Northern Sport, Culture and Recreation District
Boreal Trail- Meadow Lake Provincial Park 
Advisory: Due to the October 2016 and April 2017 snow storms all trails within the park have a significant amount of fallen trees on them and users must use extreme caution. Please contact the park administration office for further instructions at 306-236-7680 or 306-236-7617.
The Boreal Trail – which is the only destination backpacking trail in one of Saskatchewan’s provincial parks – is located within the picturesque Meadow Lake Provincial Park in Northern Saskatchewan. The trail, which extends 150 km and was officially opened in 2011, is suited for more advanced hikers, mountain bikers and backpackers, due to the challenging and often rugged terrain. However, those that venture along the path, either on a single or multi-day adventure, will find that it is well worth the effort. Spectacular views of crystal clear lakes, the Waterhen River, beautiful wildflowers, and expansive forests filled with spruce, birch, jack pine and poplar await you along the Boreal Trail.
The area is home to a variety of wildlife, including black bear, woodpeckers, moose, wolf, beaver, warblers and red squirrels. Back-country campsites are available throughout the trail for $11 per night per tent and include BBQ pits, bear-proof food lockers and pit toilets. Visitors can also access any of the eight front-country campgrounds that are accessible from the trail. Some of these campgrounds include places where you can buy supplies and have access to hot showers.
The trail system is a mixture of old roads and trails and existing hiking trails. Out of the total 150 km within the system, only 11km is new trail. Overall, the Boreal Trail in the Meadow Lake Provincial Park has everything you need to enjoy a wonderful trail excursion this year.
Tips: wear sturdy footwear; bring a camera and all necessary supplies for your tour; watch out for and stay away from wildlife (make noise so that the animals will know that you are there); travel in groups; and prepare for fluctuating weather conditions.
Note: For your safety, you must register before entering or camping along the Boreal Trail and inform park staff when leaving the area. After registering, the park will provide you with GPS coordinates for the trail, including the campsites and campgrounds. Fires are not allowed in non-designated back-country campsites along the trails; however, camping is permitted in non-designated campsites.
We have a four part series about running the Boreal Trail posted on our blog. You can check out the link here.
DISCLAIMER: Individuals travel the trails at their own risk. The Saskatchewan Trails Association cannot be held liable or responsible if the above trail conditions or information changes. Please contact the Meadow Lake Provincial Park to confirm the current state of the trail system.
Trail Stats
Length: 150 km
Difficulty: Advanced
Wheelchair accessible: No
Activities: Hiking, mountain biking, backpacking
Surface: natural terrain
Amenities: back-country campsites, featuring pit toilets, BBQ pits and bear-proof food lockers; trail connects to eight front-country campgrounds in the park that offer locations to purchase supplies and hot showers
Location: Meadow lake Provincial Park
Closest Community: Pierceland, Goodsoil, Dorintosh
Trailhead GPS: contact MLPP
Contact Info: Meadow Lake Provincial Park, call (306) 236-7680 or email meadowlake@gov.sk.ca or visit www.saskparks.net/borealtrail
La Ronge and Area Trails 
The La Ronge area boasts 14 main trails, with several of the trails broken down into smaller segments, making this region an excellent place for people of all ages and abilities to get out and enjoy the trails.
The Montreal River Trail (4 km) is a beginner and intermediate walking and snowshoeing pathway; however, it is not as well-maintained as some of the trails in the area. The La Ronge Avenue Lane (7.25 km) features four smaller pathways that are designed for beginner and intermediate walkers and cyclists. The JRMCC Connector (3.8 km) is also a walking and snowshoeing trail for inexperienced and moderately skilled users. Meanwhile, a beautiful hiking trail for beginners – the Devil Lake Hiking Trail (2.5 km) – can be found along the shores of Devil Lake connecting the Churchill River and Devil Lake Campgrounds in the Lac La Ronge Provincial Park.
The Old Town Air Ronge loops (3.3 km) also provide excellent opportunities for beginner walkers and cyclists. The Town of La Ronge trail loops (12.25 km) offer easy to intermediate level walking and cycling paths, while inexperienced individuals can try snowshoeing and hiking along the Nipickamew Sand Cliffs (1.3 km) and the Nemeiben Lake Interpretive Trail (1.5 km).
The most difficult walking and hiking trails are located along the Nut Point Trail (30) and the Trail North of Vander-Kracht Park (2.75 km). The Nut Point Trail is well-groomed and marked; however, a compass or GPS will help guide you through the area, which features a couple of canoe portages. Camping is allowed along the trail, but there are no marked campsites or facilities for users. Meanwhile, the Trail North of Vander-Kracht Park is a narrow, more difficult trail that is designed for hiking and snowshoeing.
