Top Hikes on the Trans Canada Trail in the Prairies
5 Great Hiking Routes in the Prairie Province of Saskatchewan
Our list of the best hiking trails in Saskatchewan Canada includes some of our all-time favourite hikes on the Trans Canada Trail in the Prairie Provinces. At 28,000 km in length, the Trans Canada Trail (formerly the Great Trail) is the longest recreational pathway in the world. Amazingly, over 1,450 km of this national system of pathways and waterways are located in Saskatchewan. The grassy tracks, backcountry roads, rail trails, paved cycling routes, and tiny river ferries can be walked, cycled, biked, canoed, kayaked, snowshoed, skied, or completed on horseback, ATV, or snowmobile. Those who explore the Trans Canada Trail in Saskatchewan are taken through rolling grassland prairies, stunning river valleys, gorgeous provincial parks, and some of the friendliest communities in Canada. In 2022, Sean and I became the first couple to walk, photograph, and blog more than 14,000 km of the Trans Canada Trail between Cape Spear, NL and Victoria, BC during our Come Walk With Us Royal Canadian Geographical Society Expedition. What follows is our list of the best hiking trails in Saskatchewan, whether you're planning a family vacation, a weekend getaway, or a once-in-a-lifetime long-distance backpacking adventure.Our view is horizon to horizon, far and free, and I revel in it.
by Mary Taylor Young
Best Hiking Trails in Saskatchewan include Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park
Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park features approximately 39 km of trails which can be enjoyed year-round by hikers, cyclists, birdwatchers, nature photographers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers. Located a half hour drive northwest of Yorkton, SK the park boasts one of the top ten beaches in Canada according to MacLean's Magazine, as well as opportunities to camp, fish, swim, play mini golf, disc golf, and beach volley, or visit the food concession stand.Trails in Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park
In Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park the Trans Canada Trail is a grassy track that meanders for through the entire park, taking hikers and bikers through scenic woodlands, along wooden boardwalks, and onto pristine, sandy beaches. The route is well marked and easy to follow, offering multiple opportunities for taking breaks at benches, picnic tables, and in a warm-up shelter for cross-country skiers. In addition, it provides access to the park's other major trail, the Dune Discovery Interpretive Trail (3 km), which takes visitors to unique and towering sand dunes on the shores of Good Spirit Lake.
Insider Tip: The Trans Canada Trail visits several other provincial parks in Saskatchewan including Duck Mountain Provincial Park and Buffalo Pound Provincial Park, both of which are hidden gems.
Qu'Appelle Valley
The Qu'Appelle Valley is next on our list of the best hiking trails in Saskatchewan, Canada, and is perhaps one of southern Saskatchewan's most awe-inspiring geological features. Amazingly, this deep river valley was gouged by ancient glacial melt waters around 14,000 years ago when a continental ice sheet stalled, carving out a 400 km long channel. The 83 km long Trans Canada Trail in this section follows a quiet backcountry road that runs along the valley bottom, parallel to the beautiful Qu'Appelle River. Specifically, the road includes a few paved sections, long stretches of good quality gravel range roads, and a few expanses of packed earth that can transform into impassable prairie mud in wet weather. While road walks rarely rank among our favourite sections of the Trans Canada Trail, the deeply peaceful, spectacularly beautiful valley which offers breathtaking scenery is without doubt part of the quintessential prairie trail experience. Definitely a must-see!Trekking Through the Qu'Appelle Valley
Trekking through the Qu'Appelle Valley we passed historic villages such as Ellisboro, where people were able to the cross the Qu'Appelle River at Racette's Crossing in the 1880s. Furthermore, we visited pristine beaches, like the one at Katepwa Point Provincial Park, and walked through bustling resort towns like Sandy Beach. In addition, we passed through Lebret, a historic town on the shores of the Mission Lake, one of the four 'Fishing Lakes' in the Qu'Appelle Valley. Finally, we arrived at Fort Qu'Appelle, a Hudson's Bay Company trading post established in 1852 between Mission and Echo Lakes. Best of all, we spent hours walking among large cattle ranches, the sweet smell of hay and cows carried on the warm wind, Swainson's Hawks soaring silently overhead, and the soft grassy slopes of the coulees providing breathtaking scenery all around us.
Wascana Center Trail, Regina
The Wascana Center Trail is roughly 10 km long, looping around Regina's historic Wascana Center. This large urban park circles around Wascana Lake, an artificial water body created in the 1800s. Understandably, the flat, paved multi-use pathway is popular with cyclists, joggers, walkers, and cross-country skiers. Furthermore, it is lined with many points of interest including Saskatchewan's Legislative Buildings, the historic Albert St. Bridge, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, the Saskatchewan Science Center, the University of Regina, the First Nations University of Canada, the Habitat Conservation Area, as well as numerous monuments, memorials, and outdoor art exhibits. Best of all, throughout the year several festivals are held in the park, and the lake is a center for multiple water sports, making Wascana Center a community hub for Regina. These are just a few of the reasons the Wascana Center Trail ranks among the best hiking trails in Saskatchewan and is one of our favourite sections of the Trans Canada Trail in the Prairies.
