If you're looking for an enriching way to spend some time with your family, a day trip to Fort Carlton Provincial Park from Saskatoon is an excellent choice. The historically significant site offers more than just scenic views; it provides a unique opportunity to explore a pivotal chapter in Canadian history. From interactive exhibits to engaging interpretive staff, every moment spent at Fort Carlton is a chance to learn and connect with the past. This guide will help you plan and execute the perfect day trip for shared experiences and bonding with your family.

Discovering Canadian History

Go back in time to an intriguing point in Canadian history. The original Fort Carlton – an important hub for the Hudson’s Bay Company and negotiation site for Treaty Six – burned down during the Northwest Resistance of 1885 but has since been reconstructed to give visitors a taste of the past.

The park features a reconstructed palisade, fur and provisions store, trade store, clerk’s quarters and tipi encampment. With interpretive staff on hand, immerse yourself in a historical place that will show you and your family a new side of Saskatchewan history.

Additional Stops on Your Journey

On your way back to Saskatoon, stop in at the Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Centre in Duck Lake to discover more about life in the area for settlers and Métis, including a boardwalk with 1900-era storefronts, as well as displays and information about the Northwest Resistance.

After your visit to Duck Lake, stop in at the Station Arts Centre in Rosthern and have a snack in the spacious tearoom which is situated among greenery and works of art. After a bite and time perusing the gallery, pack everyone in the car and arrive in Saskatoon by supper. You’ll be amazed at how much you experienced with your family in just one day.

Sample Itinerary

8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – Breakfast at Hometown Diner in Saskatoon
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Drive to Fort Carlton Provincial Park
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. – Explore the past with the interpretive staff inside the fort
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Picnic lunch in Fort Carlton Provincial Park (food packed prior to leaving)
1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. – Drive to Duck Lake
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Centre
3:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. – Drive to Rosthern
3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. – Station Arts Centre Tea Room
4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Drive back to Saskatoon

This day trip from Saskatoon to Fort Carlton Provincial Park and beyond is a fantastic way to bond with your family while discovering Saskatchewan’s rich history. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the area’s past and collect cherished memories of your adventures together along the way.