincial Park at Minowukaw Beach is sampled from June 1st to September 1st.

Source Information

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health monitors freshwater beaches across the province of Saskatchewan. Water samples at this beach are processed by the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory.

Beaches are monitored at varying frequencies for E. Coli and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) from the end of June to the end of August. There are weekly reports on the beaches’ recreational water quality results posted on the Healthy Beach Program website from July to early September.

Water quality is monitored in accordance with the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality under Saskatchewan’s Healthy Beach Program.

The levels of E. coli are measured using the most probable number methodology. High levels of E. coli can indicate faecal contamination, which poses human health risks for gastrointestinal illnesses, as well as ear, nose, and throat infections. In accordance with the guidelines, a beach is marked green when a single sample result is less than 400 E. coli organisms in 100 milliliters of water or the geometric mean of five samples is less than or equal to 200 E. coli per 100 milliliters of water. A beach is marked red when a single sample results has greater than 400 E. coli per 100 ml of water.

The Government of Saskatchewan advises to avoid swimming and in-water activities during water quality advisories. There will be warning signs at the beaches with poor water quality results until the risk to public health is resolved.

Read more
Water Quality Graph

Candle Lake Provincial Park at Minowukaw Beach

Minowukaw, Saskatchewan
Managed by North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper
COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread.

Water Quality
  • Passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time
  • Historical Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on July 28th, 2022. North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on August 5th, 2022 at 2:09 PM.
For water quality icon legend, click:  

Minowukaw Beach is rated one of the top inland beaches in Canada. It features very fine sand that is white and almost sparkles in the sun. Some sections of the beach even have sand with a pink hue. Reeds and other woody debris wash up along sections of the shoreline. The shoreline across from and surrounding the beach is very natural and features dense forest giving the lake a natural feel. Candle Lake Provincial Park is split into two sections – highway 120 leads to the eastern half and highway 265 leads to the western side. These highways are connected by Main Street (which is unpaved). Minowuakaw Beach is located in the eastern part of the park. There is a paved parking lot near the swimming area, and another designated parking lot near the boat launch. A wooden walkway bridges the parking lot and beach area.

The depth of the water drops off after a few meters but the bottom remains sandy. The boat launch and swimming area are about half a kilometer apart with a long stretch of beach between them. The beach is over a kilometer in total length. The beach is long and somewhat exposed, so waves from boats and wind can be fairly large. There is a designated swimming area marked by buoys, and all swimming is unsupervised. No pets or ATV’s allowed in the beach area.

The beach is backed by a dense forest with a few walking trails running throughout it. There is a playground near the boat launch, and a basketball court near the beach parking lot. There are outhouses near the boat launch and the beach parking lots. There is a campground nearby for those wishing to stay overnight. Minowukaw Beach is a natural sand dune environment, so the provincial government urges beach-goers to remain on the paths and beach area rather than walking on the local plant life. Angling restrictions apply to Candle Lake so check the provincial regulations before fishing!

Get directions to this beach
  • Report Pollution
Monitoring Frequency

Candle Lake Provincial Park at Minowukaw Beach is sampled from June 1st to September 1st.

Source Information

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health monitors freshwater beaches across the province of Saskatchewan. Water samples at this beach are processed by the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory.

Beaches are monitored at varying frequencies for E. Coli and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) from the end of June to the end of August. There are weekly reports on the beaches’ recreational water quality results posted on the Healthy Beach Program website from July to early September.

Water quality is monitored in accordance with the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality under Saskatchewan’s Healthy Beach Program.

The levels of E. coli are measured using the most probable number methodology. High levels of E. coli can indicate faecal contamination, which poses human health risks for gastrointestinal illnesses, as well as ear, nose, and throat infections. In accordance with the guidelines, a beach is marked green when a single sample result is less than 400 E. coli organisms in 100 milliliters of water or the geometric mean of five samples is less than or equal to 200 E. coli per 100 milliliters of water. A beach is marked red when a single sample results has greater than 400 E. coli per 100 ml of water.

The Government of Saskatchewan advises to avoid swimming and in-water activities during water quality advisories. There will be warning signs at the beaches with poor water quality results until the risk to public health is resolved.

Read more
Water Quality Graph

  Beach Location Water Quality
Candle Lake, Saskatchewan
Murray Point, Saskatchewan
Anglin Lake, Saskatchewan
Candle Lake, Saskatchewan
Swim Guide
is supported by
* The RBC Foundation

Swim Guide shares the best information we have at the moment you ask for it. Always obey signs at the beach or advisories from official government agencies. Stay alert and check for other swimming hazards such as dangerous currents and tides. Please report your pollution concerns so Affiliates can help keep other beach-goers safe.

Swim Guide, "Swim Drink Fish icons," and associated trademarks are owned by SWIM DRINK FISH CANADA. See Legal.

© SWIM DRINK FISH CANADA, 2011 - 2023