Insider Tip: The City of Regina Trails system was recently assessed by AccessNow and the stretch around Wascana Lake with its accessible washrooms, ramps, and spacious trail was deemed to be access friendly! In addition, the Wascana Center Trail is one of the accessible birding hotspots on the Trans Canada Trail!
Meewasin Trail, Saskatoon
The famous Meewasin Trail is next on our list of the best hiking trails in Saskatchewan. In the Cree language 'meeswasin' means 'beautiful' and this is a perfect description of the lush, green oasis of the Meewasin Valley. Extending roughly 60 km from Pike Lake to Clarke's Crossing, the Meewasin Valley followings the course of the South Saskatchewan River as it makes its way through Saskatoon. The Trans Canada Trail follows the Meewasin Trail system for approximately 50 km. Fortunately, this trail system is highly developed and very well maintained. As a result, these extensively-signed, paved, and crushed stone dust pathways are popular with walkers, joggers, hikers, and cyclists, especially as they follow the South Saskatchewan River through Saskatoon.Sightseeing along the Meewasin Trail
Highlights along the Meewasin Trail include visiting a string of beautifully landscaped parks and natural areas along the river, including Chief Whitecap Park, the Kiwanis Memorial Park, and Gabriel Dumont Park. Several overlooks provide views of the glass towers in downtown Saskatoon, as well as the nine bridges that span the river, giving the city the nickname 'Bridge City' and the 'Paris of the Prairies.' We were delighted to see Indigenous, Metis, and European cultures celebrated alongside each other on the shores of the river. For example, the tent for the Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Theater was located next to the wooden Indigenous Contemplation Circle. Subsequently, we saw the silhouette of the historic Canadian National Railway chateau-style Bessborough Hotel rising above the riverside cottonwoods. Finally, we arrived at the Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a sacred meeting place for Indigenous Peoples for over 6,000 years, and site of the longest-running archaeological digs in Canada. In short, art, culture, gorgeous scenery, and all the conveniences of the modern environment make this one of our favourite trails in Saskatchewan.
Insider Tip: The Canada Adventure Seekers have some great advice if you're looking for additional ways to enjoy the sights of Saskatoon, especially if you're visiting Saskatoon in winter.
Northern Trails of Saskatchewan
The Northern Trails of Saskatchewan are a 516 km stretch of the Trans Canada Trail in the northwestern portion of Saskatchewan. It begins in Saskatoon and passes through the Battlefords before heading west to the Alberta border near Onion Lake. The idea of meandering along more than 500 km of dusty backcountry roads on foot or by bike might seem unappealing at first. However, the route defies every expectation of the prairies someone who isn't born to this unique, wide-open, and completely stunning landscape could have! From rolling hill scenery, to rich prairie history, to the Redberry Lake UNESCO Biosphere Region, to more ferry crossings than in any other province, to stunningly beautiful landscapes, the route offers countless highlights.
The Trails of 1885
The historical Trails of 1885 intersects with the route followed by the Northern Trails of Saskatchewan portion of the Trans Canada Trail in several parts of the Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Interestingly, the Trails of 1885 features a series of historic sites where important battles or significant events occurred during the North-West Resistance in 1885. Specifically, in Northern Saskatchewan hikers and cyclists can visit the sites of the Battle of Tournond's Coulee/Fish Creek, Middleton's Camp, Batoche National Historical Site, the Battle of Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Center, Fort Pitt, Frenchman Butte and Fort Battleford. As a result, those adventurous at heart can learn a lot about an incredibly important chapter in Canadian history, and gain a better understanding of the reasons behind the Northwest Resistance.
Prairie to Pine Corridor Birding Trail
The route followed by the Northern Trails of Saskatchewan also overlaps with the Prairie to Pine Corridor Birding Trail. Essentially, while there are many birding hotspots in Saskatchewan, the Prairie to Pine Birding Trail includes some of the best locations. Interestingly, it visits a variety of habitats that support local breeding birds, as well as large flocks of migrating birds annually. Specifically, these birding hotspots are located in communities such as Vawn, Meota, Edam, Turtleford, and St. Walburg. In particular, we enjoyed the trail in St. Walburg, where over 250 species of birds have been reported! This means that beyond the amazing route and history of the region along the Trails of Northern Saskatchewan visitors have the opportunity to connect with some of the province's top birding hot spots as well!
In Conclusion
In conclusion, with opportunities to experience endless skies, open horizons, rolling hills, stunning sunsets, and amazing moments of beauty on urban pathways, the Trans Canada Trail in Saskatchewan will dare you to challenge your expectations and assumptions of Canada's heartland. The great trails and cycling routes of Saskatchewan reveal what Canadians can experience if they take the time to explore, look, listen, and foster a deeper connection to the land. The trails of Saskatchewan are definitely a worthy item on everyone's bucket list!