Vacations to Saskatchewan
Top destinations in Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
Surrounded by endless prairie and steeped in First Nations heritage, Saskatchewan’s largest city sets the scene for vacations filled with nature, culture and history.
Regina
Regina’s crown jewel is its glimmering lake, overlooked by a Beaux Arts–style building. But don’t miss the city’s art galleries, farmers markets and cafes.
Saskatchewan: fast facts
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Currency | Canadian dollar (C$) |
| Time zone | Saskatoon - UTC−6 (CST) |
| High season | June – August |
| Low season | December – February |
Saskatchewan vacation highlights
Get on the water
An estimated 100,000 lakes and rivers are scattered throughout the province, accounting for nearly 10% of its landmass. Many, like the vast Lake Athabasca, are surrounded by boreal forests in the northern wilderness. From paddling excursions and ice skating to pike, trout and walleye fishing, these glistening bodies of water set the scene for year-round adventures.
Learn about Mounties
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has been Canada’s law enforcement agency since 1873. Known as Mounties, they are recognizable for their red uniforms and horseback patrols. Discover their history at Regina’s RCMP Heritage Centre and watch parades at the RCMP Academy, Depot Division. Or take a guided tour of the original headquarters at Fort Walsh National Historic Site.
Look at the sky
Gazing at the ever-shifting skies is a top thing to do in Saskatchewan. The ‘Land of the Living Skies’ boasts everything from sweeping prairie horizons and spectacular cloud formations to fiery sunsets and V-shaped flocks of birds. There are also two Dark Sky Preserves offering unbeatable stargazing. In winter, you might even see the Northern Lights.
Things to do in Saskatchewan
Top attractions
Prairie grassland meets boreal forest in Prince Albert National Park, where you’ll find natural beauty and outdoor recreation year-round. The red-uniformed Mounties are as iconically Canadian as maple leaves and beavers. Discover their history at the RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina. Explore the rich culture of Northern Plains Indigenous communities through immersive experiences at Wanuskewin Heritage Park outside of Saskatoon.
Beaches
Miles of lakeshores and riverfronts make finding the perfect beach in Saskatchewan easy. Manitou Beach is known as the ‘Dead Sea of Canada’ for its buoyant, salty water. In Candle Lake Provincial Park, Purple Sands Beach is a natural wonder famous for its mauve-hued sands. Enjoy safe swimming and water sports at Katepwa Beach in Katepwa Point Provincial Park.
Nature
Saskatchewan boasts two national parks and dozens of provincial parks that encompass a variety of landscapes. Head to Prince Albert National Park for hiking, canoeing and camping in lands inhabited by black bears, elk and moose. Stand at the province’s highest point in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. And see the Earth’s northernmost active dune formations at Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park.
Cuisine
The restaurants in Saskatchewan are inspired by the traditions of everyone from First Nations people to Polish, Ukrainian and other settlers. Bison is a menu staple here, typically served as steaks and burgers. Feast on ‘pierogies’ (Polish dumplings) and ‘shishliki’ (Russian skewered and marinated meat cubes). Be sure to try Saskatoon berry pie, which is made using wild serviceberry.
Culture and museums
With branches throughout the province, the Western Development Museum is one of the best museums in Saskatchewan. It delves into the region’s history and tackles everything from agriculture to transportation. Learn about scientific research at Saskatoon’s Canadian Light Source or see dinosaur skeletons at the T.rex Discovery Centre in Eastend. To learn about the Indigenous cultures of the Northern Plains, check out Wanusekwin Heritage Park.
Nightlife
Some of the best nightlife in Saskatchewan can be found in its two biggest cities, Regina and Saskatoon. In Regina, make a night of it in the 80-block Warehouse District, home to breweries, distilleries and live music. You can catch intimate local performances and huge touring acts at the Coors Event Centre in Saskatoon.
Find the best time to visit Saskatchewan
Weather in Saskatchewan through the year
March – May: Freezing temperatures and snow can linger through March. Mid-May welcomes the wildfire season, which continues through summer.
June – August: Saskatchewan is Canada’s sunniest province. Long, hot summer days can climb over 86°F. But summer is also the rainy season, with afternoon thunderstorms breaking up the sunny days.
September – November: Fall can be cool and cloudy in the province, with low temperatures dropping below freezing by November. Summer rain continues into September.
December – February: Winter can be very cold and snowy, especially in the northern part of the region. It’s usually below freezing and occasionally below −22°F. And wind chill can make things feel even colder, so bundle up.
Events in Saskatchewan
Winterruption (January): Warm up the frigid Canadian Prairies winter with live music, comedy, drag and more at this performing arts festival in Saskatoon. Or bundle up for the free, family-friendly ‘Winterruption Outdoor,’ featuring sleigh rides and storytelling.
Saskatoon Berry Festival (June): The sweet and nutty saskatoon berry, or serviceberry, is the star attraction at this food festival in Mortlach. Festivities kick off with a pancake breakfast and end with a pie-eating contest, with plenty of music and fun activities in between.
Queen City Ex (July to August): Food and fun draw crowds to this beloved carnival in Regina. Get an adrenaline rush with roller coasters and demolition derbies, or enjoy entertainment like hoop dancers and hypnotists.
Know before you go
Budget
With some careful budgeting, cheap vacations to Saskatchewan are easy to come by, especially if you travel outside of the summer months. Expect to pay around 25 Canadian dollars ($) for a meal in an inexpensive restaurant. Thirsty? You’ll usually find a local beer for around $8 or a cup of coffee for under $5. A short taxi ride costs about $13.
Health and safety
In the warmer months, wildfires are common in the prairies and forests of northern Saskatchewan. Wildfire smoke can cause throat irritation and coughing, even from a distance. Should there be an air quality alert, limit your time outside. Winters in Saskatchewan can be extremely cold. Layering is all but mandatory.
Free things to do
Get a free lesson in First Nations history at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in the lakeside city of Regina. From September to June, stunning floral displays at the Regina Floral Conservatory brighten up chilly days. The Meewasin Trail stretches over 65 miles through beautiful parks and conservation areas, perfect for hiking and wildlife spotting.
Family friendly
Meet Scotty, the world’s largest Tyrannosaurus rex fossil, at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum’s T. rex Discovery Centre in Eastend. Young history buffs can step back in time with living history at the Fort Battleford National Historic Site. Cap off a day at Manitou Beach with a movie under the stars at the Salty Cinema Drive In Theatre.
Getting around Saskatchewan
Public transportation
Buses: Rider Express provides regular intercity service between major destinations in Saskatchewan, as well as connections to neighboring provinces. But riding the bus requires some planning. Certain routes can get busy, and the stops aren’t always centrally located.
Trains: Via Rail’s Western Canada route runs through Saskatoon on its way between Vancouver and Toronto. The route is scenic, but tickets can be pricey.
Boats: Seasonal ferries cross major rivers between April and November. They’re mostly for vehicle crossings, but step outside your car and enjoy the view.
Domestic flights
Domestic carriers like Air Canada and WestJet connect Saskatoon and Regina International Airports with larger Canadian hubs. Rise Air offers scheduled flights between Saskatoon and Prince Albert, plus the small town of La Ronge, the gateway to Saskatchewan’s far north.
Driving and car rental
Saskatchewan has the most extensive road network of all the Canadian provinces. The long, straight roads can be incredibly scenic, with sweeping views of Saskatchewan’s famous skies. Provincial highways are constructed along a grid, making navigation easy. But many rural roads are gravel, which doesn’t always appear on GPS. Make sure to check road conditions before heading out on a long trip, especially in winter.
