Parks in Saskatchewan (9)

Wood Mountain Post Provincial Park is a 5.48-hectare historic park in Saskatchewan, Canada. It was designated as a historic site in the 1960s and became a provincial park in 1986. The site originally housed a North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) post, which operated from 1887 to 1918. The post was established to foster relations with local Indigenous peoples, patrol the Canada–US border, and conduct general policing duties.Located in the RM of Old Post No. 43, along Highway 18, Wood Mountain Post Provincial Park lies about 8 kilometers south of the village of Wood Mountain and 35 kilometers north of the Canada–US border. The park is situated in the Wood Mountain Hills, adjacent to Wood Mountain Creek, and is near Wood Mountain Regional Park. The provincial park offers a picnic area, while the regional park provides camping facilities.The NWMP first used the Wood Mountain Hills area in 1874 during their march westward in response to the Cypress Hills Massacre. A depot in the region, originally used by the Boundary Commission during the Canada–US border survey, served intermittently as an NWMP base from 1874 to 1887 to police whisky traders, horse thieves, and cattle rustlers. In 1876, Chief Sitting Bull and 5,000 Lakota Sioux sought refuge at the post following the Battle of the Little Bighorn. They stayed in the area for five years before Chief Sitting Bull and many of his people returned to the US. Those who remained in Saskatchewan now make up the present-day Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation. The original post closed in 1883, reopened in 1885 during the North-West Resistance, and was relocated 300 meters southeast across Wood Mountain Creek in 1887. This new site is where the current provincial park stands, while the original site is now part of Wood Mountain Regional Park. The post closed permanently in 1918.In the 1960s, the Wood Mountain Post site was designated a Canadian historic site. Two buildings—a barracks and a kitchen/storehouse—were reconstructed on their original foundations, with outlines marking other former structures. Numerous artifacts, along with cellars and trail locations, have been uncovered. The park tells the story of Major James Walsh of the NWMP and his negotiations with Chief Sitting Bull.

The Great Sand Hills, also known as the Great Sand Hills, are a vast area of sand dunes in southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada. These dunes are the second-largest active dunes in the province, after the Athabasca Sand Dunes, and are part of the Great Sand Hills Ecological Reserve, covering approximately 1,900 square kilometers. The dunes consist of finely ground sand, known as rock flour, left behind from the end of the last ice age. Due to the region's frequent winds, the landscape is constantly shifting as the sands are blown around.The Great Sand Hills are located 159 kilometers northwest of Swift Current and 38 kilometers southeast of Leader, with access from Sceptre, which also hosts the Great Sand Hills Museum & Interpretive Centre.Formed over 12,000 years ago as the Wisconsin ice sheet retreated, the area was shaped by glaciers, glacial lakes, and massive meltwater spillways. As Glacial Lake Bursary dried up, the sand deltas left behind became the dunes seen today.The region is home to various wildlife, including mule deer, pronghorn, coyotes, badgers, and the rare Ord’s kangaroo rat. Bird species include the sharp-tailed grouse, peregrine falcon, burrowing owl, and sandhill crane. Vegetation is sparse due to dry conditions, with prairie grasses, sagebrush, and small stands of trees like aspen and willow being the dominant plant life.

The Great Sandhills in southwestern Saskatchewan cover a unique 1,900 sq. km area of active desert-like sand dunes. The dunes are bordered by native grasses and small clumps of trees such as aspen, willow, and sagebrush. Mule deer and antelope are commonly seen in the area. For information and a map to the dunes from Sceptre, visit the village office Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., or the museum daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from mid-May to Labour Day.To reach the Great Sandhills from Sceptre, take the grid road east of the village off Hwy 32 for 9.6 km. At the T junction, turn right and travel west for 1.6 km, then head south for about 10 km to the parking lot with interpretive signs. From there, walk approximately 0.5 km on a narrow sandy trail to the dune formations. Climb to the top of a large sand dune for a panoramic view. Note that windy conditions are common.The final stretch of road to the dunes is privately leased by local ranchers for summer cattle pasture. Fires and camping are prohibited in the Sandhills, and parking is only allowed in designated areas. Camping is available in Leader. Please respect the environment by taking only pictures and leaving only footprints.

Cannington Manor Provincial Park is a historic park located in the RM of Moose Mountain in southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada. Established as a provincial park in 1986, it preserves the site of an aristocratic English colony founded in 1882 by Captain Edward Michell Pierce. The colony is situated just off Highway 603, about 16 kilometers southeast of Moose Mountain Provincial Park and 60 kilometers south of Moosomin.Captain Pierce established an agricultural college to train the bachelor sons of wealthy families, known as remittance men, in farming and homesteading. Students paid £100 a year to attend. One of the prominent families, the Becktons, built a ranch house called 'Didsbury' within the colony. The settlers lived a lifestyle reminiscent of the English upper class, enjoying activities such as thoroughbred racing, polo, fox hunting, and theater, in stark contrast to the nearby homesteaders struggling to make a living.Over time, the community grew to include various businesses and institutions, such as a dairy, a flour mill, a land titles office, and the Mitre Hotel. By the late 1880s, Cannington Manor had a population of around 200.However, the colony's decline began after Captain Pierce's death in 1888. The Canadian Pacific Railway bypassed the village by 10 kilometers, which, along with drought and low grain prices, led to its eventual downfall. By the early 1900s, many settlers had left the area.The park consists of two separate parcels of land. One 15-hectare area contains archaeological remains and replica buildings, including a 1920s schoolhouse serving as the visitor center. All Saints Anglican Church, built in 1884, still stands near the village center but is not part of the park. Another 32-hectare parcel, located 3 kilometers west of the village site, includes the Humphrys/Hewlett House, a historic 2½-storey house, and remnants of two stone outbuildings. Both the church and the house are listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.

Duck Mountain Provincial Park is cherished for its rolling hills, well-stocked lakes, and boreal forest setting. The park offers a variety of accommodations, from wilderness camping and electric campsites to two Camp-Easy yurts, a lodge with modern cabins, and townhouses, making it a great year-round destination.This family-friendly park provides diverse recreational opportunities. You can fish for pike, walleye, or perch in the spring-fed Madge Lake or explore other nearby lakes. Bike a section of the Trans Canada Trail or enjoy one of the self-guided or interpretive trails. Don't miss the nearby National Doukhobor Heritage Village site in Veregin.

Grasslands National Park, situated near the village of Val Marie, Saskatchewan, is one of Canada's 44 national parks and park reserves, with only two located in Saskatchewan. The park, which lies adjacent to the U.S. state of Montana, is divided into two distinct parcels: the East Block and the West Block.Established in 1981, Grasslands National Park was Saskatchewan's second national park, following Prince Albert National Park. It attracts approximately 12,000 visitors annually.The park represents the Prairie Grasslands natural region, safeguarding one of the nation's few untouched dry mixed-grass and shortgrass prairie landscapes. It is part of the World Wildlife Fund’s Northern Short Grasslands ecoregion, which extends across southern Saskatchewan, southern Alberta, and the northern Great Plains of the U.S. The park's unique, semi-arid climate and terrain support diverse flora and fauna, including the only black-tailed prairie dog colonies in Canada. Wildlife in the park includes bison, pronghorns, greater sage-grouses, ring-necked pheasants, burrowing owls, coyotes, ferruginous hawks, swift foxes, prairie rattlesnakes, black-footed ferrets, eastern yellow-bellied racers, and greater short-horned lizards. Vegetation includes blue grama grass, needlegrass, plains cottonwood, and silver sagebrush. The landscape's distinctive features were shaped by glacial meltwater erosion, with notable sites including the Frenchman River Valley, Seventy Mile Butte, and the Rock Creek badlands.In 1874, Sir George Mercer Dawson discovered Western Canada’s first dinosaur fossils in the Killdeer Badlands during the International Boundary Survey. In 1877, Sitting Bull and about 5,000 Sioux sought refuge in the area following their victory over General Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn.The East Block of Grasslands National Park, located about an hour south of Assiniboia, lies on the south side of the Wood Mountain Hills in Census Division No. 3. It is a more remote, wilderness area compared to the West Block, offering views of Rock Creek's badlands, the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, and expansive prairie skies. The East Block features a one-lane, 11-kilometre parkway that traverses the Rock Creek Badlands. It also encompasses the Grasslands National Park (east) Important Bird Area (SK 023). The interpretive centre is housed in the McGowan House at the new Rock Creek Campground, while additional information can be found at the Wood Mountain Regional Park museum.

