It may be winter, but that’s no excuse for staying indoors. Here are just a few of the many activities you can enjoy across the province. Information has been updated in October 2020, but check with individual organizers for up-to-date information regarding Covid-19 restrictions.
Let’s Get Active
Snowshoeing
The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation rents out snowshoes for classes or community groups.
Snowshoes can be borrowed at Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Saskatoon.
The Saskatoon Young Naturalists usually plan a winter snowshoeing expedition.
Head to Prince Albert National Park or Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. You may be able to rent equipment from one of the local hotels.
Skating
The Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink next to the Hotel Bessborough, Saskatoon, normally opens in mid to late December, and you can usually borrow/rent a pair of skates.
If you’re a skating enthusiast, check out Saskatoon’s Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval. There are different lanes for different speeds and lots of room for every skater.
Many cities offer outdoor rinks, including Lloydminster, Moose Jaw, and Regina. Many community associations also maintain outdoor rinks.
Winter Cycling
Saskatoon Cycles and Bike Regina usually offer a number of winter cycling events.
FatLanders FatTire Brigade in Saskatoon is the only known FatBike specific cycling club in Canada. Their members organize weekly rides throughout the winter.
Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding
Gentle downhill skiing is available at Table Mountain Regional Park near Battleford. There are 11 runs, and they offer skiing services for people with special needs as well as school groups. Covid-19 guidelines will be posted in early November.
Additional downhill skiing opportunities are available in other parts of the province.
The Saskatoon Young Naturalists usually plan a winter snowshoeing expedition.
Head to Prince Albert National Park or Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. You may be able to rent equipment from one of the local hotels.
Skating
The Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink next to the Hotel Bessborough, Saskatoon, normally opens in mid to late December, and you can usually borrow/rent a pair of skates.
If you’re a skating enthusiast, check out Saskatoon’s Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval. There are different lanes for different speeds and lots of room for every skater.
Many cities offer outdoor rinks, including Lloydminster, Moose Jaw, and Regina. Many community associations also maintain outdoor rinks.
Winter Cycling
Saskatoon Cycles and Bike Regina usually offer a number of winter cycling events.
FatLanders FatTire Brigade in Saskatoon is the only known FatBike specific cycling club in Canada. Their members organize weekly rides throughout the winter.
Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding
Gentle downhill skiing is available at Table Mountain Regional Park near Battleford. There are 11 runs, and they offer skiing services for people with special needs as well as school groups. Covid-19 guidelines will be posted in early November.
Additional downhill skiing opportunities are available in other parts of the province.
There's normally tobogganing, tubing, and snowboarding at Saskatoon's Optimist Hill Snow Park.
Cross-Country Skiing
The City of Saskatoon maintains cross-country ski trails along the river and in various different parks and golf courses.
The Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club offers ski lessons for children and adults, weekly ski touring, and groomed cross country ski trails.
Cross-Country Skiing
The City of Saskatoon maintains cross-country ski trails along the river and in various different parks and golf courses.
The Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club offers ski lessons for children and adults, weekly ski touring, and groomed cross country ski trails.
The Qu'Appelle Valley Nordic Ski Club maintains cross-country ski trails that can be used for hiking, cycling, and roller skiing in the summer.
Nature Wanders
Footprints in the Snow
How many different animal footprints can you identify? Teach yourself with a book or app.
Winter Reading
Books for Youth
Take a Winter Nature Walk, Jane Kirkland
Snow and Ice: Canadian Winter Weather, Nicole Mortillaro
Winter Nature Activities for Children, Brigitte Kutsch
Sliding in the Snow: Winter Activities for Kids, Melissa Dymock
How to Celebrate Winter Solstice, Teresa Villegas
Books for Adults
Wandering through Winter: A Naturalist’s Record of a 20,000-Mile Journey through the North American Winter, Edwin Way Teale
Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival, Bernd Heinrich
Life in the Cold: An Introduction to Winter Ecology, Peter J. Marchand
Ken Libbrecht's Field Guide to Snowflakes, Ken Libbrecht
The City of Moose Jaw maintains 3 cross-country ski trails, and there is cross-country skiing in Lloydminster's Bud Miller All Seasons Park.
The Regina Ski Club offers a ski ambassador program to welcome new members to the club and maintains trails at White Butte.
There is skiing, snowshoeing, and tobogganing in Little Red River Park, Prince Albert.
Volunteers maintain trails in Prince Albert National Park.
Thirteen provincial parks offer cross-country ski trails. Others offer toboggan hills and skating.
