There are lots of places to snowshoe in Saskatoon.  All along the Meewasin is usually good, as are most of the golf courses.  Parks or open areas near the edge of the city are great too.  

Here is a graphic of some of the places we enjoy on snowshoes.  They generally have the best scenery and the most variation in topography, and are great places to enjoy wildlife if you're quiet.  If you scroll down past the image, we've outlined some great places to snowshoe a little further afield.

There are many more great places to snowshoe if you don't mind driving an hour or two out of town.  Since you don't need a groomed trail, the opportunities are all over the place.  Here's a few to get started:

Eb's Trails

A beloved area for skiers, hikers and snowshoers.  There are 52km of classic ski trails among the mixed forest here, and dedicated snowshoe trails that loop from both parking lots.  The terrain is rolling and some trails have short steep sections to keep things interesting.  There are two huts near the parking lots, each with a wood burning stove you can light for a cozy warm-up.  Please do not let dogs walk on the ski trails.

Directions: drive about 100km north of the city on Highway 11 towards Prince Albert.  After you enter the Nisbet Forest you will see a small sign picturing a cross country skier on the right hand side.  There are two entrances to the trails: via a South and a North parking lot, each of which is west of the highway.  

Little Red River Park

This beautiful area of aspen and jackpine woods has designated snowshoe trails which are dog-friendly.  There is lots of country here to explore with decent hills and the Spruce River cutting through the middle.  Please do not walk on the groomed ski trails.

Directions: from Prince Albert, drive north on Highway 2.  After you cross the bridge turn east on Highway 55.  The park entrance is about 3km along, on the north side of the highway.

Douglas Provincial Park

On the southern end of Lake Diefenbaker, Douglas Park is far less busy in winter than summer but offers lots of area to explore by snowshoe.  The park has 27km of trails that includes a section of the Trans Canada Trail running along the lake, but for some adventure try snowshoeing inland a few kilometers to the active sand dunes.

Directions: drive south of Saskatoon towards Elbow.  Access to Douglas Park is off Highway 19; there are parking lots and a campground adjacent to the highway.

Blackstrap Provincial Park

Close to Saskatoon, Blackstrap has a small but attractive and mostly forested area along the lake that is perfect for snowshoeing.  A 5km ski trail loops through it, so avoid this.  The whole area is dog friendly and you get great views across the lake from the high points.

Directions: drive south about 40 minutes on the highway to Regina.  You'll see Mount Blackstrap as you get near.  Follow the signs and turn east on Highway 211, it will take a few turns and then cross the lake.  Turn right after crossing; this road will bring you to a parking area and trailhead.

River Ridge Trails 

Located just north of Langham and only a half hour drive from Saskatoon, River Ridge has a network of multi-use trails running along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. These dog-friendly trails are popular with cross country skiers, hikers, fat bikers and snowshoers. The terrain is rolling with nice views across the valley and lots of wildlife. The friendly folks at River Ridge put lots of effort into this trail system and you can donate directly or buy a membership to help them out.

Directions: drive about a half hour west of Saskatoon along Highway 16. Turn into the town of Langham on Range Road 3074 and head north. About 3.2 km past the railway tracks you'll see a sign for the trails; turn west and drive 1.6 km to the parking area at the the bottom of the hill.

Prince Albert National Park

PA Park has about 8 trails that are designated for snowshoeing in the winter time. The Spruce River Highlands trail is always a winner.  Off trail there is so much area and a lot of fun creek valleys you could spend weeks here and always have somewhere new to try. Other popular trails are Boundary Bog and Kingsmere River which are shorter than Spruce River Highlands. The Park has information on snowshoeing in the area with updated trail reports.

Directions:  PA Park is about 2.5 hours north of Saskatoon on Highway 2.  Take the south entrance or the north entrance into the Park depending on where you plan on snowshoeing.