The southwest corner is home to species that many wouldn’t likely associate with Saskatchewan. Bison, badgers and pronghorn antelope are par for the course; however, a plethora of surprising species can also be found, like the black-footed ferret, short-horned lizard, prairie rattlesnake and the boreal scorpion.
There are multiple sets of fragile and thanks to the abundant wind, ever-changing, active sand dunes. In the southwest, the Great Sandhills are a top attraction, however atop many bucket lists is the province’s hardest to access, the remote Athabasca Sand Dunes. Located in the province’s northwest, they are the world’s most northerly and Canada’s largest set of active dunes. The area is also home to over 50 rare and 10 endemic plant species.
Well to be more specific, the tallest peak in Saskatchewan is found in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park at 1,392 meters above sea level, making it the highest point of land between the Rockies and Labrador’s Torngat Mountains. Head to the park’s Conglomerate Cliffs and hidden Conglomerate Cliffs to take in the views!
Piping plovers, check. Whopping cranes, check. Burrowing owls, check. Many rare and endangered species either stop to rest or nest in the province during the spring and summer months. Birdwatching can be done province-wide; however, spots such as Chaplin, Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve, Quill Lakes and North America’s first bird sanctuary at Last Mountain Lake, boast opportunities to add loads of birds to one’s life list.
Part of the Outlaw Trail that stretches all the way to Mexico, the Big Muddy Badlands and Castle Butte found 19 kilometers from the U.S. border, once served as a hideout for bank robbers and horse thieves. The beautiful yet rugged area, and its craggy buttes, canyons and caves, is rumoured to have been a refuge for infamous Wild West characters, such as Sam Kelly and Dutch Henry.
Whether it is fishing, kayaking, canoeing, white-water rafting or chasing waterfalls, the north’s Churchill River and its Precambrian granite outcroppings and boreal wilderness, provide options for all types of water lovers. Home to the province’s first Canadian Heritage River, Clearwater Provincial Park, is the perfect place for experienced paddlers, featuring Class II to Class IV rapids.
The only one of its kind in Saskatchewan, the 120-kilometre long Boreal Trail, is perfect for all levels. Found in Meadow Lake Provincial Park, one of Canada’s largest provincial parks at over 1,600 square kilometers, hikers can plan for single or multi day-adventures, as the trail is connected to both front and backcountry campsites.
Set above the Opimihaw Creek just minutes out of Saskatoon’s city limits, Wanuskewin Heritage Park, designated a National Historic Site in 1986, is currently being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status. Wanuskewin is home to the longest-running continuous dig site in Canada and it’s estimated that humans have been gathering there for over 6,000 years.
Wildcat Hill Provincial Park, north of Hudson Bay is a hot spot for experienced back country explorers who are comfortable with bushwakking. There are no formed trails (unless you visit in the winter when it’s a snowmobiler’s dream!); however, those who make it into the interior are rewarded with 22,000 hectares of natural beauty, where rare plants such as the dragon’s mouth orchid and large yellow lady’s slipper, can be found.
Aurora chasers, star-gazers and sunrise/sunset fanatics will love the open skies of Saskatchewan. With landscapes that allow 360 degree panoramic views, one can easily comprehend why the province is touted the Land of Living Skies. Dark-sky preserves at Grasslands National Park and Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park have minimal artificial light pollution making them two of Canada’s darkest dark-sky preserves.
Often overlooked and not explored nearly as much as next door neighbour, Alberta, Saskatchewan features a diversity of flora, fauna, and landscape that often surprise those not familiar with the province.
110 Nature Hot Spots in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, co-written by Jenn Smith Nelson and Doug O’Neill, exists to expose the incredible beauty and some of the best-kept wild secrets found within the two Prairie Provinces.
Here are a few highlights that may surprise you.