Cross-country skiing is a popular activity in the area, and there are several trails for users to enjoy. The Nut Point Campground Loops (5 km) offer well-groomed, easy to moderate classic and skate skiing trails. These trails are also designed for snowshoeing, walking and cycling. The Saskaloppet Ski Trail (32.5 km) provides easy trails for classic cross-country skiers, as well as walkers and hikers. You will also find some of Western Canada’s best cross-country ski trails at the Don Allen Trails (10 km). These trails are fairly easy to navigate and are perfect for snowshoeing, hiking and mountain biking.
Beautifully groomed snowmobile trails are also located along the Old Town Air Ronge – Gordon Denny Loop and the Trail North of Vander-Kracht Park trails.
DISCLAIMER: Individuals travel the trails at their own risk. The Saskatchewan Trails Association cannot be held liable or responsible if the above trail conditions or information changes. Please contact either Woodlands & Waterways or the Lac La Ronge Provincial Park to confirm the current state of the trail system.
The SaskHiker has a few different Lac La Ronge excursions on his blog. View his adventures on his website.
Creighton Walking Trails
The Town of Creighton, which is on the border between Saskatchewan and Manitoba, features beautiful walking paths that allow users to enjoy the sights and sounds of the North East. There are two main trails in the surrounding area; Flinty’s Boardwalk and the recently developed Community Connections Walking Path.
Flinty’s Boardwalk is located in Flin Flon, MB and allows visitors to stroll along the beautiful Ross Lake. The Community Connections Walking Path also connects the two communities of Creighton, SK and Flin Flon, MB and is an excellent path to travel along as it is well-lit, maintained and has a great view of the HBM&S mining site.
The Creighton area is also a canoe and kayak enthusiast’s dream come true as it boasts numerous lakes and rivers that are ideal locations for water adventures. Routes are available for canoeists and kayakers of all abilities, and trail maps are available through the Creighton Tourism Office.
Creighton and its surrounding area are home to a variety of amenities and attractions, including the Royal Northwest Mounted Police Post Museum, a beautiful beach, golf course, petting zoo, drive-in theatre, the Northern Visual Arts Centre, a wildlife sanctuary, spray pool, parks, baseball diamonds, restaurants, accommodations and service stations.
DISCLAIMER: Individuals travel the trails at their own risk. The Saskatchewan Trails Association cannot be held liable or responsible if the above trail conditions or information changes. Please contact the Creighton Tourism Office to confirm the current state of the trails.
Trail Stats
Length (Flinty’s Boardwalk): – 4.3 km
Length (Community Connections Walking Path): 2.5km
Difficulty: Beginner to intermediate
Activities: walking
Surface: natural terrain, wood covered boardwalk
Wheelchair accessible: Flinty’s Boardwalk only
Area amenities: trail markers, restaurants, gas station, accommodations, museum, spray pool, parks, baseball diamond, tennis and basketball courts
Location: Creighton area, North East Saskatchewan
Closest Town: Creighton
Trailhead GPS:
Contact Info: Creighton Tourism Office, call (306) 688-3538, email townofcreighton@sasktel.net or visit www.townofcreighton.ca
McLennan Canoe Trails
The McLennan Lake Area in North Central Saskatchewan offers beautiful and exciting canoe trails that are perfect for individuals and families of all ages and abilities. Currently, there are 26 canoe trails in the area that run between 2.5 km to 83 km in length and are fairly easy to navigate. Some of the routes can be traveled in one day, while others will require several days to complete.
McLennan Lake, which is 22.5 km long, is the main starting point for the trail routes. Portage points connect McLennan Lake to several other outstanding, calm, pristine lakes, including Versailles Lake, Davis Lake, Driediger Bay, and Hutchings Lake. Excellent campsites are located throughout the trails, and visitors will be treated to the sights and sounds of Saskatchewan’s Boreal Forest, which boasts picturesque views, granite rock formations, dense forests and a wide variety of plant, bird and animal species. Trout and northern pike are also found throughout the region, making it an enticing fishing location.
Visitors are encouraged to park their vehicles at the service station located at the McLennan Lake launch point before heading out onto the trails. Remember to respect the wildlife in the area and keep your distance from them at all times. Please do not create your own campsites, leave the area as you found it, and take out everything that you packed in. If you do not wish to camp along the trails, rustic rental cabins are available at Bear’s Camp, which is on the shores of McLennan Lake.
Guided canoe trips, rental equipment, lessons, accommodations, maps and supplies can also be purchased through the Churchill River Canoe Outfitters in Missinipe. For more information, visit www.churchillrivercanoe.com.
DISCLAIMER: Individuals travel the trails at their own risk. The Saskatchewan Trails Association cannot be held liable or responsible if the above trail conditions or information changes. Please contact the Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport to confirm the current state of the trail system.
