Saskatchewan travel guide

Boasting some of the most breathtaking scenery in Canada, Saskatchewan is a paradise for lovers of the great outdoors and eco-tourists. It features everything from world-class fishing, kayaking and hiking, to hunting, horseback riding and wildlife spotting in the wilderness.

Saskatchewan's capital and second largest city, Regina, is the original headquarters and birthplace of the famous Royal North-West Mounted Police, affectionately known as Mounties. Saskatchewan is made up of prairie in the south, while the north comprises boreal forest, rolling hills and the majority of the province's 100,000 lakes and rivers.

Europeans first reached the land in 1690, with the province now boasting a rich Scottish connection and even provincial tartan. Saskatchewan proudly educates visitors on its history, with its 250 or so museums covering the stories and cultures of indigenous tribes such as the Sioux, Saulteaux, Athabaskan and Cree. There are also cultural landmarks and plenty of other attractions in the city of Saskatoon, which is a centre of nearly 250,000 people. The site of the North-West Rebellion's Battle of Batoche remains a tourist favourite, as does the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.

Travellers must come prepared for the climate as Saskatchewan experiences both some of the highest and lowest recorded temperatures in Canada. Northern Saskatchewan has a subarctic climate. Temperatures range from highs of 79°F (26°C) in the summer to an average of 0°F (-18°C) in the winter.

While it's a treasure trove of cultural delights and historical intrigue, most visitors to Saskatchewan come to get away from it all and enjoy its wide, clear skies, wildlife and tranquillity.