Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast or not, Saskatchewan has various hiking trails that will leave everyone in awe! The Sheaf has put together a list of some of the best trails for beginners or experts to check out in our beautiful province.

Grey Owl Trail: located in northern Saskatchewan in Prince Albert National Park, this hike is known for its unique history.

Like me, you may have studied Grey Owl — or Archibald Belaney — in high school history class. Long story short, Grey Owl was a famous Indigenous author and personality in Canada. The only thing was, he wasn’t Indigenous and he wasn’t Canadian.

Born in England in 1888 as Archibald, he moved to Canada at the age of 17 and adopted a life as a Canadian Indigenous trapper and continued to build his life for years, without anyone knowing who he really was.

This hike is an intermediate 40-kilometre trail that takes you along the eastern shoreline of Kingsmere Lake, where hikers can make their way to Grey Owl’s cabin and burial site.

70 Mile Butte: located in Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan, this trail is best for experienced hikers — or those up for a challenge.

This 5-kilometre trail leads up to the highest point in the park, so it’s best to go in the early morning or evening to catch the sunrise or sunset. This hike is located in the West Block of the park, accessible through the town of Val Marie, which is about 90 minutes outside of Swift Current. You may even get to see some buffalo!

Saskatoon East Bank Trails: this hike is great for those who want to enjoy the outdoors within the city of Saskatoon.

With a collection of trails that all follow the entire length of the South Saskatchewan River, this is a good option for beginners.

You can enter the trail at the foot of any bridge within the city, but the recommended place to start is either at the Circle South Bridge or the Circle North Bridge.

Scissors Creek Hike: located in southeast Saskatchewan, this 22-kilometre trail runs between Rocanville and Tantallon, following the abandoned Canadian Pacific Railroad bed.

This trail provides the hiker with various terrain, from floodplain into pasture to forest. As hikers enter into the forest part of the trail, they may come across different wildlife, including deer, geese, coyotes and even bears.

Nut Point Trail: located in northern Saskatchewan in Lac La Ronge Provincial Park, this 30-kilometre trail allows hikers to explore the Canadian Shield.

This hike is doable in one day, but it’s recommended that you take gear to spend the night. With some strenuous terrain — marshes, rocks and slippery moss — this trail is best for intermediates.

Packed with blueberry bushes, this trail is best visited in mid-August, when the blueberries are in season. Fresh fruit as a snack on the trail is a definite plus!

Gem Lakes Trail: located in northern Saskatchewan in Narrow Hills Provincial Park, this 5.5-kilometre loop is intertwined with the Gem Lakes.

The seven Gem Lakes were formed by the last ice age and are separated from each other with no rivers running between them. Not only is this trail great exercise, but it’s full of natural beauty, too. Just be careful with your food when hiking and camping, as there are lots of bears in this area.

The prairies are filled with beauty and just waiting to be explored, so round up your friends, pack up your gear and hit the trails!

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Bridget Morrison / Culture Editor

Graphic: Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor