Trails

SASKATCHEWAN TRAILS

The following is a brief description of trails that are continuously maintained by dedicated volunteers. If you are unable to find trails near your community, check where Ski Clubs are located around the province. Some clubs have been unable to post their trail systems. Further, some communities groom trails, but have no organized clubs to offer services. We are working to remedy the situation, and will post the information as soon as it becomes available.

To find Trail Information nearest you, click the corresponding community name: Beauval, Canora, Duck Lake, Edam, Esterhazy, Humbodlt, Kamsack, Lloydminster, Lumsden, Melfort, Naicam, Pinehouse, Prince Albert, North Battleford, Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton

Sanderson Ski Trials (Beauval)

You can access Sanderson Ski Trails in Beauval from Saskatoon by taking a four-hour trip along Highway 155 – Shellbrooke – Big River – Green Lake – via Highway 55 to Beauval. You can access the trails from either the Charles Gauthier Arena, or turn at the second left on the Burnouf Ranch Road where you will find a warm up trailer with ski equipment available for general use. The trails are located at the on the west side of Highway 55 near the Department of Highways/ Natural Resources buildings.

The trails are located in beautiful Parkland-boreal forest and follow the Beaver River. They are set in a series of five loops that combine for a total ski of 22 km.

The loops within the trail consist of all levels of difficulty for everyone in the family, including extremely easy, moderate and very difficult. Skiers can enjoy relatively flat terrain or rolling hills with challenging turns. Warm-up facilities are available, as well as an abundance of three-pin skis, boots, and poles. Trails are groomed for 20 km of classic cross-country skiing, as well as 10 km of skate-skiing. Restaurants and lodgings can be found around Beauval.

The trails are highly rated by the Saskatchewan Ski Association and have been used to host a wide variety of provincial races and loppets. While snow conditions have been variable over the years, skiers can expect excellent ski trails by the middle of January. Skiers can bring their own water and food supplies and eat at the warm up centre, which also rents ski equipment.

For more information, phone the Beauval Cross Country Ski Club at (306) 288-2375 or visit www.crosscountrysask.ca/beauval/beauval.html

Good Spirit Trails (Canora and Yorkton)

The trails used by the Good Spirit Cross Country Ski Club are a short 30-minute drive from Yorkton and 20 minutes from Canora. The terrain is fairly hilly and well protected from the winds. There are several kilometres of trails that offer plenty of twists and turns. The trails are located in the aspen and black poplar forests, offering plenty of scenery.

The new shelter at Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park.

Saskatoon Ski Club - Eb’s Trail (Duck Lake)

Eb’s Trails are the "official" trails of the Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon. Located just north of Duck Lake on Highway 11 to Prince Albert, Eb's Trails offers an extraordinary cross-country ski experience close to the city.

There are many kilometers of groomed and track set ski trails winding through rolling forested terrain. The trail system is varied enough to allow skiers of all ages and abilities to have a wonderful experience. The system is accessible by two entrances both located on the west side of the highway, one entrance being approximately two kilometers north of the southernmost entrance. Both entrances have parking and a warm-up hut with indoor toilet facilities. Trail maintenance and upkeep of Eb's Trails and all facilities are performed by volunteers from the Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon.

The Nordic Ski Club Saskatoon is revitalizing Eb’s skiing and hiking trails with a system of highly visible sign posts and trail flags. Several club members have contributed funding for the project by "sponsoring" one or more trail signs. Each ownership decal is now on a post.

More information on the Eb’s Trails can be found at http://www.saskatoonnordicski.ca/. We also groom extensive trails on Wildwood Golf course in Saskatoon. There are 3 different trails that cover approx.15km. There are both Classic and skate trails groomed there by club members. More info can be found at http://skihiper.sasktelwebsite.net.

Edam Ski Trails

The Edam Ski Trails consist of the Dulwich ski area and the Horse Hill ski area. To reach the Dulwich ski area follow the signs along Highway 26 north of Edam. Park on the west approach near the crest of the hill, which is 2.1 km north of the picnic area. The ski trail is accessible immediately across the tracks.

