25 Off-Grid Adventures in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is a great province to live in and play in. Contrary to what most people say, the terrain actually is quite diverse. There are so many places you can venture to where you won’t believe you’re even in the same province! Come and see the rolling sand dunes, experience the unique terrain of the Big Muddy Badlands, see the seas of grass blowing in the wind at Grasslands National Park, or venture up to the remote northern parts of the province to have some more rugged wilderness adventures. If you want to get off grid and unplug this summer, we have something great in store for you.

1. Venture to a historic church

The Holy Trinity Anglican Church, located at Stanley Mission right beside the Churchill River, is the oldest building in Saskatchewan. The church itself is a gorgeous work of architecture. Everyone from pro to amateur photographers will enjoy taking photographs of the beautiful church surrounded by the rugged wilderness scenery. The Churchill River is a great way to get off grid and explore as well. You could work the church into your canoe or kayak journeys.
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2. A park perfect for adventure

Meadow Lake Provincial Park is the perfect place to base your next off-grid adventure. The park is massive, at over 1600km. There are over 20 bodies of water in the park for you to explore. Bring your canoe or kayak and have an adventure, or pack the fishing rods. The vastness of the park makes for great on land exploring as well and the hiking trails, including the popular Boreal Trail, could keep you busy for weeks. The park also boasts beautiful beaches for fun and relaxing in the sun.
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3. Spot the prairie dogs

If you think that off-grid adventures are just for the northern, remote parts of the province, you’d be wrong. The southern parts of the province have some great off grid style adventures you can embark on too. Bring your camera or your binoculars and hit the Top Dogtown Trail. Located in Grasslands National Park, as the name indicates, the trail is a popular place to see the numerous Blacktail Prairie Dogs in action. You can spend an entire day watching, or plan it into your trip to Grasslands. You might also be able to see burrowing owls in the area, or even a rattlesnake!
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4. Explore a historic river

Come explore some of the finest unspoiled wilderness in the entire province. If you think that Saskatchewan isn’t as ruggedly beautiful as some of the other provinces, let a visit to the Churchill River change your mind. If you’re a canoe or kayak enthusiast, there are a ton of different routes that you can explore on the Churchill River System. Come explore the historic waters. Back country camp along the way. Or, if you’re not very experienced, but still would like to begin your adventures, there are different groups that can take you on guided tours of the area.
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You may like:

• Summer Adventures in Southern Saskatchewan
• Summer Adventures Northern Saskatchewan
• Summer Adventures in Central Saskatchewan
• Summer Outdoor Adventures in Saskatchewan

5. Rough it

If you’ve always wanted to back country camp, but you never could get that boost of inspiration, let this summer be your summer. The Prince Albert National Park is such a unique and diverse park that it’s a great place for both beginning back country campers and experienced back country campers due to the diversity of the terrain in the 4000 sqkm that make up the park. You can see the best of the rugged Canadian Wilderness or plan to back country camp for a night or two and then get back to civilization. There are a ton of fun and exciting things to experience in the park.
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6. Amazing petroglyphs

If you’d like to unplug for the day this summer, why not take a trip out to the St. Victor Petroglyphs Historic Park? The park is located right near St. Victor and features over 300 stone carvings. No one knows who made the petroglyphs or whey they were carved, but these are quite fascinating. You can do a little bit of sleuthing while you’re there and you’ll be able to get some great photos. It’s a unique experience, especially in the province, where there really isn’t anything else like it.  (Some areas are closed off to protect the site, and  it is quite difficult to see the actual Petroglyphs, but there are replicas and interpretive boards to help you learn about the area).
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7. See the prairies in a whole new way

Come see the prairies like you’ve never seen them before. Grasslands National Park is HUGE and just filled with all kinds of activities. Not only can you see Saskatchewan like you’ve never seen it, you can hike, see prairie dogs and all sorts of other wildlife, and camp out. If you want a truly unique experience, book a stay in one of the much talked about oTENTIK buildings in the park. The night skies really come alive here too, so don’t forget to put star gazing on your list of must do activities here.
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8. Off grid adventures right at your fingertips

Maybe you don’t have a week or longer to spare for an off-grid getaway this summer. If you live in the southern part of the province, consider an escape to Echo Valley Provincial Park. The park is nestled right in the heart of the Qu’Appelle Valley, which is gorgeous at any time of year. If you’re a nature lover and want to hit the outdoors, the park has everything you could imagine. Come hike and enjoy the gorgeous scenery, fish, or spend the day at the beach and splashing away in the beautiful lake.
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9. Get muddy

Okay, so you might not actually have to get muddy at the Big Muddy Badlands, but you can do lots of hiking and exploring and see some breathtaking natural wonders and astounding scenery. You should definitely plan a trip and stay for at least a few days to be able to explore everything. The landscape is so unique that it might be hard to believe you haven’t ventured to another country. Bring your camera to capture all your amazing memories and consider taking one of the many fascinating tours offered in the area to see the Outlaw Caves and Castle Butte.
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10. Sandy surprises

If you want to venture to sand dunes in Canada, you don’t even have to leave the province to find an impressive set of dunes. The Great Sandhills is home to one of the largest sets of active sand dunes in the entire country, AND they extend on for nearly 1900 sq.km. Think about all the adventures you could have, all the exploring you could do, and best of all, how many days away you could unplug for. It’s definitely one of those bucket list-worthy places to visit.
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11. Hit the water

If you’ve been promising yourself that you’re going to learn to canoe or kayak, or maybe just get more experienced, now is the time to do it! Carefree Adventures is the place to contact if you’d like to explore some different waters. They’re an eco-tourism business and they specialize in offering canoe and kayaking tours. They also offer canoe and kayak rentals, so if you would really like to go out and explore, but you don’t have your own, now there’s no excuse!
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12. Unplug for a day

Maybe you can’t get away for a few days or a week. Don’t let that stop you from having some really fun off grid time this summer. You can unplug for just a few hours right outside the city. Outer Edge Adventures Park, located in Lumsden just a short drive from Regina, boasts impressive zip lines and challenging climbing walls. The area is gorgeous, and you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the all the scenic Qu’Appelle Valley.
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13. A twisty time

If you haven’t ventured to Hafford area to see The Crooked Bush, you should definitely take a day and do it. The mysterious aspen trees, which are indeed crooked as their name implies, grow at all different angles instead of straight up. The trees twist in all sorts of unique and strange patterns. It’s one of the most unique places you’ll find to discover in the province, at least as far as trees are concerned. There are self-guided trails that stretch through the area so you can explore at your own leisure.
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14. Porcupine Hills Provincial Park

Porcupine Hills Provincial Park is Saskatchewan’s newest Provincial Park. Located near the town of Hudson Bay, the area is beautiful and just perfect for your next getaway. The landscape is scenic, rugged, and unspoiled. The trails that wind through the park are perfect for hiking or mountain biking. Of course, you can bring the canoe or kayak and adventure by water as well. Camp out or come for the day, you’ll be sure to enjoy your unplugged time away.
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15. Canoe to Saskatchewan Waterfalls

The Land of the Living Skies is home to incredible waterfalls that are accessible only by canoe/air. Visit Nistowiak Falls, where Lac La Ronge drains into the Churchill River, the largest waterfall in Saskatchewan, Hunt / Lefty Falls or other destinations.

16. Exciting new routes

Looking for that new, exciting, challenging canoe destination this summer? Look no further than Clearwater River Provincial Park. The Clearwater River runs through the park and features different rapids raging from class 2 all the way to class 4. The park is a wilderness park and is a pack-in, pack-out park, perfect for off grid getaways. The park is recommended for experienced canoers and back country campers only, so if you’re just starting out, maybe work your way to one day giving it a try.
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17. Lace up those boots

