10 Small Cities and Towns to Add to Your Saskatchewan Summer Trip

Discover the small towns and cities of Saskatchewan and get a chance to uncover the wonderful natural areas hidden around every highway turn. As you drive north, the flat prairies will turn into lush boreal forest; drive south, and the prairies will turn into rolling hills, river valleys, and coulees.

Photo credit: Tourism Saskatchewan/Greg Huszar Photography

Throughout your travels, these towns will provide many reasons to stop and enjoy Saskatchewan’s hidden gems. Each visit could bring you close to a regional, provincial, or national park, unique attractions, beaches, trails, local shopping, or new food.

Moose Jaw

This small town west of Regina is a busy place all year-round. Moose Jaw, most often known for its unique name, is also well-known for its famous tunnels. There is a deep historical connection between the prohibition era and the town of Moose Jaw. There are ways to explore history while you’re here, as well as many other things to see and do. Moose Jaw also hosts events all year-round which cover an array of interests.

For those visiting in the warmer months, there are attractions in town which can you’re your entire day. Battle Creek Adventure Park offer mini golf, paintball, picnic spaces, a beach volleyball court, and onsite dining. Moose Jaw River and Adventure Tours offer outdoor tours and guided kayak experiences on the Moose Jaw River.
As mentioned above, there are a few ways to delve deep into Moose Jaw’s history including visits to the Western Development Museum (year-round) or rides with the Moose Jaw Trolley Tours (spring-fall).
Additionally, The Tunnels of Moose Jaw (open year-round) are connected to the area’s many unique pieces of history like Al Capone’s connections to Moose Jaw during prohibition. These tours take you right into the tunnels!
The festivals and major events in town span the whole year with celebrations like Christmas in October, Moose Jaw Band & Choral Festival (May), Saskatchewan Festival of Words (July), Moose Jaw Music Festival (April), Old Wives Lake Festival (July) and Sidewalk Days (July).
No matter the time of year you visit, there is a lot to see on do on Main Street including art gallery visits, shopping, local dining, and access to the local Crescent Park.

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La Ronge

La Ronge sits on the western shores of the massive lake of the same name. Plus, La Ronge is located in a beautiful and pristine part of Saskatchewan’s northern Boreal Forest. The town and surrounding Lakelands give visitors a peaceful place to escape and relax or camp while offering the major amenities of any town.

Canoeing on the Churchill River; Photo credit: Tourism Saskatchewan – Chris Hendrickson Photography

Stay in La Ronge for a week or weekend! There are several cool places to stay, including waterfront hotels and resorts. Close to town is the Eagle Point Resort, with cottages, a golf course, and an RV Park. A bit further north of town is the Thompson’s Resort, for those after more outdoor adventure. The resort offers guided fishing, cabin stays, ice fishing, and snowmobile rentals. Many other resorts around the area offer fly-in or boat-in resorts and adventure experiences.
The town of La Ronge sits beside one of the largest of Saskatchewan’s Provincial Parks! Lac La Ronge Provincial Park is any outdoors person’s paradise with 100 lakes, 30 established canoe routes, some of the best fishing in the province, wildlife viewing opportunities, a beach for swimming, extensive summer trails, and camping.
La Ronge’s Saskatchewan’s Most Northern Car Show (June) is perfectly timed for the beginning of the outdoor adventure season!
Find the town’s dining scene along La Ronge Avenue and the waterfront areas.
Look up! The stargazing and opportunities to see Northern Lights in northern Saskatchewan are possible all year round.
One of the unique sites of Saskatchewan, the Nipekamew Sand Cliffs is located an hour southeast of La Ronge along the banks of the Nipekamew River.

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Big River

If you enjoy lake life, you’ll like Big River. The town of Big River is on the south end of the long and narrow Cowan Lake and on the eastern edge of Prince Albert National Park. Right from town you can access the Big River Regional Park on foot to enjoy trails, a lakeside picnic, fishing, or being on the water. The town knows how to party as well, with numerous music festivals taking place nearby!

Summers are busy in Big River with concerts and events like Country at the Creek Music Festival (July), Ness Creek Music Festival (July), Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Time Music Festivals (August), and the Electric Sky EDM and Arts Festival (August).
Enjoy the great outdoors of the area while taking advantage of great places to stay nearby: Ness Creek Cabins, Pier55, and the Delaronde Resort, all offer options for cabins or campsites. Big River Regional Park also offers camping.
Cowan Lake is a great place for fishing with a dock and boat launch free to use. The lake holds walleye, northern pike, and perch.
The Big River Famers’ Market is open each May-September with a variety of local food or artisan vendors.
Big River is a hub for winter recreation. Around the town are opportunities for cross-country skiing (Nordic Ness Ski Club), snowmobile trails and downhill skiing at
Ski Timber Ridge Ski Resort.

