Southern Saskatchewan - Tourism Saskatchewan

Cypress Hills/Grassla
Saskatchewan’s well-deserved tag
line is “Land of Living Skies”, and
anyone who has ever had an
opportunity to watch and marvel at the
constantly changing expanse of wide
blue yonder knows how appropriate
that catch phrase is.
The Cypress Hills/Grasslands region
satisfies just about everyone’s vision of
the range country of the Old West.
Under the never-ending variations of
cloud and shadow are the softly rolling
native grasslands, the rugged cliffs and
deep coulees of our childhood dreams,
where cattle and buffalo roamed and
the winds blew unchecked from horizon
to horizon, just as they did when the
first explorers visited.
Experience untouched prairie when you
visit the Old Man On His Back Nature
Conservancy, located southwest of
Eastend. This 13,000 acre ranch is one
of the best remaining examples of the
semi-arid mixed grass prairie that
originally covered more than 160 million
acres.
It’s a haven for wildlife rarely seen by
most Canadians, including Plains
Bison, Pronghorn Antelope, and
imperiled species such as the
Burrowing Owl and Ferruginous Hawk.
An interpretive centre is open
weekends from mid-May to the end of
September.
The land for this remarkable preserve
was donated by best-selling author and
playwright Sharon Butala and her
cowboy-rancher husband Peter. Many
visitors to the site take home their
memories with a copy of Sharon’s
book, “Old Man On His Back: Portrait
of a Prairie Landscape” with stunning
colour photographs by award-winning
photographer Courtney Milne.
Star gazers create their own
unforgettable outdoor memories in the
Cypress Hills/Grasslands area thanks to
the clear night skies and absence of city
light pollution. Each August, the
Saskatoon and Regina Centres of the
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
welcome visitors from around the world
for the annual Saskatchewan Summer
Star Party, with all-night-long observation
sessions in the Centre Block of
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park and
Dark Sky Preserve. Sky watching
opportunities are also incredible at the
Wilkinson Observatory, south of Eastend
on Hwy #13, .as well as under the dark
skies of Grasslands National Park.
There’s no lack of daytime activities to
enjoy in the area either. Overlooking the
town of Eastend and the beautiful
Frenchman River Valley, the T.rex
Discovery Centre displays the working
science of palaeontology and provides
visitors the opportunity to participate in
hands-on activities and view real fossils
Or, take in the unusual and exciting
activities offered by Cypress Hills Eco-
Adventures Ltd. This new attraction
takes you through the treetops of
Cypress Hills on a zip line canopy tour!
Once your feet touch back down,
check out their climbing wall and
slacklines to challenge your skills,
strength and balance!
10 Southern Saskatchewan Vacation Guide 2012/2013