Trail Stats
Length: Canoe trails vary between 2.5 km to 83 km
Difficulty: All levels
Activities: Canoeing, fishing
Surface: Lakes are connected by natural portage sites
Amenities: campsites, rental cabins, supplies
Location: Saskatchewan’s Far North
Closest Community: Missinipe
Trailhead GPS:
Contact Info: Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport, call 1-800-205-7070 or email info.tpcs@gov.sk.ca.
Gem Lakes- Narrow Hills Provincial Park 
An abundance of trails are available in the Narrow Hills Provincial Park area, including those for hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, ATVing and snowmobiling.
The Narrow Hills Scenic Drive is an interpretive trail that is open to mountain bikers, hikers and snowmobilers; however, it is also open to vehicles, so please use caution when travelling this trail. The Scenic Drive trail features several curves, breathtaking views of the boreal forest and the area’s many lakes, and a museum that was once a former park Ranger Station.
The provincial park also boasts more than 200 km of high quality, groomed snowmobile trails that feature a gas station and warm-up shelters for trail users. Although hikers and mountain bikers are welcome to use these trails, visitors should watch out for water covered areas in the spring, summer and fall that may be difficult to cross at times, depending on the trail user’s experience and fitness level.
Hikers will also enjoy travelling along the Island Lake Hiking Trail and the Gem Lakes Hiking Trails, which are both roughly 6 km long. The Island Lake trail is a fairly easy trail to follow as it is wider and features a sandy terrain. This area features an abundance of black spruce and jackpine trees and is a great place to see moose and deer that frequent the area. Meanwhile, the Gem Lakes interpretive trails are designed for more advanced hikers as there are some challenging, steeper sections you’ll need to climb. The trip will be worth it, though, as users will be treated to picturesque scenery, have the opportunity to spend the night at some wilderness campsites along the trail, and will likely encounter some of the wildlife and bird species that call the park home, including beavers and black bears.
Within the park alone there are 25 bodies of water and dozens more surround the park, making it an ideal location for canoe and kayak adventures. There are also a series of remote trails that wind in and around the waterways (both in and outside of the park; many of which are unmaintained) that provide excellent ATV opportunities.
Also located outside the park is the Esker Trail that joins Lower Fishing Lake to Mackay Lake and a couple of campsites at Grace Lakes. This trail is not well maintained, though, and is only intended for advanced hikers. Guided tours of this trail are available through local outfitter organizations.
Note: visitors should bring plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, proper footwear and clothing, and GPS equipment or a compass with them when travelling the trails. Visitors are also asked to use caution and respect the wildlife in the area.
Our summer student blogged about her adventures in Narrow Hills Provincial Park. You can read about her experience here.
The SaskHiker also makes some recommendations from his experiences in Narrow Hills Provincial park. You can read about his adventures on his website.
DISCLAIMER: Individuals travel the trails at their own risk. The Saskatchewan Trails Association cannot be held liable or responsible if the above trail conditions or information changes. Please contact Narrow Hills Provincial Park to confirm the current state of the trail system.
Trail Stats
Length: over 210 km
Difficulty: Beginner to advanced
Wheelchair accessible: No
Activities: Hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, snowmobiling, ATVing
Surface: Natural and sandy terrain, as well as groomed snowmobile trails
Amenities (trail): Warm-up shelters on snowmobile trails, interpretive signs, museum, parking, wilderness campsites
Amenities (park): Boat launches, beach, fishing, picnic sites, swimming, boating, accommodations, restaurants, gas station, boat rentals, convenience store
Location: Narrow Hills Provincial Park
Closest Community: Smeaton
Trailhead GPS:
Contact Info: Narrow Hills Provincial Park, call (306) 426-2622, email narrow.hills@gov.sk.ca, or visit www.saskparks.net
Have you had an adventure on one of the trails in the Northern Sport, Culture and Recreation District?
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Our community lost a trailblazer yesterday when Cathy Watts passed away. Cathy was a long-time cycling enthusiast and trail advocate. When the concept of the Trans Canada Trail was proposed, Cathy formed the Parkland TCT Group to assist with the development of the trail in the Saskatoon area. She was asked to be part of the TCT advisory committee that the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association established to coordinate the development of Saskatchewan’s portion of the trail. This committee evolved into the Saskatchewan Trails Association.
Cathy was a long-time board member of our association and served as President from 2010-14. One of her highlights as President was reaching an agreement with the TCT for the STA to serve as the project manager for the TCT in this province. For years, she wrote articles on the benefits of trails in the SPRA newsletter and hosted board meetings in her living room. Everyone enjoyed her delicious cooking and break time snacks. Cathy later served on the Saskatchewan TCT Committee and became chair of Saskatoon Cycles. She continued to remain involved in the STA and recently organized a fundraising event at Outter Limits to support the Churchill River Water Trail Legacy Project. She also helped organize a raffle to support this project.
Cathy’s final words can be viewed here: necrocanada.com/obituaries-2020/catherinechristinewatts-1948-2020/
