The river valley from the hills, the North Saskatchewan winding through

Things to Do

You could spend a weekend at Blue Sky Ranch without leaving your porch, and plenty of guests do. But the property rewards the curious. Trails, water, wildlife, and a few surprises are all within walking distance of wherever you're staying.

The Trails

Eighteen trails. Seven ways down to the river.

Eighteen named trails wind through the river hills, 8.5 kilometres in all, and seven of them reach the North Saskatchewan. They get mowed twice a year, and the network drops 71 metres from the yard down to the water.

Eagle Point Trail is the long one at 1.3 kilometres, running out to a lookout over the valley. The Fishing Loop is the short one, 55 metres from the bank and back. In between are Horseshoe, Buffalo Climb, River Run, Chokecherry Lane, Maple Shade, and Moose Path. Every one of the eighteen is on the interactive trail map, with its length and where it leads, and the same map prints or saves as a one-page PDF with a QR code back to the live version.

8.5 km of named trails
Groomed twice a year
Walking distance from every stay

A walking trail through rolling grass hills

On the Water

The river is the reward.

The North Saskatchewan runs along the property, with white sandbars, a swimming spot, and river views that run for miles in both directions. A wide trail leads down to the water. What you do when you get there is up to you.

A man fishing on a wide river in evening light

River Fishing

The river here holds sturgeon and walleye, and the sandbars make natural places to cast from. One of the trails is called the Fishing Loop, which tells you what it is for. Bring your gear and your patience.

Canoeing the North Saskatchewan

Put in from the property and explore the islands and sandbars along this stretch of river. Guests have paddled out to a sandbar just for the picnic; it is that kind of river. Bring your own canoe or kayak; we don't keep boats for guests.

Swimming & Sandbars

There is a swimming spot below the hills, and the white sandbars shift with the river from year to year. Guests swim, play ball on the sand, and picnic where the view is. Water levels change; have a look before you wade in.

The Beaver Dams

Seven beaver dams cascade one over the other on their way down the ravine to the river. The overlook above them is one of the best short walks on the property.

Horses

Bring your horses on holiday.

Corrals with water bowls and prairie pasture sit right beside the Foreman’s Cabin, so your horses stay a short walk from your bed. Ride the river hills on mowed trails, then turn them out for the evening while you take the fire pit.

Horse-friendly vacation spots are rare within an hour of Saskatoon. This is one, and it is run by a family that keeps cattle and horses of its own.

Cattle grazing along the ridge under a wide prairie sky

Stargazing

Step outside, look up, give your eyes a few minutes.

Out here the nearest streetlight is a long way off. Clear nights bring skies guests describe as "million-starred," and when conditions line up, the northern lights put on the kind of show you can't book in advance.

Around the Property

The farmyard keeps its own schedule.

A deer standing in a field of tall grass

Wildlife & Bird Watching

Deer, moose, and beavers live in the river hills and along the water, and the trails give you a fair chance of meeting them at a respectful distance. Bring binoculars for the birds.

Fire Pits

Every stay has a fire pit close at hand, and firewood is supplied. For the nights that turn cold, the saloon keeps a vintage cowboy fireplace burning indoors.

The Cowboy Saloon

A former cattle shed, rebuilt into the ranch's saloon: a vintage cowboy fireplace, a refurbished hundred-year-old pool table, and a bar, with the stage and beer garden close by. It is shared space that comes into play with stays and events.

Two people playing a board game at a table

The Summer Kitchen

A genuine Mennonite pioneer building from the owner's great aunt's family farm, moved here across the river ferry with its chimney intact. These days it is the games area. The old wood stove stays cold; insurance says so.

A well-aged car resting in tall prairie grass

Vintage Cars for Photos

A few well-aged vehicles have found their way into wedding photos and family portraits.

The Wedding Chapel

A small chapel set on its own private spot, away from the foot traffic, fitted with real church windows sourced from a church up north. See how it fits into a wedding at the ranch.