Canada 150 – Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan

When I was a kid, there were three places we’d drive to that I would look forward to with much anticipation. One was driving through Saskatoon on our way to my grandparents’ house. We’d drive by the beautiful University of Saskatchewan campus, and I’d imagine going to university there. I loved every second of my four years there.

Thorvaldson Building - Uof S Campus — Thorvaldson Building, University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon

Driving to Banff, and getting that first glimpse of the mountains was (and still is) a thrill! For at least the last 10 years, maybe more if I really thought about it, I’ve been to mountains somewhere in Western Canada or Montana.

But, Cypress Hills in Southwest Saskatchewan is most likely the place I’ve been to the most. It was about a two hour drive from the town I grew up in and it’s the first place I remember going where I felt like I was going somewhere! I’d watch for that first glimpse of the hills, just a silhouette far off in the distance, and as we passed through Maple Creek, I could finally see the hills close up! I’ve camped here a lot with my family, gone to Brownies and Girl Guide camp at Camp Shagabec, and I’ve been several times as an adult, but most of my memories of it are as a kid (including one Victoria Day long weekend when it snowed – I think I was 5 or so. I think that was also the last time I rode a horse!).

Conglomerate Cliffs

Lodgepole Pine forest walking trail at Cypress Hills

Sunset at the Lookout Point – Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park

Lookout Point down the road from Bald Butte – further proof that all of Saskatchewan is not flat!

Young Hutterite couple enjoying the view at Bald Butte

View from Bald Butte at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park – the highest point of land between the Rockies in Alberta and the East Coast of Canada (proof that all of Saskatchewan is not flat!)