Population: 206,500. Saskatoon is Saskatchewan?s largest city.

Elevation: 1598 feet

Time Zone: Central Time Zone (GMT-6). Saskatchewan does NOT use Daylight Savings Time.

Location: Saskatoon is centrally located in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada 780 kilometres Northwest of Winnipeg, a little over 520 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, and just over 300 kilometres North of the U.S. border. Saskatoon is situated on the banks of the south Saskatchewan river which is crossed by seven bridges within the city limits.

Saskatoon is central in the province of Saskatchewan, West of the third meridian (Latitude 52.24 North, Longitude 106.67 West). The city is 780 kilometres Northwest of Winnipeg, a little over 520 kilometres Southeast of Edmonton and just over 300 kilometres North of the U.S. border.

The city covers an area of 144 square kilometres which includes over 120 hectares of riverbank parklands.

Local Seasons:
Saskatoon is one of the sunniest cities in Canada, receiving an average of 2,381 hours of sunshine annually. Saskatoon offers four distinct seasons with temperatures ranging from 30?c (86?f) on the warmest summer days to -30?c (-22?f) on the coldest winter days. The average annual precipitation level is 347.2 millimetres.

Winters are long and cold, summers relatively short. Winter snowfall is comparatively light and is swept away by strong winds. The transition from season to season often occurs suddenly.

Getting to Saskatoon:
AIR:
Saskatoon airport (YXE) is located about 10 minutes from the city centre and provides links to all national and international destinations.

CAR:
Visitors traveling by automobile and arriving in Saskatchewan from the South may enter the province at any one of a dozen border crossings. The best road is #52 leading from Minot, North Dakota, through North Portal to Estevan, Saskatchewan (#39) and on to Regina (#39 and #6). From Regina, capital of the province and national home of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, head North on #11 (twinned highway) to Saskatoon, and then on to Prince Albert (#11) and Waskesiu (#2).

For those arriving in Saskatchewan from the East or Eest, the Trans Canada highway is the fast route. From Regina, head North on #11 to Saskatoon. An alternative route is the Yellowhead Highway (#16). It links Edmonton, AB, Saskatoon and Winnipeg, MB., spanning Saskatchewan to the north of the TransCanada. More scenic than its southern counterpart, the Yellowhead is the preferred route for many tourists arriving from the east or west.

RAIL:
Saskatoon is served by VIA Rail (1-800-561-8630).Taxi service is available from the station, located about fifteen minutes from the city centre.

BUS:
There are bus connections to Saskatoon from all points. During summer months, there's daily bus service from the downtown bus depot (933-8000) to the park village of Waskesiu. In Waskesiu, however, you'll have to find a ride to the trailhead, located 30 kilometres from the village.