Travel

The Essential Itinerary: Winter in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Uncover the magic of a Canadian winter in the prairies through frozen-river adventures, comforting cuisine and snow-covered landscapes

Published Nov 28, 2025
Updated Dec 04
533 words
3 minutes

By Jenn Smith Nelson

Saskatoon has a variety of outdoor winter activities, such as skiing, snowboarding, tubing and exploring nature trails. (Photo: Sikpics/Discover Saskatoon)

A ribbon of fresh snow unspools behind you as you glide your kicksled along the Meewasin Trail. Light snowflakes cascade onto riverbank thickets of wolf willow. The aroma of coffee beckons while skaters loop circles on a nearby rink. Ducking into a cosy café, you sip heat back into your body and embrace the beauty of a prairie winter. Welcome to winter in Saskatoon.

DAY 1

9 A.M. | Play, Prairie-style

Let your inner child loose at Optimist Hill’s community-run slopes, with exhilarating snow tubing, sledding, skiing and a terrain park for jumps and tricks. Or head to a quieter neighbourhood park like Arbor Creek, one of 28 city tobogganing spots.

Sipping on hot tea from Botté Chai Bar is a great way to warm up in cold weather. (Photo courtesy Botté Chai Bar)

1 p.m. | Sweet sustenance

While away an hour at Botté Chai Bar with a cup of Persian tea infused with cardamom and rose petals, and indulge your sweet tooth with their baklava or saffron rice pudding.

7 p.m. | Riverview skate

Cap off your evening in Saskatoon gliding under the enchanting glow of the “castle on the river” at the Cameco Meewasin skating rink in front of the iconic Bessborough hotel.

Fly across a frozen lake while trying a snow-kiting or winging lesson with Escape Sports.(Photo courtesy Escape Sports)

DAY 2

9 a.m. | Choose your adventure

Steps from your hotel, stroll or rent kick- sleds from Escape Sports to explore the Meewasin Trail, which winds under bridges and through scenic parks on both sides of the river. Or try skin-based skis, a snowshoe-ski hybrid, and carve tracks at Cranberry Flats Conservation Area. Fancy something wilder? Book a private snow-kiting or winging lesson to experience the thrill of flying across a frozen lake.

1 p.m. | Mid-afternoon meraki

The philosophy behind Filosophi, a family-run spot serving up Mediterranean classics with a west-coast flare, is meraki, a Greek word expressing the love and enjoyment one has for what they do. Taste it for yourself by indulging in flaming saganaki, a Greek classic made with creamy, salty kefalograviera cheese.

Every dumpling from Sulu is handmade using freshly rolled dough and thoughtfully chosen ingredients. (Photo courtesy Sulu)

6 p.m. | From Asia with love

At Sulu, owner Andy Yuen transports you straight to Asia. Beneath the
warm red glow of lanterns, share mushroom bao buns, hand-pinched dumplings or tom yum shrimp sushi paired with a lucky-rabbit cocktail or the fruity, crisp red lantern mocktail.

DAY 3

10 a.m. | Relax and reset

Drive 30 minutes south to Blackstrap Provincial Park to embrace presence and connection during a guided trek along forest trails and frozen lakeshore. Then, warm up in a secluded wooden barrel sauna.

6 p.m. | Prairie whisky under the stars

Finish off your Saskatoon sojourn outside city limits at Black Fox Farm & Distillery. After a quick whisky-making primer, crunch over the moonlit snow to a field where rows of oak barrels breathe and age under the watchful eye of Mother Nature. Then, return indoors to partake in a tasting of whisky drawn straight from the air-chilled source.

Where to stay

Book a river-view room at Park Town Hotel, steps from the Meewasin Trail and downtown dining. On frigid mornings, the steam rising from the fast-flowing South Saskatchewan River is a breathtaking sight.

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