Northeast Swale Watching Adventure

I just love finding new spaces to explore in and around Saskatoon! Yesterday my son and I were thrilled to embark on a wonderful adventure at the Northeast Swale just outside of our new neighbourhood of Evergreen.

Actually, this location is not new at all. In fact, its history goes back centuries. The Northeast Swale is an ancient river bed carved out by glaciers thousands of years ago. It is one of the largest pieces of unbroken prairie and wetland in the Saskatoon region. It is home to many rare and endangered plants and animals.


On our 1-kilometre hike, we were able to spot several species of birds, small mammals, insects and plants. We also saw recent evidence of larger animals such as deer and badgers.

We were able to enjoy the swale for the first time as a tour led by the wonderful Melanie Elliott and organized by the Evergreen Community Association thanks to a "Kids in Nature" grant from the Saskatoon Nature Society.




Meewasin is working to conserve this area while supporting passive recreation and educational opportunities at the swale site. A conceptual design is being discussed to create pathways and amenities within the swale area.

In the meantime, visitors are welcome to explore the Northeast Swale {but pets are discouraged}. We will all need to do our part to help preserve the fragile prairie by picking up garbage and not picking up any of the pretty flowers we find. 

Our guided hike included kids ages 3 and up. Note that there are not currently pathways that are conducive to strollers. We found several critter holes {and wild critter poop} along the way, so you and your kids will want to be mindful of both of those things as you step! 

You will be walking through lush, tall grass, so be sure to check for ticks when you get home. We were out tromping around for 90 minutes and we didn't find any ticks crawling on us, but it is always a good idea to check.

Click here to see the path we took on our guided hike and plan your own adventure!