Published March 29th, 2025

Photos by Robin and Arlene Karpan.

With the “Elbows Up” movement in full swing and Canadian tourism becoming increasingly popular, it’s an excellent time to discover, or rediscover, our captivating country.

So you’re looking at Canada’s Prairies for a summer vacation and asking yourself “what’s there to do in Saskatchewan in summer?” So, so, so much! Saskatchewan is superb for family road trips, a guys and or gals trip, a couples getaway or a solo adventure.

If one of your summer travel destinations is Saskatchewan, we’ve got a stellar list for you to either follow or include in your exploration of this beautiful part of Canada.

Prince Albert National Park

Let’s start smack in the middle of the province. Covering a million acres of wilderness, Prince Albert National Park is Saskatchewan’s favourite summer playground for good reason. It has everything from aspen parklands to boreal forests, with fescue grasslands, wetlands, lakes, and rivers adding to the variety. More of its area consists of water than any national park in Canada.

The townsite of Waskesiu is home to the park’s popular beach, accommodation, largest campgrounds and eateries. In the evenings nothing beats watching the sunset over the lake from Prospect Point on the edge of town.

It’s in the backcountry that the park really shines. Hiking trails include everything from leisurely strolls to multi-day adventures. Are you up for a pilgrimage to the home of a Canadian legend? Then start planning your canoe or hiking trip to Grey Owl’s cabin, where the famous though controversial conservationist lived, wrote his best-selling books, and was finally buried.

Missinipe and the Churchill River

Northern Saskatchewan ranks among North America’s great canoeing destinations with 100,000 lakes and a vast network of rivers. The most easily accessible is the fabled Churchill River, pivotal to the fur trade and travelled by countless voyageurs and northern explorers.

The resort community of Missinipe, an hour north of La Ronge, sits near Otter Rapids where the Churchill constricts into a frothing powerhouse of obstacles and currents. At Churchill River Canoe Outfitters you can rent canoes, take whitewater lessons, or join guided excursions.

Besides embarking on far-flung adventures, a lot of great canoeing is nearby. Grab your paddles and head to the Churchill’s classic whitewater playground where the river spreads into a maze of rapids and waterfalls. For calmer trips, easy lake paddling takes you to places such as Robertson Falls. For us, the quintessential Saskatchewan summer experience is sitting at a lakeside wilderness campsite, gazing over the sunset while freshly caught fish sizzles on the campfire.

Grasslands National Park

Travelling from the Churchill River to Grasslands NP in the deep south brings home just how varied Saskatchewan’s landscapes can be. The park protects large tracts of increasingly rare natural grasslands. We explore a wild land with sweeping vistas, eroded buttes, rare wildlife, and some of Canada’s baddest badlands. How bad you ask? One hike is called the Valley of 1000 Devils Trail, reached by crossing Hellfire Creek.

Don’t want to deal with devils and hellfire? Then drive the awesome Badlands Parkway along the rim of Rock Creek Valley for unparalleled views over a rugged landscape that seems from another planet.

Wildlife ranges from roaming bison to deer, pronghorn, moose, coyotes, rattlesnakes, and the only black-tailed prairie dogs in Canada. It’s a prime place to find rare birds such as ferruginous hawks, loggerhead shrikes, or burrowing owls.

Great Sand Hills

Did you know that Saskatchewan is the Sand Dune Capital of Canada? We have the largest and second largest dunes in the country plus a few others thrown in for variety. Easiest to visit are the Great Sand Hills in the southwest, eclipsed in size only by the remote and more challenging Athabasca Sand Dunes of Saskatchewan’s far north.

Head to the small town of Sceptre and follow the signs. First-time visitors stare in amazement as towering active dunes suddenly appear next to the road. There are no facilities other than a parking area and a few interpretive signs. Slap on some sunscreen and a hat and prepare to play in the sand. It’s still a wild place with no trails other than those made by wandering cattle.

Cypress Hills

Near the province’s southwest corner, highlands abruptly rise from the surrounding plains. This attractive mix of grasslands and forested highlands provides its special appeal. For wildflower buffs, there’s no better place that we know of to enjoy impressive summer displays, with prairie and forest species growing alongside those more common to the foothills of the Rockies.

Part of an Interprovincial Park that stretches into Alberta, the Cypress Hills are renowned for scenic drives with amazing viewpoints, pleasant hikes through hills and valleys, and great wildlife viewing.

History looms large. The Cypress Hills Massacre of 1873, where American wolf hunters killed a group of Nakoda, became the catalyst for the Canadian government to form the North West Mounted Police to control lawlessness. The story is told today at Fort Walsh, once the main Mountie post in the west.

Saskatoon

The defining feature of Saskatchewan’s largest city is the South Saskatchewan River, its protected natural riverbank running through most of the city. The Meewasin Valley Trail network stretches several kilometres linking key landmarks such as the castle-like Delta Bessborough Hotel and the Remai Modern Art Galley at River Landing.

Along with pleasant riverside walks or a tour on the Prairie Lily riverboat, you can take in summer festivals such as the Sasktel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival and Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan.

At Wanuskewin Heritage Park, archaeologists have documented human use for more than 6,400 years. Interpreting the Indigenous cultures of the Northern Plains, Wanuskewin is on track to becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Let’s not forget that “Elbows Up” originated with Saskatoon’s own Gordie Howe. You can visit Gordie Howe Park, drive across the Gordie Howe Bridge, and see the statue of Mr. Hockey, complete with the famous elbow.

The Saskatchewan Sky

It’s for good reason that our license plates proclaim the Land of Living Skies. Clear air, lack of pollution, wide-open vistas, plenty of sunshine, and long lingering summer evenings give us a quality of light that is magical. The sunrises and sunsets are quite simply the best on the planet. In Saskatchewan, the sky is an integral part of the landscape and the easiest to enjoy.

The Living Skies also includes amazing summer storm clouds, dancing northern lights, breathtaking bird migrations, and outstanding stargazing. Places such as Grasslands NP and Cypress Hills are among the largest Dark Sky Preserves in the county. But never mind official designations. In most rural and remote areas the skies are dark by default.

So when you come to Saskatchewan, it’s not only “Elbows Up”. You’ll want to look up as well.

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