Time to dust off the hiking boots and get ready for your next great adventure. If you’re an avid hiker, or even if you’re just looking to pop in on a longer trail at certain spots, you should consider the Boreal Trail. Located in Meadow Lake Provincial Park, the Boreal Trail is one of the most celebrated trails in the province. It’s seriously not hard to see why. When you get here, we think you’ll agree that it’s gorgeous. The trail is over 120km long. Come and do a little bit of it, or plan to try and see it all, back country camping along the way.
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18. Sandy good times

If you want to see another set of exciting sand dunes in the province, this time venture north, to the shores of Lake Athabasca to see the Athabasca Sand Dunes. They’re the most northerly sand dunes in the entire world! These dunes are more for the experienced off gridders and wilderness adventurers, as they are available to see by air only. You can book with an outfitter or a guide in the area though. The area is pack-in, pack-out, and you can do some back country camping if you’re up for the challenge.
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19. Some rare gems

If you haven’t ever seen the Gem Lakes, you definitely should! Located in the Narrow Hills Provincial Park, the Gem Lakes are some of the most iconic and beautiful bodies of water in the province. They really do sparkle blue and green, just like gemstones. The lakes feature sandy bottoms and are perfect for swimming and fishing. There are quite a few hiking trails in the area that will lead you right past the lakes, so strap on those hiking shoes, grab your gear, and get ready to take in all that natural beauty.
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20. Backcountry it up

If free and backcountry camping sound like two exciting things to mix, you should check out the Clarence-Steepbank Lakes Provincial Park. The park is 150km north of Prince Albert, so it’s getting right up into that beautiful, serene, pristine, unspoiled northern wilderness territory. The park only offers basic amenities including five small, rustic campsites that you can use for free. It’s a pack-in, pack-out area. If you’ve always wanted to do some northern wilderness exploring, this is a great place to start.
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21. Wild fun

Wildcat Hill Provincial Park is as wild as you could ever ask for your summer fun to be. The park is huge and features every kind of terrain you could imagine. Venture through steep canyons, climb the hilly, rugged terrain, meander through breathtaking forests, and marvel at the sparkling rivers. The area is fairly remote and is pack-in, pack-out, with no services available. The wildlife is often abundant in the park, so you’re bound to see some even more incredible things. The park is recommended for more experienced backcountry campers and hikers only.
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22. Journey to a famous cabin

Prince Albert Park is overflowing with all sorts of adventures and journeys you can take this summer. One of the most unforgettable is definitely the trails and routes you can take to see the famous Grey Owl’s Cabin. The cabin can be reached by hiking, or by canoe or kayak. Both water and land routes are just over 30km from Waskesui. This is one of those times when the journey is going to be just as spectacular as the destination, if not more so.
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23. Get out on the water

If you’re looking for a great way to spend an afternoon or go on a trip that you can extend for a couple days, you should hit the waters of the Chief Whitecap Waterway. The waterway is actually part of the Trans Canada Trail, and extends for approximately 100km. You can paddle part of the waterway, or plan to do the entire thing. You could really get off grid and back country camp along the way. You can actually paddle all the way from Gardiner Dam (which is really exciting to see) and end up in Saskatoon! That’s quite an impressive trip.
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24. Book a remote trip

Looking for that perfect summer getaway that’s just right for you or your entire family? Book a more remote trip to Reindeer Lake. The lake is located a whopping 535km north west of Prince Albert. The northern Canadian wilderness will be absolutely breathtaking. The lake is really fun to explore. You could back country camp, or book a stay with one of the outfitters on the lake. The fishing is amazing and you’ll be amazed at how different the province looks this far north.
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25. Fly in fun

It doesn’t get more rugged than venturing to book a trip with an outfitter who operates a fly-in destination. That means that their lodge or camp is on a remote body of water that can only be reached by plane. While the outfitter might not be totally off-grid, there are a whole host of other things that you can do that are completely unplugged. The fishing is always great and it’s probably easiest to stay with a fishing lodge or camp, but of course, most outfitters have a ton of other things you can do, especially if you’re going to be coming with the whole family. At the very least, you’ll get to do some wilderness exploring in some very remote, scenic, untouched areas.
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