3 family-friendly beaches near Saskatoon

Saskatoon doesn’t have many beach options within the city limits, but if you’re willing to take a short car ride, there are some great places for you and your family to play in the sand and wade in the water.

1. Gardiner Dam Visitor Centre Beach Area at Danielson Provincial Park Located on Lake Diefenbaker, this public beach is about an hour south of Saskatoon. The beach is quite large and just gorgeous, so you’ll want to spread out your beach towels and soak up the sun—you know, in between chasing after the kids. Bring shovels and pails so the wee ones can dig in the sand, or take the kids fishing! There’s plenty of grass and trees, so you can enjoy a yummy picnic in the shade. Unfortunately, there are no lifeguards on site, but there is an information station and numerous washrooms. And if you want to enjoy an entire weekend at the beach, there is a nearby campsite, but you can’t bring Spot because there are no dogs allowed.

Go play: Box 39, Elbow 306-857-5510 tourismsaskatchewan.com>

2. Katepwa Point Provincial Park Beach This beach is a bit of a trek for Saskatoon dwellers, but it’s well worth it! The beach is located on beautiful Katepwa Lake. If you want to make it a family weekend getaway, there are log cabins for rent year round right across the street from the beach. If your family prefers hotels, there are a few options nearby. Spend the morning swimming or going for a boat ride, then enjoy a picnic lunch or get grilling on the on-site barbecues. In the afternoon, your little one can nap in the shade while your older kids check out the playground or volleyball court or try their hand at mini-golf. If you’re feeling energized, take the whole family on a trail hike. Washrooms and change rooms are available on site.

Go play: Box 790, Fort Qu’Appelle 306-3321-3215 saskparks.net>

3. Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park Beach Grab your kids and head to this huge, sandy beach, where little diggers will love spending hours scooping and dumping sand. The water is quite shallow and not overly rough, so it’s great for little kids. There isn’t very much shade, so bring a beach umbrella if you can. With a park attached to the beach, your kids can swing and climb and slide to their hearts’ content. Or maybe they want to play a round of mini-golf! Water equipment and toy rentals are available. There’s also a convenience store nearby. The beach has special days when the kids can enjoy face painting, sandcastle building and more, so call ahead to find out the dates. There’s never a dull day at Good Spirit Lake! To access the beach, you must enter the provincial park, which costs $7 a day per vehicle. Or you can buy an annual pass for $50 (which is good for all parks in the province!).

Go play: Site 9 Box 38, RR 2, Canora 306-792-4750 tourismsaskatchewan.com>

Read more: Canada’s best weekend getaways> 8 fun family activities in Saskatoon> Beach bound: 16 best beaches across Canada>