Bundle up and experience Saskatchewan’s cities in the snowy season. With countless outdoor skating rinks, cross-country ski trails and opportunities for downhill skiing and snowboarding, the province’s urban centres have all you need to warm up to winter.
Saskatoon
Lace us some skates and take to the ice at the Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink @ Nutrien Plaza, located in Kiwanis Park next to the historic Delta Hotels by Marriott Bessborough. The outdoor skating rink has a cosy warm-up shelter, fire pit, washrooms and skates available to borrow.
Optimist Hill, Saskatoon’s premier winter recreation facility, has tubing lanes and areas for tobogganing, downhill skiing and snowboarding. There is also a terrain park with rails, boxes and jumps, and a magic carpet conveyor to carry people to the top of the hill.
The Meewasin Valley trails become a winter wonderland once the snow flies. Pull out your cross-country skis or snowshoes and explore the city in all seasons. Glide along the groomed trails at Holiday Park and Wildwood golf courses, or venture outside of the city limits to Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Beaver Creek Conservation Area, Eb’s Cross-Country Ski Trail (near Duck Lake) or Dakota Dunes Resort & Casino. Other guided winter experiences at the resort include horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowshoe adventures, kicksled rentals, bonfires with bannock or s’mores, bird tours, ice fishing, and stargazing with Dakota storytelling and interpretation.
At Blackstrap Provincial Park, Back2Nature Wellness and Adventures is offering sauna experiences.
Where to stay: Delta Hotels by Marriott Bessborough, Alt Hotel Saskatoon, The James Hotel, Dakota Dunes Resort & Casino
Regina
Snowshoe through Wascana Centre or strap on skis and travel the park’s many pathways in cross-country style. The city of Regina boasts almost 14 km of groomed ski trails for people of all ages and skill levels. The trails are located at various sites including Douglas Park, Kinsmen Park, Les Sherman Park and AE Wilson Park. Outside of the city, White Butte Trails Recreation Site has 13 km of trails in treed sections of gently rolling hills, while the Wascana Valley Natural Area Recreation Site has 15 km of trails for skiing and snowshoeing.
With spectacular views of Wascana Centre and the Saskatchewan Legislative Building, the Rink of Wascana is Regina’s newest public outdoor skating rink. Designed with a focus on accessibility, it has ramps, fixed and mobile lighting, professional boards, rubber matting and warming and washroom facilities. BYOS – bring your own skates, as rentals and loaners and not offered at the Wascana Lake rink. Or try out The Rink @Pat Fiacco Plaza, located in the heart of downtown Regina. Skates are available on loan from the Warming Chalet near the ice surface.
Winter highlights in Saskatchewan’s smaller cities
Moose Jaw – Following a skate around the oval or a snowshoe or cross-country ski through Wakamow Valley, soak in the soothing water at Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa. For more outdoor adventure, stay in a Camp-Easy yurt or winter camp and go fat biking on the trails at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park.
Prince Albert – Little Red River Park boasts more than 30 km of forest trails and is a cross-country skier’s dream with 12 groomed tracks of varying difficulty. Other popular winter activities in the park include tobogganing, snowshoeing, and downhill skiing and snowboarding at the Kinsmen Ski and Snowboard Centre, which has two beginner hills and one intermediate run.
Yorkton – Throw some rocks during a game of crokicurl or strap on some skates and explore the Patrick Park Skating Pathway.
North Battleford – Strap on some cross-country skis and hit the trails at Finlayson Island Nature Park in The Battlefords region, or go downhill skiing or snowboarding at the popular Table Mountain Regional Park.
Further information can be found at www.tourismsaskatchewan.com.