Start the new year with a bang in Sask Parks!

Dozens of programs and activities have launched this year at Buffalo Pound, Cypress Hills, Duck Mountain, Echo Valley and Pike Lake Provincial Parks that are worth checking out.

You may know that Sask Parks are full of fantastic winter opportunities, but we want you to know there are also warm-up opportunities to take advantage of!

To help plan your visit to the parks, we've curated what a day in each park could look like.

Buffalo Pound Provincial Park

Start your day with a fat bike ride through the park trails, then head to the old chalet to check out the renovated space with creative interpretive displays. Once you've warmed up, head back out and learn to cross-country ski with our New to Nordic program (Saturdays at 1 p.m.).

By now, hunger has likely taken over, so grab a bite at the Travelling Bakery inside the newly renovated Visitor Centre! Lastly, Snowshoe to the Bison with park interpreters (Saturdays at 4 p.m.) and experience the beauty of these 2000-pound beasts.

Insider's Tip: Want to experience a packaged tour? Check out the Saskatchewan Winter Adventures in Partnership with Engelheim Tours.

Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park

Rise with the sun and hit the trails on foot or cross-country skiing. The park has a network of trails that offer stunning views of the surrounding area and the perfect view of the lodgepole trees.

After a morning of hiking, stop for lunch at Ivan's Restaurant, located inside The Resort. After your belly is full, join park interpreters on one of four different variations of snowshoe hikes— “If These Hills Could Talk” (History), “The Abominable Walk” (Ice Age), “Bird Detective” (Seek and find, birds and bird adaptations), “Frosted Forest Hike” (The forest in winter) (Saturdays at 2 p.m.).

There's no better way to relax after a day of outdoor adventures in the cold winter weather than by experiencing our dry sauna and hot tub, which are newly open for this season.

Duck Mountain Provincial Park

Duck Mountain Provincial Park is a beautiful park located in the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border region. It is known for its diverse landscape, which includes forests, wetlands and rolling hills. The park is home to various wildlife including moose, white-tailed deer, black bear and more.

Spend a night or a weekend here at Madge Lake Retreats or try out a Camp-Easy equipped campsite and get as close to winter camping as possible without sleeping on the ground.

Rent a snowmobile from Madge Lake Retreats, then try your luck at escaping our man-made snow maze!

End your time taking on a new experience by kick sledding through the park with Prairie Rentals.

Echo Valley Provincial Park

The first thing to check out at the park is the NEW Ninja Warrior Course featuring a 50' ninja slack line with challenging obstacles, a bouldering wall and a 100' zipline that provides quick access from the Visitor Centre to the obstacle course.

After you've spent hours going all out, take a break and warm up by the campfire before joining the Scenic Snowshoe Safari (Saturdays at 2 p.m.).

End your night on the Illuminated Snowshoe Stroll (Saturdays at 7 p.m.). where glowing lights will guide your way along the valley edge to a scenic lookout point where you will gaze up at the stars and constellations.

Insider's Tip: Want an actual packaged tour? Check out the Saskatchewan Winter Adventures in Partnership with Engelheim Tours.

Pike Lake Provincial Park

Just an hour outside Saskatoon, Pike Lake Provincial Park is an excellent spot for the adventurer.

Get your heart pumping and rent an e-bike from Aurora E-Bike Rentals, then relax those aching muscles in Back2Nature Wellness and Adventures' wood-burning barrel sauna.

Once you feel calm and rested, join park interpreters on Where the Wild Things Are snowshoeing excursion and learn all the basics of snowshoeing, followed by a guided snowshoeing tour through the park (Saturdays 1 p.m.), or if you're all about the animals, join Chirp with the Chickadees and get up close and personal with our resident chickadees (Saturdays at 3 p.m.)

Please note: Programs will be cancelled if temperatures in the program location are forecasted at or below -26°C (with the wind chill). Cancellations will be made 24 hours in advance, and all pre-registrants will be notified.