Too many Canadians think of Saskatchewan as a drive-through province, but it’s truly one of my favourite places in the country and deserves a lot more attention from travellers. Here’s a news flash: It isn’t all flat prairie terrain, although I kind of like that part of the province best because it’s where its slogan, “Land of Living Skies,” really comes to life. Here are three compelling experiences waiting for you in this remarkable province:
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Stargaze in silence at Grasslands National Park
If the stars have ever called to you, Grasslands National Park is where you’ll hear them loud and clear. Designated a Dark Sky Preserve, this southern Saskatchewan gem is one of the best places in Canada to go stargazing. It has the darkest skies of any Canadian Dark Sky Preserve in Canada which means the Milky Way is so bright here that it practically casts a shadow.
By day, you can explore the rolling prairie landscape in the park’s West Block, then head to the East Block to visit badlands that tell geological stories in layers of time. Come for the skies, stay for the soul-searching stillness that the park imparts upon you.
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/sk/grasslands
Go underground in the Tunnels of Moose Jaw
Is there any place name more Canadian than Moose Jaw? Spending some time exploring this small city is worthwhile, but one of its most intriguing historical attractions is the network of tunnels beneath the streets of its compact downtown.
Legend has it that the tunnels were used by Chinese immigrants in the early parts of the 20th century seeking refuge from discriminatory laws. They were also rumoured to be a Prohibition-era hideout for Al Capone’s bootlegging operations. Both are good stories, but there’s not much evidence for the Chinese hideouts and while the tunnels likely were used for rum running and prostitution, the RCMP says Capone never set foot in Canada.
Don’t let facts get in the way of a good story! The Tunnels of Moose Jaw offers guided theatrical tours that are part museum, part immersive drama, that are touristy, but in the best way.
https://tunnelsofmoosejaw.com/
Admire the surreal sculptures of the Great Sand Hills
Yes, Saskatchewan has sand dunes, but not the kind you’d find on a beach. The Great Sand Hills are the largest active sand dunes in Canada and are tucked away in the southwest corner of the province. These shifting hills of fine, pale sand stretch across the horizon and rise out of the prairie landscape like a desert mirage.
It’s not a place with marked trails or much infrastructure, and that’s part of its appeal. It feels like you’ve stumbled into a forgotten landscape, one that belongs more in a dream than is a real place you’d find in Canada.
https://greatsandhillsmuseum.com
