Saskatoon is a beautiful city with endless options for recreation and entertainment. If you’re looking for some great options for hiking this summer- whether it be paths you have to discover yourself or paved walking trails that are accessible for everyone- we have you covered. Venture out overnight for some spectacular hiking, take a day trip, or explore the trails located right in the city. Whatever your level of adventure is, these trails are sure to satisfy.
The Meewasin Trail
The Meewasin Trail meanders through the city and runs outside of it too. At 90 km long, it is connected by a diverse set of parks, natural areas, and runs on both sides of the river. The trail is obviously way too much to take on at one time, but you can explore stretches of it throughout the year. The river is especially beautiful in the fall when all the trees change colours along the banks and the city is framed in the background.
Historical paths at Wanuskewin Heritage Park
Wanuskewin Heritage Park is located right in the city. Come learn all about the historical significance of the area for First Nations people, and hike the area after. The hiking trails offer beautiful views of the South Saskatchewan River. You can also see all the other historical areas like buffalo jump sites, tipi rings, and medicine wheels. There are 6 km of trails to explore. Do the whole thing, or double back if you find the whole length to be too much.
Hike and learn at Beaver Creek Conservation Area
The Beaver Creek Conservation Area is located south of Saskatoon. The area is naturally scenic and is a great place for wildlife viewing and bird watching. The area has an interpretive centre which you can visit, if you want to do more than just hiking, though the hiking trails that cross through the area are a great way to get out and get some exercise. They are perfect for people of all ages and experience levels.
Road trip for incredible hikes
The Douglas Provincial Park is located an hour and a half from Saskatoon. If you consider that to be a bit of a drive there and back, you should consider planning a trip to the park with the hiking trails as your main focus, but the beaches, Lake Diefenbaker, and camping out can all be fun as well. The TransCanada Trail (The Great Trail) runs through the park. You can do smaller 2 km or 3 km sections of the trail in the park, or, if you’re ambitions, you can do the whole 30km stretch of the trail that runs through the park and ends in Danielson Provincial Park.
Blaze sandy trails
Explore new paths
Located 17 km north of Duck Lake, just an hour from Saskatoon, there is a great network of trails that can be used by hikers in the warmer months. Jorgen’s Trail is 13 km long and is easy to moderate in difficulty, so it’s perfect for people of all ages and experience levels. If the length is too long for you, you could walk part of it and double back at whatever distance you feel comfortable with. The trail offers some gorgeous views and the trail cuts through rolling hills and beautiful forest that is more reminiscent of the province much further north.
The trail is maintained by Nordic Ski Club and is meant only for skiing in winter. But the trail is open during the summer months for hikers. However, some areas are prone to be flooded. Do check before starting.
Experience northern wilderness
Amyot Lake Trail, located in the Prince Albert National Park, is an exciting trail within a trail. (Located within the West Side Trail.) It is a 4 km round trip, but is rated as difficult, so come prepared to take on a challenge. The trail is unique, as it goes past Amyot Lake, which is an area where the Sturgeon River plains bison herd, a free ranging bison herd that has been reintroduced, can often be seen. The PA National Park is just under two and a half hours from Saskatoon, so come and make a getaway of it.
Blackstrap Provincial Park
Blackstrap Provincial Park is only a short drive from Saskatoon. Located just forty minutes away, come and hike the two trails located in the park. There is a trail that is just over 3 km and another that is nearly 2 km. The trails will take you past the man-made hill in the park, plus you’ll be able to see stunning views of the lake and the rolling hills surrounding it.
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Trip to Moose Jaw
It might surprise you to learn that Moose Jaw actually has some amazing trails. There are a wide selection of trails that skirt around the city and surrounding area, or cut right through it. Located just over two hours from Saskatoon, Moose Jaw is a vibrant city with a ton of different attractions. Come and hike the trails, stay overnight, and do all the fun things the next day. The Wakamow Ecological Trail is a shorter trail and is quite popular, or take the Devonian Trail through the city to see some of the sights. If you’re really up for a challenge and want to make a true getaway of it, tackle the Rotary Trail. It extends for 32 km around Moose Jaw.
Buffalo Pound Provincial Park
Buffalo Pound Provincial Park is located two hours from Saskatoon. There are a variety of trails in the park that are exciting and scenic. A four hour round trip can be quite a drive for some, so plan a getaway to the park and make it a goal to hike all the trails. There is a 4.5 km branch of the TransCanada Trail (the Great Trail) that circles the beautiful marsh area in the park, the 3 km Nicolle Flats Trail, and the 2.9 km Bison View Interpretive Trail to explore.
Kindersley Community Walking Trail
If you find yourself in Kindersley in the warmer months this year, check out the Kindersley Community Walking Trail. The trail is paved, so it’s accessible for everyone, and extends for just over 4km. You’ll see some gorgeous sites along the way. Even though the trail starts in town, it links up with the Motherwell Reservoir. Locals enjoy getting out on the water, especially in summer, but it is also a great area for bird watching.
Pike Lake
Pike Lake is located just half an hour from Saskatoon. It’s a great park to get out and explore, especially if you want to do some hiking and hit the beach for the afternoon. The park features a 1.5 km looped trail that you can hike. It is a shorter trail, but it is beautiful and winds through groves of trees, grassy plains, and even takes you to see some sand dunes.
The Little Red River Park
The Little Red River Park is located just outside Prince Albert, and is only an hour and a half from Saskatoon. Even though a three hour round trip isn’t really that long, you should plan for a stay at the park. The park is fairly large and there are over 30 km of trails to explore. Some of them even skirt along the Red River, and the others take you through the park’s gorgeous boreal forest.
Cranberry Flats Conservation Area
The beautiful Cranberry Flats Conservation Area is located not far from Saskatoon. Locals will tell you that it’s a breathtaking place for the scenery alone, but there are also wide stretches of beach that attract a lot of attention in the warmer months The area features an accessible trail that leads to a spectacular lookout of the whole area. If you’re not looking for a challenging, long hike, but one the whole family can enjoy including your furry friends, then this is the place to be.
Chief Whitecap Park
If you’re looking for a longer, stunning hike, then check out the trail that leads from the Saskatoon all the way to the Chief Whitecap Park, just south of the city. The trail starts in Diefenbaker Park in the city and offers breathtaking views of the Saskatchewan River. The park is a popular place for people to bring their dogs. If you’ve been looking for a hike you and your best furry friend can do together, this is the one.
Boundary Bog Trail
Danielson Provincial Park
Danielson Provincial Park is just over an hour from Saskatoon. On the shores of the magnificent Lake Diefenbaker, the park is a popular choice for camping, boating, and fishing, but it also has some premier hiking trails. There are two trails in the park, the Great Trail and the Prairie View Nature Trail. If you’re up for a challenge and want to see some incredibly diverse scenery, the Great Trail takes you past the lake, over coulees, past wetlands, woods, and open grassy stretches. The Prairie View Nature Trail is a shorter looped trail, or you can always pop in and out of the other trail and double back.
Create your own trails
Just off Highway 16, if you can find the Borden Bridge- which is kind of a hot spot tourist destination as far as pictures and off the highway stops are concerned- then you can certainly blaze your own trails from there. People do hike the area, so if you’re lucky, there might be some paths that are visible. If not, the area is also teeming with wildlife and you might find one of their paths to walk. If not, blaze your own trails and explore the area. It’s a little off the beaten path, but discovering new places can be fun and exciting.
Prince Albert National Park
The hiking trail that leads to Grey Owl’s Cabin in the Prince Albert National Park is quite a journey, but it’s one of those once in a lifetime hikes. If you’re a more experienced hiker- as the trail is difficult in spots and is 32.5 km long one way- and you’re used to back country camping, you should definitely consider taking it on. The cabin itself is pretty neat, but you’re also going to remember the beautiful, unspoiled wilderness along the way too.
Fort Carlton Provincial Park
Located on the North Saskatchewan River, Fort Carlton was once an important post for the Hudson Bay Company. Today, in the Fort Carlton Provincial Park, you can go and see the reconstructed fort and learn all about what life was like in the 1800s. The park also features some great hiking trails. Located just an hour from Saskatoon, you can see the fort and still have lots of time to hike the trails, even if you’re just coming for a day trip.
Petrofka Bridge
Located about forty-five minutes north of Saskatoon, by Waldheim and south of Blaine Lake, is the Petrofka Bridge. The bridge spans the North Saskatchewan River. While the river is a popular place to fish, you can turn off the highway in several different spots on either side of the bridge. There are no designated trails exactly, but the area is just right for exploration, especially when the river bank is low. Use caution when exploring along the river. If you’re not comfortable getting close to the banks or the beaches and rocky shores, you can still explore from a good distance away on either side.
Kinsmen Park
There are a ton of really exciting things to do at Kinsmen Park in Martinsville. Located just north of Saskatoon, the park boasts 100 acres of green space, a golf course and tennis and basketball courts. There are 2 km of paved walking paths in the park that link up with a longer 7km trail that skirts past three different ponds and a quaint bridge. If you’re just looking to get out and stretch your legs, or looking for an accessible trail, considering coming and taking in the beautiful park.
Northwest Swale
Cosmopolitan Park
Cosmopolitan Park is located right in Saskatoon. The park’s trails extend along the river and offer gorgeous views of the bridges that span across the river. You can walk right up to the bridges and even venture out to explore underneath some of them. The trails also boast unbeatable views of some of Saskatoon’s most beautiful buildings that front the river and some of the taller downtown buildings.
Fun for furry friends at Sutherland Beach Off-Leash Recreation area
Looking for a great place to walk your dog? Check out the Sutherland Beach Off-Leash Recreation area. Located right in Saskatoon, the area is right by the river. The off-leash dog park is huge, so you and your furry friends can explore for as long as you want. The area is quite unique in that it connects to a larger system of trails for walking, hiking, and biking just beyond.
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