Heart of the Old Northwest - Tourism Saskatchewan

Heart of the Old Northwest
History lives again on this three-day tour, where you’ll hear tall tales, discover
famous artists and visit forgotten battle sites.
The jump-off point for your Heart of the Old
Northwest tour is Saskatoon, Saskatchewan’s
largest city. You’ll spend Day #1 exploring
this beautiful city on the river. Enjoy a walk on the
Meewasin Trail, stop in at the shops and cafés of
downtown Saskatoon, take a river cruise or visit the
excellent galleries and museums.
The Western Development
Museum/1910 Boomtown features a
full scale replica of Main Street, as well
as a fascinating Transportation Gallery.
The Ukrainian Museum of Canada
showcases a colourful culture – don’t
miss the fabulous collection of textiles.
A short drive north on Hwy 11 is
Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a national
historic site that celebrates the unique
legacy of more than 6,000 years of Northern
Berry Barn Eatery and Gift Shop, Saskatoon
Plains Indians. After checking out ongoing
archaeological digs, cultural events, displays and
interpretive trails, grab an authentic First Nations
snack or meal in the restaurant.
Back in the city, you can explore more recent local
history at the Meewasin Valley Centre & Gift Shop. Top
off your first day with a scenic Shearwater Boat Cruise
on the South Saskatchewan River. Your first overnight
is in Saskatoon, where you’ll find a choice of
accommodations – deluxe hotels to serviced camping.
Get an early start on Day #2 because
there’s a lot to do and see!
Head northwest on the
Trans-Canada
Yellowhead Highway.
An optional side trip is north on Highway 340 to
Hafford – your gateway to the Redberry Lake
Biosphere Reserve. Saskatchewan’s only UNESCO site
is an ecological treasure! The large saline lake is a
nesting site for the American White Pelican, Piping
Plover, White-Winged Scoter and Double Crested
Cormorant, among others. It’s also on the Whooping
Crane migration route. Boat tours are a grand way
to explore, but there are walking trails, too.
TRAVEL ITINERARY 3 DAY
From here, follow Hwy 40 west through the rolling
Thickwood Hills to the Battlefords. Once the
government seat of the vast North-West Territory,
today it comprises the historic town of Battleford and
the very modern city of North Battleford. Or, remain
on Highway 16 to North Battleford.
At the Battleford branch of the Western Development
Museum/Heritage Farm & Village you can get a taste
LENGTH
3 days
DISTANCES (approximate)
Day #1 – Saskatoon
Day #2 – 155 km
(Saskatoon - Battlefords)
Day #3 – 202 km
(Battlefords - Lloydminster)
of early life on the prairie frontier. See works by
the renowned Cree artist Allen Sapp at the Allen
Sapp Gallery. Tour the marvellous collections
of firearms and military uniforms at the Fred
Light Museum.
Fort Battleford National Historic Site is a mustsee.
It commemorates the role of North West
Mounted Police (NWMP) in the west. Discover the
part it played during the “siege” of Battleford in the
North West Resistance of 1885. Costumed guides and
interpretive displays bring this tragic period to life.
After overnighting in the Battlefords, Day #3 will
have you heading north on Hwy 4 to the junction of
Hwy 26. Turn northwest to St. Walburg, a tiny
hamlet that was home to one of North America’s
continues on reverse…

most respected religious artist/decorators – Count
Berthold von Imhoff. His magnificent oil paintings
are on display in the Imhoff Museum, which is the
restored studio on his farm. More are on display at
St. Walburg & District Historical Museum.
Travelling west on Hwy 3, take the turn north to
Frenchman Butte National Historic Site. Here, you
can still see the gun pits from a skirmish of the
North West Resistance. Further west on Grid 797,
interpretive cairns mark the site of Fort Pitt
Provincial Historic Park, established as a fur trade
outpost in 1829 and later used as a NWMP post.
Leaving the echoes of long-ago battles behind, begin
the last leg of your Heart of the Old Northwest
journey. Drive south on Hwy 17 to Lloydminster, the
only city in Canada to straddle a provincial border.
Enjoy the vacation comforts of Bud Miller All
Seasons Park, the many displays of the Barr Colony
Heritage Cultural Centre and of course all the
amenities two provinces can offer.
Sights to see…
Saskatoon
The Diefenbaker Canada Centre
306-966-8384
Emerald Casino
888-931-9333
Saskatchewan Craft Gallery
306-653-3616
Barn Playhouse and Craft Barn
306-239-4600
Saskatoon Zoo &
Forestry Farm Park
306-975-3382
Canadian Light Source Inc.
306-657-3500
Western Development
Museum/1910 Boomtown
1-800-363-6345 or 306-931-1910
Ukrainian Museum of Canada
306-244-3800
Wanuskewin Heritage Park
306-931-6767
Shearwater Boat Cruises
1-888-747-7572 or 306-549-2454
Berry Barn Eatery and Gift Shop
306-978-9797
Meewasin Valley Centre
and Gift Shop
306-665-6887
Mendel Art Gallery &
Civic Conservatory
306-975-7610
Shakespeare on the
Saskatchewan Festival
306-653-2300
Battlefords
Gold Eagle Casino
1-877-446-3833 or 306-446-3833
Western Development Museum/
Heritage Farm and Village
306-445-8033
Allen Sapp Gallery/
The Gonor Collection
306-445-1760
Fred Light Museum &
Tourist Information Centre
306-937-7111
Fort Battleford National
Historic Site of Canada
306-937-2621
St. Walburg
Imhoff Museum & Art Gallery
306-248-3812
St. Walburg & District
Historical Museum
306-248-3848
Frenchman Butte
Frenchman Butte Historic Site
306-344-4478
Fort Pitt Provincial Historic Park
1-800-205-7070 or 306-837-2410
Lloydminster
Bud Miller All Seasons Park
780-875-4497
Barr Colony Heritage
Cultural Centre
306-825-5655
1.877.2ESCAPE / www.sasktourism.com