The Dulwich ski area follows the east bank of the Turtle Creek. It provides enjoyable uphill and downhill undulation. The Edam Ski Club offers visitors a warm up facility and toilet at Dulwich Station, located on the ski course. The site features an excellent toboggan run with outdoor fire pit for those who don't ski.

To reach the Horse Hill ski area, follow the signs along Highway 26 north of Edam 7.4 km; turn west at the picnic area corner and follow the signs west 3.4 km to the trailhead at the Fort Pitt Trail cairn.

The Horse Hill ski area has over 10 km of groomed ski track. This trail is set through a half section of rolling and wooded terrain, and follows the original Fort-Pitt Carlton Trail. The Club also offers visitors a warm-up facility and toilet at Madeline's Manor, located on the ski course.

More information on the Edam Ski Trails can be found at laclare.sasktelwebsite.net/ski.html

Carlton/Dixon Trails (Humboldt)

Located in Humboldt are the fabulous Carlton or Dixon Ski Trail. Drive 10 km west of Humboldt, 5 km north at the UGG elevator, then 1 km west to experience the treed rolling hills made mostly for classical skiing. Ski the shorter 5 km loop, or the 9 and 13 km loops with larger hills on the difficult loop. Carlton Trail allows you to journey among the wildlife, including deer, owls, porcupines, and grouse.

It is believed Carlton Trail was established in 1810 when the Hudson Bay Company built a post at Fort Carlton, located between Edmonton and Red River. Humboldt, located on the intersection of highways #5 and #20, is now the "Biggest Town in Saskatchewan". The town has a population of 5,200, boasting over 150 businesses.

Snacks and lunch are available at the heated clubhouse, or bring your own lunch and step inside an old log cabin with a stove located on two of the loops. There is a small trail fee of $2/day per person.

Kamsack Trails
For information about skiing in the Kamsack area, please check their web site: kamsackskiclub.skitheduck.com/index.html

Lloydminster Ski Trails

The Land Rose Ski Area is located 16 km of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Highways 16 and 303. Follow the signs, and you should have no problem finding the trails.

The trails will satisfy all skiing abilities, whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or expert. Half of the trails are sheltered, and the other 50% are open. About 40% of the trails are suitable for skating.

The clubhouse is in a country one-room school building, which always provides a warm atmosphere and excellent view of the trailheads. It is open during weekends or by appointment. There is ample parking space, and plenty of signs on the trails. You can rent very good ski equipment, including skating skis, by the day or season. Group skiing for up to 25 people is welcomed by appointment.

There is a microwave on site for skiers to warm up their packed lunches. Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are free. There is also a concession where you can buy pop, chips, popcorn, and other treats.

Lumsden Ski Trail

If you turn left at the iron bridge when entering Lumsden town limits from the Saskatoon to Regina highway, you'll find yourself at the interesting 2.5 km ski trail.

The trail, half of which is on a creek bed, is well treed and holds snow well. The trail runs in and out of the creek bed at several places, which affords very modest hills. While it is primarily for local instruction and training, the trail is excellent for nice short ski, and has been set after most significant snow falls.

The majority of the Lumsden Trail is easy. The only difficult hill can be easily bypassed. None of the trail is further than a kilometer from the parking lot, and it is close to all of the amenities offered by the Town of Lumsden. More adventuresome skiers may wish to skate ski on Lumsden to Craven creek, which adjoins the trail.

Contact the Lumsden Nordic Ski Club at (306) 731-2496 for more information.

Gronlid Ski Trails (Melfort)

The Melfort Cross Country Ski Club, formed in 1986, developed and maintains the shelter and the Gronlid Ski Trails, which are situated nine km north and 2.5 km west of Gronlid. The Melfort Campground is also trackset each winter by the club and lighting is provided to facilitate night skiing. As a measure of appreciation and ski etiquette, there is also a loonie bin where skiers can leave a donation and a guest book for comments.

The Gronlid Ski Trails include eight ski trails; five are for novices, and three are for intermediate skiers. Ranging in distance from 1.4 km to 3.5 km, the novice trails take skiers through jackpine forest and features gradual inclines, and rolling terrain. The intermediate trails, ranging from 3.0 km to 3.6 km, wind through beautiful birch and popular trees. The steep downhill runs and stretches require herringbone and snowplow skills.

