A road trip through Saskatchewan

With vast prairies, miles of boreal forest, and secluded waterways aplenty, the province of Saskatchewan is one of the largest untouched sections of wilderness left on the planet. If you are seeking the ultimate place to enjoy some much-needed peace and tranquillity, a Saskatchewan road trip should be at the top of your list.

From the famed Badlands and plains bison of Grasslands National Park to the lakes and dense forests of Prince Albert National Park, vibrant cities of Saskatoon and Regina, and authentic prairie ranches, the province promises an unforgettable Western Canada holiday full of iconic experiences.

In this post, we will take you through an example day-by-day itinerary for a road trip through Southern Saskatchewan, along with bonus places at the end, should you want to extend your journey to Central and Northern Saskatchewan. Read on to find out more.

Explore Saskatoon

Typical stay: 1 - 2 nights

You are likely to start your Saskatchewan road trip in Saskatoon, the largest city in the province. Nicknamed the ‘Paris of the Prairies’ for its beautiful brass-coloured bridges, Saskatoon is one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities—and for good reason. It brims with cultural and historic attractions, great outdoors, friendly locals and a growing prairie-to-table food scene. All alongside being one of Canada’s sunniest cities with approx. 2,350 hours of sunshine per year.

The city is divided into east and west sides by the South Saskatchewan River, making it a great place to take a river cruise or rent a kayak. Alternatively, take a leisurely stroll or bike the iconic Meewasin Valley Trail, an over 80-kilometre-long multi-use path winding along both sides of the river and around the city. Summer is a particularly popular time to visit Saskatoon as the city comes alive with various jazz, theatre and folk festivals.

A highlight of any visit regardless of the season is the famous modern art museum, Remai Modern, where you can admire the world's largest collection of Pablo Picasso linocuts, large-scale installations, neon art and contemporary art. An alternative, if you are more interested in history, is the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon featuring the 1910 Boomtown street, a full-scale, indoor replica of a prairie town.

Regardless of what you choose to fill your first day with, spend the evening savouring a delicious Saskatchewan meal. Downtown Saskatoon, Riversdale and the Broadway District are all culinary hotspots where you will find plenty of dining options.

During the later part of your stay in Saskatoon, we recommend visiting Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a National Historic Site which has been the sacred and gathering place for Northern Plains Indigenous Peoples for more than 6,400 years.

The park is on Canada’s tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage status, and you’ll have the chance to experience authentic First Nations culture and traditions through dance performances, activities and exhibitions of Indigenous art.

Experience authentic Western Canada ranch life at the Historic Reesor Ranch

Typical stay: 1 - 2 nights

The picturesque Cypress Hills is worth exploring next on your Saskatchewan trip, and a stay at an authentic, working cattle ranch is an experience you won’t forget.

Ranching is an integral part of Saskatchewan’s history, and since 1904, the Historic Reesor Ranch has been preserving this legacy. It is the first and only ranch designated as a Provincial Heritage Property in Saskatchewan alongside its prestigious recognition as a Canadian Signature Experience by Destination Canada.

Staying for two nights will allow you to enjoy the ranch’s top activities, including guided horseback riding to historic sites with ancient tipi rings, ATV tours through various terrain and self-guided hikes. The ranch offers various accommodation options from cosy rustic cabins to guest rooms in the Reesor’s family historic house. Hearty ranch-style meals, fire pit stories and ‘cowboy poetry’ under a sky full of stars are other amazing experiences to be looking forward to on your Saskatchewan trip.

Visit Fort Walsh National Historic Site and Conglomerate Cliffs on your way to The Resort at Cypress Hills

Typical stay: 2 nights

Having left the Historic Reesor Ranch behind, you may want to head to the Centre Block of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park where we suggest you spend two nights at The Resort at Cypress Hills. Before you do so, there are two spectacular places to explore located within the park’s West Block.

Fort Walsh National Historic Site was built in 1875 and was the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) headquarters until 1882. Book a guided tour and learn fascinating stories about the life of the Mounties and how they managed to enforce Canadian law in the West. Make the most of your time in the beautiful Cypress Hills and enjoy a hiking trail after your tour. The fort has two marked trails: the flat Metis Trail (550m) and the 6-kilometre-long varied terrain, Battle Creek Trail.

We recommend a second stop at the nearby Conglomerate Cliffs. Located approximately 15 minutes away from the fort, these unique geological formations offer a scenic top plateau view of Adams Lake, Battle Creek Valley and rolling forested hills transitioning into vast prairie grasslands in the distance.

It is common to arrive at the resort just in time for your first night there. Spend the next day trying rejuvenating resort activities such as a sound bath, yoga or paint classes, or explore the surrounding Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. The park’s Centre Block offers canoeing, paddling, fishing, mountain biking, hiking, a golf course and an outdoor swimming pool.

The list of adventures doesn’t stop here though. Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park along with Grasslands National Park (the next suggested stop on your road trip itinerary) are Saskatchewan’s two designated Dark Sky Preserves. The ink-black skies become lit by thousands of stars at night. Grab a map and explore the star constellations along the Milky Way. With some luck, you can also witness the elusive Northern Lights (if you visit between September-October or February-April).

Drive to Val Marie and explore Grasslands National Park (West Block)

Typical stay: 1 night

Your Canada self-drive tour should continue to the iconic Grasslands National Park. It is divided into West and East blocks, and each one features different landscapes and experiences.

The West Block is located near Val Marie and this is where you will find vast expanses of Saskatchewan’s iconic, mixed-grass prairie. The protected area is home to incredible wildlife such as wild plains bison, pronghorn antelope and black-tailed prairie dogs.

A lesser-known fact is that Grasslands National Park is one of the top bird-watching destinations in Saskatchewan. With a bit of luck you may spot the park’s burrowing owls, which nest in abandoned prairie dog burrows.

