Trans Canada Trail in Saskatchewan Canada

Hiking Trails of Douglas Provincial Park

This family-friendly provincial park is situated on the southeast end of Lake Diefenbaker, just a 1.5 hour drive south of Saskatoon and a 2 hour drive west of Regina. Established in the 1960's and named after former Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas, this gorgeous green space features a long sandy shoreline, large wooded campsites, huge inland sand dunes, interpretive hiking trails, a boat launch, great fishing opportunities, several playgrounds, a park store, and more.

The well maintained and signed trails of Douglas Provincial Park have little elevation change and are easy to follow, making them a great place to begin your explorations of the Trans Canada Trail in Saskatchewan. Beyond that, the tunnels of aspen, open grasslands,  the spicy scent of sage in the air, sandy beaches, and wooden boardwalks are among the highlights. However, during our visit in July we spotted mule deer, white-tailed deer, beavers, and a variety of birds including Pileated Woodpeckers, Cedar Waxwings, Gray Catbirds, Bald Eagles, American White Pelicans, Sanderlings, and Baird's Sandpipers.

Douglas to Elbow

At the boundary of the park, the generally well marked Piping Plover Trail leads hikers through cottage country along the shores of Lake Diefenbaker. A well-placed bench in the Mistusinne 150 Park provides a great place to take a break and enjoy panoramic views out over the deep blue waters of the lake. Next, enjoy the cool breezes wafting in off the water on a sandy track that winds among the rolling grassy hills high above the shores of the lake. A short jaunt inland through pristine farmland eventually rewards trail users with breathtaking views out over the Elbow Marina far below, with its bustling activity and graceful row of sailboats.

At one end of the bustling and prosperous resort community of Elbow the marina and Harbour Golf Course and Resort form a busy recreational hub. The 18-hole championship golf course offers fine dining at its award-winning restaurant, where patrons can enjoy stunning views over the harbour. Furthermore, down below, the marina offers access to the lake for sailboats, fishing boats, and recreational watercraft. In the distance, at the other end of Elbow, a wooden grain elevator towers over the original townsite. Here visitors have a chance to learn about local history at the Elbow and District Museum, which features a full-scale replica of a sod house. In addition, the community also offers a full range of amenities and accommodations, making this a great place to spend the night before continuing on to Danielson Provincial Park.

Elbow Trans Canada Trail in Saskatchewan Canada

From the lookout point above the Elbow Harbour to the townsite 7 km to the west, the well signed and immaculately maintained Elbow Trail provides hikers, cyclists, and sightseers alike with a rigorous workout. A steep but well-used footpath takes hikers around the bustling marina, over a footbridge, and then past the golf course restaurant which is a great spot to stop for a meal or refreshments. A paved walkway borders the marina, and then a lovely gravel trail winds through the golf course before undulating up onto exposed grassy hills and then down into treed coulees as it follows the lakeshore. Well-placed benches along the trail allow for frequent breaks with panoramic views over the water on this portion of the Trans Canada Trail in Saskatchewan Canada.

Elbow to Danielson Provincial Park

The stretch of Trans Canada Trail in Saskatchewan Canada from Elbow to Danielson Provincial Park takes you through rolling fields of grain that seem to reach from horizon to horizon. The vast and endless sky stretches out above you, providing that quintessential prairie experience of open space and unbroken horizons. In addition mule deer graze in the treed valleys and Northern Harriers soar majestically overhead. Therefore as you approach the park, you pass many old farm houses and outbuildings that tell the tale of past prairie struggles.

 Trails of Danielson Provincial Park 

This gorgeous provincial park opened in 1971 and features treed campsites, several sandy beaches, multiple boat launches, great fishing opportunities in Lake Diefenbaker, and hiking trails that wind through a variety of habitats, including grassland, sand dunes, and treed areas. It spans both sides of the Gardiner Dam, which is one of the largest embankment dams in the world. Furthermore, the park offers a Visitor's Center with interpretive displays for hydroelectric power generation and the Gardiner Dam in the northeastern portion of the park.