Wapiti Regional Park, which includes Alpine Ski Hill, is within a 10-minute drive from the Melfort Cross Country ski trails. There are cabins that can be rented at the hill. The city of Melfort also offers plenty of attractions and amenities.

Visit the website at: www.cityofmelfort.ca or call the Melfort Cross Country Ski Club at (306) 752-8888 for more information.

Kermaria Ski Trails (Naicam)

Members of the Naicam Ski Club outside their warming shelter.

Perfect for the beginner skier, Kermaria Cross Country Ski Trails offer excellent and extremely easy skiing trails. Travel seven miles on Highway #6, turn west on the grid road, and then go eight miles west. Turn north on the grid road, and go two miles north until you see the clubhouse near the grid road.

The five trails are all very simple, have no hills, and are tracked for classic skiing. Varying in distance from 1.5 km to 7.2 km, all trails are well sheltered by aspen forest.

The clubhouse is open and firewood is provided. Skiers enjoy the deer, elk, and moose that often visit the area. Another popular tourist attraction that is located one mile south of the trailhead is the Kermaria Catholic Church. While it is no longer in use, the church remains an important historical site as many French Catholics settled in the area during the early 1900s. Visitors can also watch for orange ribbons that mark a buffalo rubbing stone found on the north side of Trail #1.

Blue Mountain Outdoor Adventure Center (North Battleford)

The Blue Mountain Outdoor Adventure Center provides scenic landscapes and great trails for cross country and skate skiers. Blue Mountain is located approximately 30 minutes north east of North Battleford. Simply travel north from North Battleford on Highway #4 for 5 km, east on Highway #40 and then north on highway #687 until you reach the resort.

Blue Mountain includes 40 km of trails for cross country skiing and 20 km for skate skiing, at a small fee for either a day or annual membership. Both sets of the skiing trails range from low-to-high difficulty. Along the paths a variety of wildlife may appear including whitetail and mule deer, moose, porcupines, foxes, coyotes, rabbits, eagles, and Great Horned Owls. The trails have been host to the 1999 World Cross Country Skiing and the Provincial Cross Country Skiing Championships for numerous years.

Equipment rentals, with free ski rentals for children 10 and under, and lessons by CANSI Level 1 instructors are available. As well, a 3000 square foot log chalet provides an excellent warm-up area or a place to enjoy a fine meal. Individuals and groups are welcome, with special rates for school tours.

For those wishing to vacation at Blue Mountain, there are medium-to-large sized cabins, a hostel, and campgrounds to rent, all at reasonable prices. As well, Blue Mountain provides numerous outdoor activities for non-skiers such as: tobogganing, skating, snowboarding, dog sledding, telemarking, and snowmobiling.

For further information on the Blue Mountain Outdoor Adventure Center, please visit our website at www.adventuresask.com, or phone (306) 445-4941.

Pinehouse Lake

Members of the Minahik Waskahigan Ski Club are extremely fortunate to have easy access to their ski trails - they can ski right from home or school if they choose! Trails begin near the school grounds at Pinehouse Lake, and consist mostly of flat bush trail, and some muskeg. With current improvements being made to remove stumps and correct the uneven terrain, grooming will be much easier during the low snowfall years.

There is about 7 km of trail that exists for both classic skiing as well as skate-skiing. A shooting range for biathlons is currently under development. Skiers who like easy trails can choose from a shorter 2 km loop or a 5 km longer loop.

Rental ski equipment is available for a loonie, and visitors can relax in a heated building afterwards. Bring your imagination and sense of adventure!

Prince Albert Ski Club Trails

The Prince Albert Ski Club (PASC) maintains a trail network at Little Red River Park, located on Highway #55, just minutes east of the Diefenbaker Bridge that crosses the North Saskatchewan River.

PASC grooms and tracks over 35 km of classic and freestyle ski trails with the bulk of the trails designed for classic skiing. Our trails range from novice to expert in difficulty and run through predominantly jack pine and spruce forest.

You can choose to ski our shortest trail, the Sports Council Loop (novice), at 1.3 km, or plan a route that contains several loops, such as the River-West-Tower-Kristi loop ( ~ 15 km, intermediate-expert) or the River-East Poplar (~ 10 km, novice-intermediate) loop. Both the River Trail (5 km) and Sports Council Loop are lit for night skiing.

The Cosmopolitan (Cosmo) Lodge, located in the core area of the Little Red River Park, is open seven days a week and provides skiers with a concession, washrooms, and warm-up area. PASC information, including trail maps, trail conditions, and membership information is available at the Lodge.

For further information, including a trail map and conditions, visit the PASC web site.

White Butte Ski Trails (Regina)

Located about 20 kilometers east of Regina and two kilometers north of White City, the ski trails are situated within the provincial White Butte Recreation Site provided by Saskatchewan Environment's Parks Branch. While summer use includes hiking and nature viewing, winter use is primarily Nordic skiing. Through a formal agreement, the Regina Ski Club conducts ski-trail maintenance. Frequent grooming required for high quality trails is expensive. In the absence of trail fees, users are encouraged to support the trailhead cash-box daily, or make a seasonal donation by mail to the Regina Ski Club.

White Butte features approximately 12 kilometers of high quality ski trails within a treed sandhill complex. This trail system is 80 per cent sheltered and 20 per cent open and suitable for beginners to experts. While the Marsh trail is an easy, 1.6 km trek, the Snow Berry and Cherry Hill trials offer 4 km of more challenging and difficult terrain. For moderate levels of skiing, check out the 6 km Sage, East Butte, Aspen and Willow trails. All trails are maintained for both classic and skating techniques through regular grooming.

Other amenities include a trailhead parking lot, warm-up hut and outdoor toilets. A separate parking lot and trail is available for hikers and pets, as neither are permitted on the winter ski trails for safety and trail maintenance reasons. A shooting range on the adjacent Regina Wildlife Federation Recreation Site is linked to the ski trail system to support biathlon activities.

The Regina Ski Club website provides location and trail maps, trail photos, and a regularly updated trail report on snow conditions with a "lost and found" list. "For a good time" check out www.reginaskiclub.ca

Kinsmen Park (Saskatoon)

The trails at Kinsmen Park in Saskatoon are located at Spadina Crescent and 25th Street. If you prefer an urban park setting for scenery, then you must ski at Kinsmen Park in Saskatoon. The trails are very easy and are located in a treed, well-lit park with exceptional accessibility. Skiers should bring along the usual skis, poles and water.

Esterhazy (Donald) Trails

The Donald Trails consist of 8 kilometers of intermediate-expert scenic valley trails that wind around the vicinity of the hiking trails near the Esterhazy Golf Course and 12 km of novice-intermediate north trails.  Short loops within the trails make it ideal for the beginner or those with limited time to ski. The 20 kilometers of groomed classic trails are well maintained by a group of dedicated volunteers and are easily accessible from 4 points:

1. One km east of Esterhazy on Highway #80, turn north on the landfull access road and west 1 km. at the fork on the north side of the road;
2. On the west side of Merit Ford;
3. North on Sumner Street, 1st right out of town past the cemetery by the former downhill ski chalet;
4. At the swimming pool/golf course area.

New to our club is 6 kilometers of skate ski trails that are accessible by Merit Ford, as well as by the ski hut (access #1).  Volunteers also groom a ski playground area (near the ski hut) that is used for coaching the children’s ski programs.

Clubhouse:
Our ski hut sits on the north side of the landfill site access road (see map), but is not visible from the road. The town maintains clearing of snow in this area. The clubhouse has a wood stove, plenty of wood, a fire pit, porta-potti and seating areas inside and out of the hut. Some ski equipment, a hot plate and hot beverages are available for use. A 16x24 ski chalet was moved into the area in the 2007/08 season offering more space, with future hope of a waxing station & a larger area for group activities.

Cross Country Saskatchewan
1860 Lorne Street, Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2L7
Phone: (306) 780-9240 • Fax: (306) 781-6021
Email: ccs@sasktel.net
 
 

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