21 Absolute Best Things to do in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is the seventh-largest province in Canada. It is one of the Prairie provinces in the country and is home to unique landscapes from sand dunes, rolling hills, forested areas, to art and historical sites. We lived here for 4.50 years and explored a lot of the province on the weekends and annual holidays. So here are the handpicked 21 things to do in Saskatchewan.
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21 Things to do in Saskatchewan
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Saskatchewan was created a province in 1905. It is the only landlocked province in Canada, bordered by Alberta (on the west), with the Northwest Territories in the north, Manitoba to the east, and Nunavut on the northeast. The US states of Montana and North Dakota lay in the south.
Capital City of Saskatchewan is Regina, and Saskatoon is the largest city and metropolitan area.
Getting to Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is served by 2 international airports – Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport and Regina International Airport (YQR). You can connect to these two cities, and then drive to parks and other towns.
Saskatchewan is a very car-oriented province, meaning you do need a vehicle to reach different places. We love taking road trips in SK, stopping at local ice cream parlors, and cute-sy towns.
There are buses available connecting major cities and towns. But a car/vehicle is the best way to explore this province.
So, let’s look at the best places to visit in Saskatchewan.
Camp at the Prince Albert National Park
Prince Albert National Park is one of the two national parks in the province. It is located in northern Saskatchewan.
The park is perfect for summer camping trips. There are a number of front country and backcountry campsites that you can reserve to enjoy a weekend or two in the lap of nature. There are special oTENTik cabins at the Beaver Glen Campground, which are a great option for families and couples to enjoy a comfortable camping experience.
Inside the park, you will also find restaurants, playground areas for kids, and bike and hike trails. We mostly spent our time hanging out by the beach and Waskesiu Lake. Emma Lake and Kingsmere Lake are two of the other lakes in the vicinity.
Top hiking trails include the Waskesiu River Trail, and the Boundary Bog Trail. Both are easy hikes to embark on.
Explore the city of Prince Albert, one of the cities in SK
Prince Albert is the third largest city in Saskatchewan. During our visits to the city, we mostly spend our time hanging out with friends, exploring parks and museums.
The city is home to four museums, namely the Prince Albert Historical Museum, The John and Oliver Diefenbaker Museum, Evolution of Education Museum, and the Rotary Museum of Police and Corrections. These museums really help you to understand the history of the Prairies and railways, which is something we always appreciate!
Chase Northern Lights in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan showcases stunning green dancing lights, aka Aurora Borealis at night and early morning hours. They are best seen from October through March. As residents, we have observed the northern lights dancing in the skies in Saskatoon, Yorkton, and Prince Albert National Park (usually after 2:00 am in the morning).
Waskesiu Lake makes for beautiful Northern Lights photos (at the Prince Albert National Park).
Enjoy Meadow Lake Provincial Park Winter Trails
Head to the Meadow Lake Provincial Park to experience cross country skiing. This boreal forest park has a variety of snowmobile trails perfect for all levels of travelers. The trailhead is located at the north shore of Kimball Lake, and there is parking available.
Take a floatboat to the Athabasca sand dunes
The Athabasca Sand Dunes are one of a kind in the country. It is the most active northernmost sand dunes in the world. They are located on the south shore of Lake Athabasca, and you have to get on a floatplane to reach the sand dunes.
Wander Saskatoon’s Urban Parks and Trails (Central Saskatchewan)
Although not the capital city of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon welcomes visitors with many urban trails, parks, and a beautiful river valley. Saskatoon is the largest city in the province, and the downtown area is a beautiful place to hang out in the summer and also in the winters.
Meewasin Park and Kiwani Memorial Park are our favorites. These parks have hiking trails, picnic areas, unique sculptures, and seating areas overlooking the river.
Stay at the stunning Delta Bessborough Hotel in Downtown Saskatoon
Delta Bessborough is a gorgeous heritage hotel, located in downtown Saskatoon. It looks like a fairytale castle out of a storybook, with the South Saskatchewan River flowing by. The hotel rooms are beautifully decorated and have modern amenities for a comfortable stay.
You can also dine at the hotel. There is a garden-view cafe, and a cocktail lounge for guests to enjoy. The property has 2 pools (1 for kids) and a fitness centre with a whirlpool tub, sauna, and steam room. There is also a day spa, a garden courtyard, and 18,000 sq. ft. of event space, making it a popular wedding/engagement and honeymoon accommodation favorite.
Learn about indigenous history at the Wanuskewin Heritage Centre
Wanuskewin Heritage Centre is one of the top attractions in Saskatoon. The centre is a wonderful spot to learn about the cultural history and artwork of the First Nations people. Many of the exhibits are in an open/outdoor space. They also organize temporary displays and events.
The centre is a National Historic Site, and is open all year round.
Or visit the Western Development Museum
Western Development Museum is a history and socio-economic museum, highlighting the impact of railways, industrial impact, and the colonial trading remnants. The museum is set in an open space with train buggies, farm equipment, and other exhibits on display.
There are 4 WDM branches in the province – Saskatoon, North Battleford, Yorkton, and Moose Jaw. We found the one in Saskatoon to have a larger collection, the one in North Battleford is small, and Yorkton is the cutest!
Photograph the bridges over the South Saskatchewan River
Saskatoon is home to over 80 bridges and is affectionately called the ‘Paris of the East’. You can easily walk across or capture some of the iconic bridges from the downtown river valley itself. Go on a walk, and snap away!
Our top picks are – Traffic Bridge, University Bridge and Broadway Bridge.
Check out drive-through Christmas Lights at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm & Zoo
Drive-through Christmas events are amazing especially when the winters are so brutal in Saskatoon. The Forestry Farm Park and Zoo is the place to be during the festive season.