The West Block of Grasslands National Park is a captivating section of the park located about an hour south of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, and near the village of Val Marie. Established in 1981, Grasslands National Park encompasses two main parcels: the East Block and the West Block. The park is situated on the edge of the U.S. state of Montana, adjacent to the international boundary.This area of the park is renowned for its rich natural features, including the Frenchman River Valley, which is a significant highlight. The West Block is home to a thriving population of over 300 plains bison, originally reintroduced from Elk Island National Park in Alberta in 2006. By 2015, the herd had grown substantially, demonstrating successful conservation efforts.The West Block also features prairie dog colonies and is part of an Important Bird Area of Canada, known for its diverse avian species. Visitors can enjoy the Frenchman Valley Campground, which offers serviced camping sites, teepee camping, and a cook shelter. For those seeking a more rugged experience, backcountry camping is available.In addition to its natural attractions, the park was designated a dark-sky preserve in 2009. This designation helps maintain the area's natural night environment, benefiting nocturnal wildlife and preserving the starry skies.Historical significance adds to the West Block's allure, with notable events including the discovery of Western Canada's first dinosaur remains in the Killdeer Badlands by Sir George Mercer Dawson in 1874, and Sitting Bull's refuge in the area with his Sioux followers after the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1877.The park is located in Census Division No. 4 and holds cultural importance as it is situated on Treaty 4 land, traditionally belonging to the Blackfoot people of the Canadian and American plains. In 2022, an agreement with the Métis Nation - Saskatchewan facilitated the transfer of 24 bison, further enriching the park's ecological diversity.

Greenwater Lake Provincial Park is situated in Saskatchewan's Porcupine Hills, along Highway 38, approximately 28 kilometers (17 miles) northeast of the town of Porcupine Plain. Established on February 19, 1932, the park is one of Saskatchewan's oldest, added to the original six parks founded in 1931 and expanded to its current size in 1964.The park includes Greenwater and Marean Lakes, located within the Porcupine Provincial Forest. While the west side of Marean Lake is outside the park's boundaries, it is home to the Marean Lake Valley Resort. Recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) of Canada, the park's landscape features rolling hills, small lakes, and forests of spruce, balsam poplar, and aspen. It is home to over 200 bird species and various wildlife, including foxes, otters, coyotes, moose, black bears, and elk. The lakes are populated by northern pike, walleye, and yellow perch.Greenwater Lake Provincial Park offers year-round amenities. In summer, visitors can enjoy hiking, picnicking, and bird watching along 125 kilometers of trails. The park also provides a marina, beach, 18-hole golf course, mini-golf, and various sports facilities. During winter, the trails are groomed for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, with additional activities like ice skating and tobogganing.Camping options include over 300 campsites in five campgrounds, and 28 cabins, some winterized, are available for rent. The park also features dining options such as the Greenwater Beach Cafe and Greenwater Fisherman's Cove, a golf resort, and a marina offering boat rentals and fishing gear. Additionally, supplies like fuel and firewood are available within the park.

Greenwater Lake Provincial Park is a versatile destination that is accessible year-round. It provides opportunities for fishing and water sports suitable for families. The park features a beach, camping sites, and accommodations such as cabins and a Camp-Easy yurt. It also offers hiking, snowmobile, and cross-country ski trails. Over 200 bird species inhabit the park, and visitors might see wildlife like foxes, otters, moose, and elk. In summer, there are interpretive programs, exhibits at the Visitor Reception Centre, and an 18-hole golf course. Winter activities include a toboggan hill and a skating rink.