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Saskatoon
In the heart of the Canadian prairie, Saskatoon is the biggest city in the province of Saskatchewan and forms the region’s cultural and economic hub. With an unpretentious, no-nonsense Western vibe, the city’s rich heritage and agricultural traditions echo through the heart of town, which is bisected by the South Saskatchewan River. Scenic, park-lined river banks summon outdoor adventure as bikers, runners and Rollerbladers ply the scenic pathways which lead to the gorgeous Meewasin Valley. With a thriving culinary scene, Saskatoon boasts the most restaurants per capita in the nation with a rich diversity of culinary experiences.
Premier Attractions
Twenty minutes northeast of downtown, First Nation history shines at the superb Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a pending UNESCO National Heritage site and the location for Canada’s longest-running archaeological dig. Dedicated to honoring and fostering an understanding of the cultures of First Nations people and their sacred relationship to the land, the site regularly yields relics that stretch as far back as 6,000 years.
Ken Walker
Saskatoon Art
In downtown Saskatoon, the Remai Modern museum opened in 2017 and catapulted Saskatoon onto the international art map. The stunning glass and wooden structure, built with a design reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie-style, is one of the largest museums in Canada dedicated to modern and contemporary art.
Local Color
Along the city’s upbeat downtown streets, townies and university students mingle at a slew of hip new restaurants, cafés, breweries and bars that embody the region’s cultural brio and humble spirit. With a dramatic location overlooking the South Saskatchewan River, the University of Saskatchewan is the city’s cultural linchpin and a cradle for the creative verve, culinary innovation and cultural largesse that has afforded the city the sobriquet of “Paris of the Prairies.” The university is one of North America’s top bioscience research centers.
Aggie Glory
The region’s proud agricultural heritage is celebrated with verve at the eight-day Saskatoon Exhibition held the second week of August. Top draws include a threshing competition, tractor-pulling contests and fireworks. In mid-August, Folkfest triumphs the city’s diverse communities with vendors selling traditional foods, craft displays and folk performances.
Tourism Saskatoon
Hiking the Prairie
Within striking distance of the city, a vibrant expanse of natural diversity invites exploration of sand dunes, grasslands, marshes and boreal forest, with trails for all skills and dispensations. Unfurling from the heart of downtown, along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, the Meewasin Valley is home to a segment of the Trans Canada Trail. Experience the area’s biodiversity with superb bird watching at the Cosmopolitan Park lookout and kaleidoscopic butterfly species at the Saskatoon Natural Grasslands. A short drive south from Saskatoon, Blackstrap Provincial Park on Blackstrap Lake is orbited by two short loop hiking trails designed for novice, intermediate and advanced mountain bikers, hikers and cross-country skiers.
Water Wonders
An hour’s drive southeast of Saskatoon, Little Manitou Lake is renowned for a mineral-rich water composition that results in high buoyancy — swimmers will find it remarkably easy to float in the salty lake. Outside of Little Manitou, water like this is found only in the Karlovy Vary hot springs in the Czech Republic and the Dead Sea bordering Jordan and Israel. Diefenbaker Lake, just over an hour from Saskatoon, is famous for its swathes of untamed beaches that stretch for miles. Also nearby, the shallow Waskesiu River is banked with lush forests inhabited by myriad wildlife species and offers scenic family-friendly paddles spiked with some faster Class 1 sections and a handful of beaver dams.
For More Information
Tourism Saskatoon
800-567-2444
Tourism Saskatchewan
877-237-2273