CanoeSki Discovery Company offers cross-country ski courses.
Dogsledding
Learn to run a dog team while exploring the southern edge of Canada’s boreal forest with Sundogs Excursions. They offer everything from a one-hour introduction to puppy camps for families with children ages 3-7.
Winter Camping
SaskOutdoors offers a variety of winter activities, usually including winter camping.
The Regina Ski Club offers a ski ambassador program to welcome new members to the club and maintains trails at White Butte.
There is skiing, snowshoeing, and tobogganing in Little Red River Park, Prince Albert.
Volunteers maintain trails in Prince Albert National Park.
Thirteen provincial parks offer cross-country ski trails. Others offer toboggan hills and skating.
CanoeSki Discovery Company offers cross-country ski courses.
Dogsledding
Learn to run a dog team while exploring the southern edge of Canada’s boreal forest with Sundogs Excursions. They offer everything from a one-hour introduction to puppy camps for families with children ages 3-7.
Winter Camping
SaskOutdoors offers a variety of winter activities, usually including winter camping.
Head to Prince Albert National Park for some frontcountry or backcountry winter camping.
Winter Solstice
Why not celebrate the shortest day of the year with an evening walk?
Winter Birds & Wildlife
Pishing for Chickadees
Stand very still and make small, repetitive noises, and you may be lucky enough to attract the attention of a flock of chickadees who will be delighted to eat sunflower seeds straight from your hand.
Saskatoon Young Naturalists normally head out to Pike Lake to pish every winter. You can usually experience pishing at Beaver Creek Conservation Area. Check with Moose Jaw Nature Society for local opportunities.
Christmas Bird Counts
Every year, thousands of people around the world head outdoors for the Christmas Bird Count.
Nature Saskatchewan and the Saskatoon Zoo Society organize Christmas Bird Counts for Kids in Regina and Saskatoon.
Birding
The Saskatoon Nature Society and Nature Regina organize frequent outings to view birds all year round. Many activities are only open to members at the moment, so join now.
Winter Solstice
Why not celebrate the shortest day of the year with an evening walk?
Winter Birds & Wildlife
Pishing for Chickadees
Stand very still and make small, repetitive noises, and you may be lucky enough to attract the attention of a flock of chickadees who will be delighted to eat sunflower seeds straight from your hand.
Saskatoon Young Naturalists normally head out to Pike Lake to pish every winter. You can usually experience pishing at Beaver Creek Conservation Area. Check with Moose Jaw Nature Society for local opportunities.
Christmas Bird Counts
Every year, thousands of people around the world head outdoors for the Christmas Bird Count.
Nature Saskatchewan and the Saskatoon Zoo Society organize Christmas Bird Counts for Kids in Regina and Saskatoon.
Birding
The Saskatoon Nature Society and Nature Regina organize frequent outings to view birds all year round. Many activities are only open to members at the moment, so join now.
Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation offers a variety of private birding tours with proceeds supporting their wildlife rehabilitation work.
Forestry Farm Park and Zoo
The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo is open all winter long and admission is free from November 1 to March 31.
Forestry Farm Park and Zoo
The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo is open all winter long and admission is free from November 1 to March 31.
Nature Wanders
Restoring 71 Project (near Saskatoon) offers self-guided and guided trail tours as well as an outdoor classroom.
Visit Wanuskewin Heritage Park. They frequently offer guided walks and other outdoor activities.
There are various outdoor clubs on Facebook that can suggest activities. They include the Regina Outdoor Club, the Outdoor Adventure Club, and the Saskatchewan Outdoor Enthusiasts.
Footprints in the Snow
How many different animal footprints can you identify? Teach yourself with a book or app.
Winter Reading
Books for Youth
Take a Winter Nature Walk, Jane Kirkland
Snow and Ice: Canadian Winter Weather, Nicole Mortillaro
Winter Nature Activities for Children, Brigitte Kutsch
Sliding in the Snow: Winter Activities for Kids, Melissa Dymock
How to Celebrate Winter Solstice, Teresa Villegas
Books for Adults
Wandering through Winter: A Naturalist’s Record of a 20,000-Mile Journey through the North American Winter, Edwin Way Teale
Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival, Bernd Heinrich
Life in the Cold: An Introduction to Winter Ecology, Peter J. Marchand
Ken Libbrecht's Field Guide to Snowflakes, Ken Libbrecht
Articles
Take EcoFriendly Sask’s Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces, with you when you head outdoors
