Cumberland House Provincial Historic Park

The Oldest Permanent Settlement In Saskatchewan, A Hudson'S Bay Company Post Founded In 1774 In The Saskatchewan River Delta, One Of The Largest Inland Deltas In North America, Now A Cree And Metis Community With A Small Heritage Park, A Fur Trade History And Exceptional Bird And Fishing Habitat. Reached By A Long Highway And Little Visited · Cumberland House, Saskatchewan

Cumberland House stands on the shore of Cumberland Lake in the Saskatchewan River delta, one of the largest inland deltas in North America, in the far north-east of the province. The Hudson's Bay Company founded its post here in 1774 under Samuel Hearne, making it the oldest continuously settled place in Saskatchewan, and fur traders, canoe brigades and later steamboats all passed through the channels. Today it is a Cree and Metis community whose people still hunt, trap and fish the marshes, and a small provincial historic park tells the fur trade story from the shoreline. There is little here beyond that, and that is much of its character: the delta is a maze of sloughs, willow and reed beds loud with ducks, geese, pelicans and eagles. Reaching it takes a long drive north from Nipawin on a quiet highway, so plan fuel, food and a firm idea of the season, and confirm what is open before you set out.

Cumberland House, a Cree and Metis community on Cumberland Lake and the Saskatchewan River delta in north-east Saskatchewan, about 140 km north of Nipawin; coordinates approximate, Cumberland House, Saskatchewan, Canada

The community and the lake shore are open at any hour, but the historic park is a seasonal site, commonly staffed or interpreted only in summer, perhaps from the late spring holiday weekend to Labour Day, with short daily hours and some days closed (confirm). Outside the season the grounds may be reachable on foot while signs and buildings stay closed. Services in the village such as fuel, a store and a small cafe keep ordinary local hours and thin out on Sundays and in the evening. Spring and autumn bring the largest bird movements but also wet roads and early darkness, so call the park or the community office before driving the last stretch.

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