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Prince Albert

Saskatchewan’s third-largest city is also one of the province’s cities with the largest abundance of natural areas, parks, and trails. Prince Albert is easily the basecamp or gateway to the recreation and natural beauty of Northern Saskatchewan.

Great Blue Heron Provincial Park; Photo credit Tourism Saskatchewan/Paul Austring

Prince Albert has all the amenities of a city, but certainly the atmosphere of a smaller town with access to several recreation areas, conservation sites, Prince Albert National Park and the town of Waskesiu, Great Blue Heron Provincial Park and Candle Lake Provincial Park.
Year-round recreational fun is found at the nearby Little Red River Park. In the winter, the park provides snowshoe areas and cross-country ski trails, as well as downhill skiing or snowboarding. Most of the multi-use summer trails are open to hikers and bikers. Those trails create an extensive path network in the forests north of Highway 55.
For more fun in Prince Albert throughout the entire year, you could plan around the town’s bigger events and festivals: Pine Needle Mountain Bike & Music Festival (June), Prince Albert Street Fair (June), Tapestrama Cultural Festival (September), or the holiday markets.
And for more fun outside, Prince Albert has several different types of experiences to offer. Outdoor attractions like Rotary Adventure Park and Zip Lines or Kinsmen Water Park, are both perfect for families and younger kids. Attractions like Paintball Paradise, or summer boat and sport rentals from are perfect for older families, couples, or groups of friends.
History, and ways to explore it, are found all around the city: The John and Olive Diefenbaker Museum and Prince Albert Historical Museum, or the Evolution of Education Museum.

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Watrous Manitou

Saskatchewan’s smallest resort town is a perfect place for a peaceful, affordable, and natural escape. Watrous is less than 10km south of Little Manitou Lake, where you’ll find the mineral springs resort and the areas which make up Watrous Manitou. The lake contains saltwater to provide swimmers with a unique experience both on the lake, or at the resort’s indoor mineral pool. Watrous is also home to the Danceland Music Hall, a premier local venue for events and concerts.

Little Manitou Lake; Photo credit: Tourism Saskatchewan/Carey Shaw Photography

If you are here for a relaxing vacation, then the indoor mineral pool at the Manitou Springs Resort & Mineral Spa is the most convenient option being open year-round (also consider this for a place to stay!). For summer visitors, Manitou has an expansive beach with amenities like showers, washrooms, and picnic tables.

And for the ultimate is R&R from Watrous Manitou, visitors have the option of visiting the 306 Day Spa where you can indulge in local boutique shopping as well as spa treatments.

Each June, find the Manitou Busking Festival near the beach and at different venues around town. For more musical performances, The Danceland Music Hall has a full summer and fall schedule packed with artists of a variety of musical genres.
There are many seasonal and year-round dining opportunities in Watrous Manitou, including casual dining and dessert spots.

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Estevan

While many will pass through Estevan on their way to the United States, there are many reasons to stop and see what the town has to offer. Around Estevan, there are bustling arts, food, and shopping scenes.

Explore arts, culture, and history around Estevan a few different ways. Browse the Estevan Art Gallery & Museum, the Souris Valley Museum, catch a live show at the Souris Valley Theatre, or catch a movie at the Orpheum Theatre.
Woodlawn Regional Park, just outside of Estevan, offers plenty of summer fun, including kayaking, canoeing, camping, hiking, and a beach. Boundary Dam Reservoir is the only location in the province where you can fish for largemouth bass.
Find thrills and adventures through the Estevan Motor Speedway (May-September), or the Prairie Outfitters guided fishing trips.
The Energy City Ex is Estevan’s annual major fair! Visit in June to enjoy the midway, live rodeo, and concerts, food, and more.
Shop local during your visit with a stop at the seasonal Estevan Farmers’ Market, or year-round along 4th Street.
Enjoy an array of local dining around Estevan with options for pizza, pubs, burgers and fries, and more.

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Swift Current

The southwestern town of Swift Current is surrounded by many of Saskatchewan’s popular regional parks and is only 50km south of Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park. These local and nearby parks boast year-round activities and recreation like hiking, cycling, picnics, skating, or snowshoeing. And whether you’re camping in these nearby parks, or visiting the area for the day, the town has history to explore, a large group of local restaurants to try, and summer events or festivals to plan around.

