Imrie Park Campground

Imrie Park is a 216-acre campground near Onoway, Alberta, offering facilities for camping and day use. Established by architect Mary Louise Imrie, it features groomed trails and amenities, earning high visitor ratings. The park is ideal for families, with activities like hiking and winter exploration available throughout the year.

Looking east towards Devil's Lake, Imrie Park, 2024-09-28, P. Potter.
Looking east towards Devil’s Lake, Imrie Park, 2024-09-28, P. Potter.

Imrie Park is a small private campground located on Devil’s Lake just east of Onoway Alberta managed by Onoway Fish & Game Club. It is a 216-acre park with groomed trails and natural habitat viewing area as well as camping, day use and group use facilities. In the summer, there are eighteen camping spots, a cookhouse, enclosed picnic shelter, and a day use area.

Fact Facts

The park has electricity and water from our own well [1, Adapted]. A wildlife blind affords a look out onto the lake. The lake and area can be very buggy so a winter visit may be the best way to enjoy the site.

Who Was Mary Imrie?

Mary Louise Imrie, Edmonton’s first woman architect, gifted 216 acres to the Province of Alberta to be developed and maintained as a campground, recreation, and conservation area. The Onoway and District Fish and Games Association and Gun Club manage the facility [2, adapted]. Other bequests to the province includes Imrie House, located at 17503 – 45th Avenue (and now occupied by the Land Stewardship Center) and Imrie Prospector Point located on the North Saskatchewan River, across from Devon [3: Imrie House and Imrie Prospector’s Point].

Mary Imrie graduated from the University of Toronto architecture program in 1944. She and her future business partner, Jean Wallbridge, both worked as draftsmen from 1946 until 1949. In 1950, they started their own firm specializing in domestic architecture. Mary Imrie retired from the profession after her partner’s death in 1979; she died in 1988 [4, adapted].

Any maps and map views are for general information only. Do not rely on them for navigation or to determine legal boundaries.

Area Details

  • Name/Owner: Imrie Park Campground / Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation.
  • Is it Worth It and Why Go Here?: 5/5: Overall (5 out of 5) An exceptional resource, close to Edmonton. If overnight camping is not your thing, Imrie makes for a great day use destination.
  • Wayne Gretzky Units: 61 KM
  • Trail Classification: Rating: 100; Access: Granted; Develop: Fully Developed; Maint: Maintained; Season: All Season: Well maintained trails makes this a perfect family destination for an introduction to nature. The hunting blind is a bonus which the kids will love exploring.
Trail Classification System with examples - YEG-Ville.
Trail Classification System with examples – YEG-Ville.
  • The Drive Out: Onoway is a pleasant small town and close to Edmonton. To round out the day, combine with Salter’s Lake, Devil’s Lake or perhaps even Bilby Natural Area.
  • The Other Shoe: Fat biking, walking. cross country skiing are all possible.
    • Excellent kids rating as there is a playground, washrooms and of course the trails.
  • Frank’s Trip Notes
  • 2024-09-28, beautiful Fall day and the campground had lots of guests.
  • First done: 2020-12-11, campground was empty. Low snow cover.

(On smart phones, swipe to advance the pictures)

  • Easy walking Trails found in the site, Imrie Park, 2024-09-28, P. Potter.
    Easy walking Trails found in the site, Imrie Park, 2024-09-28, P. Potter.
  • Spruce forest in its winter slumber, Imrie Park, 2020-12-11, P. Potter.
    Spruce forest in its winter slumber, Imrie Park, 2020-12-11, P. Potter.
  • Looking East along the snow covered trail towards Devil's Lake, Imrie Park, 2020-12-11, P. Potter.
    Looking East along the snow covered trail towards Devil’s Lake, Imrie Park, 2020-12-11, P. Potter.
  • Looking East across Devil's Lake from the hunting blind set up on the site, Imrie Park, 2020-12-11, P. Potter.
    Looking East across Devil’s Lake from the hunting blind set up on the site, Imrie Park, 2020-12-11, P. Potter.
  • Looking East across Devil's Lake from the hunting blind set up on the site, Imrie Park, 2024-09-28, P. Potter.
    Looking East across Devil’s Lake from the hunting blind set up on the site, Imrie Park, 2024-09-28, P. Potter.
  • Example of the excellent maintenance provided to the site, Imrie Park, 2024-09-28, P. Potter.
    Example of the excellent maintenance provided to the site, Imrie Park, 2024-09-28, P. Potter.
  • A thick spruce/mixed forest on either side of the trail to the lake, Imrie Park, 2024-09-28, P. Potter.
    A thick spruce/mixed forest on either side of the trail to the lake, Imrie Park, 2024-09-28, P. Potter.

Notes and Reference

  1. Club, Onoway & District Fish & Game Association & Gun. “Onoway& District Fish & Game Association & Gun Club.” Onoway & District Fish & Game Association & Gun Club. Accessed December 11, 2020. https://ofga.ca/imrie-park.
  2. Thomas, Mary, and Hacienda Consulting. “(Onoway) Nature Tour.” Town of Onoway. Accessed December 5, 2020. https://www.onoway.ca/visitors/nature-tour.
  3. “Parks and Wildlife Ventures Land Holdings.” Accessed December 14, 2020. https://www.alberta.ca/parks-and-wildlife-ventures-land-holdings.aspx.
  4. “Wallbridge and Imrie | The Canadian Encyclopedia.” Accessed December 14, 2020. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wallbridge-and-imrie.

Usage: This site is intended for my personal use only and very select invited guests. My recommendation is for you to stay in bed with the covers pulled firmly over your head.

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