Where to be on the Canada Day Long Weekend in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is home to an abundance of beautiful lakes and beaches. With the upcoming Canada Day Long Weekend and the start of summer we encourage you to check one out. When was the last time you were able to unwind and truly enjoy your long weekend? For many of us, summer happens by the water and what better way to celebrate Canada Day than going to the beach!Check out the Swim Guide website and app to find a beach close to you. Here are a few popular beach destinations in Saskatchewan to consider this weekend. Be advised that at the moment Saskatchewan does not perform routine water quality tests so take caution before using the water for recreational purposes. Candle Lake Provincial Park at Minowukaw Beach Located right in the heart of Saskatchewan you’ll find Candle Lake. Minowukaw Beach is located on the southeast corner. This beach is known for its soft white sand, shallow clear water, and dense forest that surround it. The Provincial park features camping opportunities, boardwalk hikes, and many other recreational activities. The Resort Village of Candle Lake is sure to provide for all service and amenities needed. The nearby services are convenient and don’t take away from the natural beauty of the park and beach area.With all the extra amenities nearby including two campgrounds, along with the clean, shallow water off the beach, this is a great option for people of all ages for the Canada Day Long Weekend. Echo Valley Provincial Park Echo Valley Provincial Park is situated in the Qu'Appelle Valley in between Echo and Pasqua Lake. This provides the opportunity for a chance to visit two beautiful lakes in one trip. The park is home to activities and amenities such as a beach volleyball court, mini golf, nearby stores and much more. Pasqua Lake is on the west side of the park and features a long beach with coarse sand. The water is clear and the views of the valley on all sides makes for a very scenic environment. If you bring the fishing rod along you could be landing some walleye, pike, and perch. Always be sure to bring your fishing license.On the east side of the park you’ll find Echo Lake. Similar to neighboring Pasqua, this beach is also long with coarse sand and clear water. A grassy park is situated behind the beach and features picnic tables, a playground, and other amenities. Compared to Pasqua, the surrounding valley is more developed and not as natural, but still beautiful nonetheless. Blackstrap Provincial Park Beach Named after the man made ski hill “Mount Blackstrap”, this lake can be found just 50km south of Saskatoon. The long and narrow lake and beach is very popular and known for its recreational water use.Boating, windsurfing, and fishing are few of many opportunities offered by the lake. There is a main sandy beach which backs onto a grassy park, perfect for relaxing and playing beach games with friends and family. The lake is also perfect for cooling off in after sweating it out on some of the 5 km of mountain-biking and hiking trails in the area. The easy access and abundance of activity makes this a hot spot for recreational water enthusiasts. A great place to enjoy on the long weekend. Regina Beach Recreation Site This is another one of southern Saskatchewan's more popular beaches. It is located on Last Mountain Lake via highway 54 about 55km northwest of Regina. You can easily make this a day trip with relatively little driving time.The beach itself is large and sandy, good for handling crowds on hot days and long weekends. The water is clear and is popular for boating and recreational use.The town of Regina Beach swallows the recreation site so shops, restaurants, and other amenities are all close by. For those in Regina this is a “close to home” summer holiday, great long weekend destination, sure to please. Hopefully you get the chance to experience one of Saskatchewan's beaches this weekend and enjoy the beauty Canada has to offer. Be safe and have fun. For any more information on beaches close to you visit the Swim Guide website or download the app.Remember to bring reusable drink and food containers with you to the beach, fireworks show, or wherever your long weekend takes you. Litter and plastic pollution is a huge problem and we need to keep our parks and beaches clean for future sustainability and enjoyment. Above Photo: Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License