Credit: Windscape Kite Festival

The month of June is an exciting time to visit the town with the Long Day’s Night Music Festival and SaskPower Windscape Kite Festival.
Swift Current holds many of its own local parks like Elmwood, Highland, and Riverside Parks. Plus, if you want to venture outside of town for a hike or picnic, the area is filled with many others! These include Lac Pelletier Regional Park, Antelope Lake Regional Park, or Cabri Regional Park.
For the best trail in Swift Current, follow the Chinook Parkway. This is another of the town’s gem-of-a-park with great birding opportunities, and multi-use trails.
There are many historical attractions to see while you’re here including the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame, Doc’s Town Historical Village, the Art Gallery of Swift Current, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 56 Museum, and the Swift Current Museum.
From cafes, pubs, and international cuisine, the local restaurants of Swift Current offer a bit of everything.

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Fort Qu’Appelle

Fort Qu’Appelle sits on the southeast shore of Echo Lake in the heart of the Qu’appelle Valley. The lake and town are surrounded by lush hills; together, the waters around town and the hills provide numerous chances to enjoy the outdoors any time of year.

Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site; Photo credit: Tourism Saskatchewan/Greg Huszar Photography

Echo Valley Provincial Park offers a great summer escape near Fort Qu’Appelle. The campground and park surround the sides of Pasqua and Echo Lakes to offer a beach and swimming, boating, fishing, and a place to picnic.
Check out the history of Fort Qu’Appelle during a spring, summer, or fall visit. The Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site is open May-September while Fort Qu’Appelle Museum is open June-August.
Visit in August to take part in the Fort Qu’Appelle Mid Summer Arts Festival. The area has many places to stay from campgrounds to cabins and hotels/motels.
From May-September, you can shop 100% local with the Fort Qu’Appelle Farmers’ Market.

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Carlyle

Being inside the town of Carlyle will have you forget that you’re on the prairies. The town itself is lush with greenery and mature trees, and busy with the activities near town, around town, and happening on Main Street. Summers prove to be the busiest season here, but there are additional reasons why you may want to book a nearby cabin for the winter holidays in Carlyle.

Prairie Dog Drive-In Theatre provide what is, for many, a unique movie-going experience. Drive-in movie theatres are not as common across Canada as they once were. But Carlyle’s local theatre still offers this summertime experience!
Southern Saskatchewan’s rolling hills provide plenty of space for golf. Around Carlyle, golfers can take to the greens of White Bear Lake Golf Course, Golf Kenosee, and Carlyle Golf Club Inc.
Moose Mountain Provincial Park is a wonderful summer destination for families of all ages. The park offers hiking, mini golf, disc golf, and 18-hole golf, a beach, the Sask Aquatic Adventures inflatable water park, boat rentals, a boat launch, and ATV trails! The park is about 25km north of Carlyle.
About 30km to the northeast of Carlyle is the Cannington Manor Provincial Historic Park with self-guided or guided tours (May-August).
There are many great places to stay in Carlyle year-round. Relax at the Living Skies Lodge, Kenosee Cabins & Campground, Kenosee Inn & Cabins, or the Carlyle Lions Park Campground.
Each December, the town celebrates the Dickens Village Festival, and each August, the town celebrates the annual Fun Dayz.

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Yorkton

Located on the Trans Canada Highway near the Manitoba border, Yorkton is definitely a place you’ll want to stop in for exploring. Check out Yorkton’s local arts scene, which is on full display in various ways throughout the year. Museums, art galleries, and local historic spots around town, can fill a day of seeing the small central Saskatchewan city. Plus, there are natural areas in town and outside of town that can fill a weekend with recreation, sightseeing, or relaxation.

Western Development Museum; Photo credit: Tourism Saskatchewan/Rob Weitzel Graphic Productions

Dive into Yorkton’s history with a visit to the Yorkton Brick Historic Flour Mill (June-August), a visit to the Western Development Museum, or a self-guided historical walking tour.
For a peaceful walk in town, the Ravine Ecological Preserve has close to 3km of walking trails through wetland habitats, an arboretum, and the Dulmage farmstead (a municipal heritage site).
There is an eclectic mix of annual events that happen in Yorkton, including the Yorkton Film Festival (May), Painted Hand PowWow (June), the Sunflower Art Show & Sale (September),
Take in the arts and culture around Yorkton through the YAC performances, a visit to the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery
York Lake Regional Park is less than 10km south of town. The park is a hub of outdoor recreation for picnics, swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking.