4 family-friendly biking trails in Saskatchewan

1. Fisher Trail, Waskesiu Lake

The town of Waskesiu sits right in Prince Albert National Park, and this 7.2-km trail starts near the downtown Visitors’ Centre. Use the washrooms and pick up a free Nature Kit for a crash course on the park’s wildlife and flowers. Follow Red Deer Trail south for a short distance until it meets Fisher Trail, which runs clockwise, then pedal back to Waskesiu Lake to swim, build sandcastles on the long sand beach, check out the playground and even try your hand at disc golf or lawn bowling.

Get riding: Prince Albert National Park Hwy 264 306-663-4522 $19.60/family pc.gc.ca>

2. Blue Trail, Regina

The Blue Trail in Regina’s big and bustling Wascana Centre park is only 4 km long but you can easily make a day of it because there’s so much to do at the park. The paved, flat, multi-use trail follows the shoreline of Wascana Lake. Park at the north end near the play area, bandstand and pool. Bike south past the Legislative Building, the Lakeshore Park totem pole, marina, and the scenic overlook to Willow Island. Cross the bridge and you can easily add on the adjacent 6-km Red Trail, which goes around Wascana Marsh with chances to see waterbirds and other marsh critters. You’ll cruise past the Candy Cane Play Area (there are cement trees painted to look like candy canes), the Skate Plaza and the Saskatchewan Science Centre.

Get riding: Wascana Lake, Wascana Centre College Avenue, Regina 306-522-3661 Free wascana.ca>

3. Beaver Loop, northeast of Moose Jaw

Buffalo Pound Provincial Park is home to some excellent mountain biking trails, and kids can get in on the action at Beaver Loop. It’s a 1.65-km beginner trail, about two metres wide, which was refurbished in late 2014. The trailhead is near the lower chalet, which has washrooms, a picnic area and barbecues. The path loops around a wetland where you can see wildlife like beaver, muskrat, mink, kingfishers and great blue herons—you might even glimpse a moose at the pond. Your ride continues along the edges of the forest and the prairie valley slopes, where mule deer like to graze.

Get riding: Buffalo Pound Provincial Park Hwy 202, Moose Jaw 306-694-3320 $7/vehicle saskparks.net>

4. Meewasin Valley trail, Saskatoon

Your kids will love a riverside ride on Saskatoon’s Meewasin Valley trail. This level, paved trail runs along both sides of the South Saskatchewan River with plenty of parks, bridges and wide-open green spaces along the way. One 10-km loop to consider: start at Rotary Park on the south bank and ride northeast along the river, going under Broadway Bridge and through Cosmopolitan Park, then cross the Stew Uzelman Pedway to the west side of the river. Break for hot dogs or ice cream at Bus Stop Refreshments in an antique red double-decker bus on Spadina Crescent, then it’s southwest through Kiwanis Memorial Park to cool off at the River Landing Spray Park. Cross over Senator Sid Buckwold Bridge to complete the loop back to Rotary Park.

Get riding: Rotary Park 225 Saskatchewan Crescent E. 306-665-6887 Free www.meewasin.com>

Read more: 5 family-friendly hiking trails in Saskatchewan> 6 family-friendly biking trails in Quebec> 6 family-friendly biking trails in British Columbia>