Gordon Howe Campground is an Oasis in the Middle of the City
Camp in the City Close to Major Saskatoon Attractions
Camping in Saskatoon Saskatchewan - Recently on a trip to Saskatoon we decided to try something a little bit different and a little bit more adventurous. Since the weather was supposed to be hot we decided to pack our tents and camp at the municipally run Gordon Howe Campground in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. We had heard that the campground was very nice with great big mature trees and that you would never know that you were camping in the middle of the city. How could we resist? Camping in Saskatoon Saskatchewan was something we needed to experience for ourselves.
Camping in Saskatoon Saskatchewan at the Gordon Howe Campground
Camping in Saskatoon Saskatchewan is a nice experience. The Gordon Howe Campground is quite pretty with its mature trees and green spaces. The municipally run campground is clean, well kept and the staff are friendly. The campsites are treed and some have fences along the back for added privacy. Each site has a BBQ style fire pit and picnic table. Therefore there is plenty of open green space and a nice playground as well. Altogether there are 135 campsites, of which 12 are for tents only. One of the campground's loops is reserved for adults only, the rest of the campsite is family friendly. There is also an overflow camping area. Amenities include nice washrooms with flush toilets and showers, a small shop that sell firewood among other essentials and guest laundry facilities. For the RV's there is a Sani-station conveniently located on the way out.
Who is Gordon Howe?
First thing first, if you are going to be camping in Saskatoon Saskatchewan at the Gordon Howe Campground, then you need to know who he was. Because it will come up in conversation. Most people know him as Gordie Howe or even as Mr. Hockey. Gordie Howe was the legendary NHL hockey player from Saskatoon. In fact, he is ranked as one of the best hockey players of all time. He played professional hockey from 1946 until 1980, an exceptionally long career. Canadians are passionate about their hockey and the hockey greats. When the locals hear that you are camping at the Gordon Howe campground, hockey talk is bound to happen. So, here are a few quick facts to help you talk to the locals;
- Gordie Howe's number was #9
- He holds the record for the being the oldest player to play an NHL Game. He was 52 when he retired.
- He scored 801 goals, had 1,049 assists and played in over 1700 NHL games.
- 23x All Star and 6x most valuable player
- He won 4 Stanley Cups
- Also, Saskatoon doesn't have an NHL team
Nearby Saskatoon Attractions
Exploring the City of Saskatoon and the surrounding areas is easy as the Gordon Howe Campground is conveniently located near Circle Drive. This is Saskatoon's ring road. From here visitors can reach just about anywhere in the city in under 25 minutes. Parking the car and forgetting it is also an option as there are a few attractions within walking distance from the campground.
Holiday Park Golf Course
The municipally run Holiday Park Golf Course runs along the southern end of the campground. This is a championship, par 71, 18-hole course that also has a 9-hole executive course, and driving range. If you are looking to improve your golf game then you may want to take advantage of the PGA of Canada instruction offered at the course.
Gordie Howe Sports Complex
This is the place for sport in Saskatoon. If you are visiting town for a summer sporting event there is a good chance that it will be here. The Gordon Howe Campground is next door so be sure to stay here if you are planning on camping in Saskatoon Saskatchewan during a sport event. The Gordie Howe Sports Complex is a 26 hectare, year-round multi-sport complex. The complex has both indoor and outdoor venues and training facilities including;
- Baseball- Softball
- Football
- Box Lacrosse
- Ultimate Disc
- Hockey
- Speed Skating
- Nordic/Cross country Skiing
Diane's Kitchen
This is a case of don't judge the book by it's cover. I find that it is places like this that often serve the best food. Diane's Kitchen is a family run Korean restaurant within walking distance of the campground. It has very high reviews. Uber Eats ratings give it a 4.6 out of 5. The lady looking after the front of the house is very sweet and has excellent customer service. We picked up some food to go and were so hungry we scarfed it down before thinking to grab a picture, sorry. The reviews were right, the food was excellent.
Meewasin Valley Trail
The Meewasin Valley Trail system is a Saskatoon treasure. The trail is 105km long and runs alongside the South Saskatchewan River from Wanuskewin Heritage Park on one end to Chief Whitecap Park on the other. 25km of the Meewasin Trail make up part of the Trans Canada Trail, which is the longest multi-purpose recreational trail in the world! Fellow eh! Canada Adventure Seeker, Sonya Richmond recently hiked the Meewasin Trail you can read about her adventure here. From the Gordon Howe Campground it is a 15 minute walk to the trail. Your river valley hike through the city of bridges will begin at the site of the former Tuberculosis Sanatorium. The building was torn down in 1989. All that remains now is a pleasant park and green space that was in front of the building.
Gordon Howe Campground is an Oasis in the Middle of the City
Camping in Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada at the Gordon Howe Campground is a fantastic option for those looking to camp in the area. The campsite are well trees and the campground is clean and well maintained. From here exploring the city is a breeze.