Take your time as you drive along the Ecotour Scenic Drive, a 20-kilometre-long gravel road that takes you to the heart of the park (Please note that it is an 80-kilometre round-trip to Val Marie).

Enjoy the sweeping views of the rolling hills, deep coulees and the beautiful Frenchman River Valley. Stop for a picnic at a day-use area along the way or try a walking or hiking trail. The day is yours to enjoy.

ALSO READ: What is Saskatchewan famous for?

Venture to Grasslands National Park (East Block) on your way to Moose Jaw

Typical stay: 1 night

Be sure to give yourself the chance to witness a completely different side of the spectacular Grasslands National Park. The East Block is famous for the dramatic Rock Creek Badlands; fossil-rich, heavily eroded landscapes featuring hoodoos, deep coulees, steep valleys and striking buttes.

Drive the iconic Badlands Parkway, an 11-kilometre-long single-lane, paved road following an escarpment. There are six viewpoints and parking areas providing scenic views of the incredible landscapes around.

Once you have taken in enough of the beauty and solitude of the park, we would encourage you to make your way to the historic city of Moose Jaw for an overnight stay.

You can easily fill the following day at Moose Jaw with activities, such as soaking in the geothermal mineral pool at Temple Gardens, visiting the Western Development Museum, exploring the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery or an urban park.

We suggest crossing the Tunnels of Moose Jaw off your bucket list first. The underground tunnels are a signature Saskatchewan experience. Guided, actor-led theatrical tours offer insights into the fascinating history and urban legends of the tunnels as a hiding place for early Chinese immigrants, bootleggers during the Prohibition era and even the notorious American gangster, Al Capone.

Spend the day exploring your way before you head to Regina.

ALSO READ: Our Canada Travel Expert, Daniel Lopes sharing his first-hand recommendations from his latest trip to Saskatchewan

Explore Regina

Typical stay: 1 - 2 nights

If you are looking for a finishing point for your southern Saskatchewan road trip, then the provincial capital, Regina is a solid option. It features a massive urban park, Wascana Centre, built around a beautiful man-made lake right in the city centre ideal for leisurely walks and cultural explorations.

The park is home to the famous Saskatchewan Legislative Building, one of the most historic buildings in all of Saskatchewan. Its unique architecture blends seamlessly two iconic styles, the English Renaissance found in the St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, and the opulent, highly symmetrical French Beaux-Arts style found in the Palace of Versailles in France.

The Royal Saskatchewan Museum is also a very popular attraction in Regina where you can explore rich Indigenous history and prehistoric fossils, including Scotty the T. Rex, a skeleton of the world's largest Tyrannosaurus rex.

A highlight of any visit to Regina is the RCMP Heritage Centre, where you can see Mounties in training. Learn more about the history of Canada’s national police force through a number of exhibitions and interactive displays. On selected evenings in July (dates are usually announced in spring) you can also attend a 45-minute Sunset-Retreat Ceremony, where you can watch a foot-drill display by cadets in scarlet tunics, a field gun drill and the ceremonial lowering of the flag.

Extend your road trip through Saskatchewan

Your Saskatchewan road trip doesn’t need to end in Regina. Central and part of Northern Saskatchewan can easily be added to your itinerary, enriching your experience with exhilarating outdoor adventures among pristine landscapes dominated by aspen parklands, boreal forests and lakes:

Little Manitou Lake

Nicknamed “Canada’s Dead Sea”, Little Manitou Lake is a unique attraction in the province of Saskatchewan and the only one of its kind in Canada.

One of only three lakes in the world with a mineral density three-times saltier than the ocean, it offers therapeutic treatments to bathers. This remarkable lake also has a natural buoyancy, allowing you to float effortlessly on your back without sinking.

Prince Albert National Park

Named by National Geographic as one of Canada’s ‘50 Places of a Lifetime’, this 3,875-square-kilometre park consists of large areas of woodland and boreal forest, interlaced with streams and hiking trails for all levels.

Like Grasslands National Park, free-roaming plains bison populate Prince Albert National Park, as well as moose, timber wolves, caribou and bears. Take part in the park’s year-round and seasonal recreational opportunities, from canoeing between remote forest lakes and water skiing or wakeboarding in summer to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. You’ll also find the year-round, full-service resort town of Waskesiu Lake within the park’s borders.

Churchill River

Flowing through northern Saskatchewan is the 1,600-kilometre-long Churchill River. Traditionally used by First Nations people as a fur-trading route, it’s now a popular place for canoe trips and white-water rafting.

Churchill River Canoe Outfitters, located in Missinipe, offers guided trips across this part of the province, in addition to canoe clinics and courses, equipment rentals, canoe route maps and more. Those exploring the river may be lucky enough to see moose wading in the shallows, bald eagles, American pelicans and great blue herons flying overhead.

Pêmiska Tourism

Experience Cree Indigenous culture at Pêmiska Tourism, located roughly 45 minutes north of Saskatoon. Stay at tipi-inspired glamping lodges with picturesque views of the North Saskatchewan River Valley.

Take part in cultural experiences, such as fire-cooked Bannock, storytelling, traditional music and dancing, along with guided historic tours and exhilarating outdoor adventures, such as canoeing, kayaking, fat-tire biking and ATV tours.

Dakota Dunes Resort

Did you like our example itinerary for an epic road trip adventure? If yes, contact our Canada Travel Experts today and we will tailor-make your dream Saskatchewan road trip. Simply tell us how many days you are planning to travel, the places you would like to visit and the activities you would like to try on your trip. We will take care of all details, including booking your flights to Canada, car rental and accommodation.

Contact us

For more inspiring stories, travel advice, tips and first-hand recommendations, visit our Canada Travel Blog.