The Saskatoon Forestry Farm & Zoo is a nice forested park, and it looks wonderful with the Christmassy lights in the evening. You can visit the park and zoo at all times of the year.
Read next: Things to do in Saskatoon in winter
Attend the Yorkton Film Festival – the oldest running film festival in North America
Yorkton, located about 3.50 hours from Saskatoon is home to the oldest running film festival in entire North America. The event is held annually in May.
Yorkton is a nice stop when you are driving from Saskatoon to Winnipeg, another Prairie capital city.
Take a walking tour of Yorkton – admire murals, visit museums
Yorkton is also a cute little place to embark on a walking tour to check out their murals, street art and beautiful parks.
Enjoy a guided tour of the Saskatchewan Legislature in Regina
When in Saskatchewan you must visit the capital city of Regina. Regina is home to the Saskatchewan Legislative Building. The building was built between 1908 and 1912. It is designed in beautiful Beaux-Arts style, and was inaugurated by Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught in 1912.
You must take a self-guided tour of the legislature building, and admire all the interior decor and murals and art on the ceilings.
Outside the building is a nice garden with an equestrian statue of Queen Elizabeth II. The statue stands in front of the legislative building, and it depicts the Queen atop Burmese, which is her favorite horse. On the eastern side of the building, there is a fountain.
The legislative building and its grounds are a National Historic Site of Canada.
Read all the fun things to do in Regina Saskatchewan
Go biking at the Wascana Centre
Wascana Lake is located near the legislature building. It is also the focal point of Wascana Centre and is a nice place for a walk, jog, or bike ride. The centre covers almost 1,000 hectares and is considered to be one of the largest urban parks in North America.
So after visiting the Saskatchewan Legislature Building, head to the centre and the lake area and admire the water fountains, bridges, trails, and geese.
Visit Royal Saskatchewan Museum
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum is a natural history museum located at the Wascana Centre. The museum is great to learn about Saskatchewan’s history and indigenous cultures
The First Nations Gallery here is wonderful, as it showcases many exhibits including beautiful artifacts from the local indigenous groups. If you like dinosaurs, you will enjoy exploring the lower level of the museum which primarily focuses on dinosaurs and their existence in Saskatchewan.
RCMP Heritage Centre is another museum worth visiting. The museum showcases history and artifacts from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Watch a Football Game
Although curling is Saskatchewan’s official sport, Canadian football is super popular here. Regina is home to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. And you must catch a game when in town.
Saskatchewan locals and league fans love to watch a good game of football, with cold beer and pizza at home or at the Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
Pro tip: Buy a Saskatchewan Roughriders hoodie and take back home as a souvenir.
Check out the wildlife at the Grasslands National Park (Southern Saskatchewan)
Grasslands National Park is the second national park in the province, located near the village of Val Marie. It is in the southern part of Saskatchewan and shares an international boundary with Montana, USA.
The Grasslands National Park was established to preserve the Canadian mixed-grass prairie ecosystem. There are a ton of animals that are home to the Grasslands, from bison, elephants, giraffes, to hyenas.
70 Mile and Eagle Butte Trailhead is one of the nicest hiking trails, with stunning sceneries.
Take a guided tour of the Tunnels of Moose Jaw
Another destination worth exploring in Saskatchewan is Moose Jaw. The name of the city comes from a Cree name for the place, moscâstani-sîpiy, meaning“a warm place by the river.
A visit to the Tunnels of Moose Jaw is a must. All tours are conducted with a guide. When we visited the tunnels, the tour was split into two ‘stories’, – one where they share the story of the city’s early Chinese immigrants and another one of bootleggers and rumored Al Capone connection at the underground Tunnels of Moose Jaw.
Set aside 1.50 to 2 hours to fully enjoy the tunnels, and then come out to enjoy some delicious ice cream in one of the local cafes nearby.
Snap a photo of the Mac the Moose
One of the coolest things to do in Saskatchewan is to snap photos of ‘some unique statue’. Alberta has it too, like the Pysanka in Vegreville. Moose Jaw has Mac the Moose, a 32-foot-tall sculpture. It was the tallest moose sculpture in the world for more than 30 years (was later taken over by the 33 feet shiny Norwegian moose sculpture).
The sculpture is located by the Trans Canada Highway, and you can enjoy murals depicting pages of the city’s history. There is a tourist train also located near the sculpture.
Other things to explore in Moose Jaw include a casino and a geothermal spa. There is a NATO flight training school, and it is also home to the Snowbirds, Canada’s military aerobatic air show flight demonstration team.
Camp, hike, bike at Canada’s only interprovincial park – Cypress Hills
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is the only Canadian Interprovincial Park, where it is managed by the two provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Infact, the highest point of SK lies at the Cypress Hills.
Camping is one of the most popular activities in the park. However, you can also explore and go hiking, biking for a day, without overnight camping.
The distance between Cypress Hills and Saskatoon is 368 km, and Regina is about 406 km. So the nearest places to stay include the Towns of Maple Creek, Leader, Gull Lake, and the Village of Val Marie.
While at the national park, do stop by the Fort Walsh National Historic Site. This site was a North-West Mounted Police fort and was heavily armed as well once upon a time. You can learn about the history of Fort Walsh and the Cypress Hills massacre here.
Is Saskatcehwan worth visiting?
Yes, Saskatchewan is worth visiting for its varied landscape. We enjoyed driving the Prairie roads, stopping at small towns, relishing ice-creams, coffee, or brunch. There is also so much history sprinkled all over the province, which really makes it easy to understand the past of this part of the country, in an interactive and unique way.
We hope you enjoyed our list of things to do in Saskatchewan, and are ready to enjoy the trip!
Have fun!
