Beaver Creek Conservation Area

Beaver Creek Conservation Area

Beaver Creek Conservation Area is a recreation and wildlife destination on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River located south of the community of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Beaver Creek Conservation Area is part of the Meewasin Valley park system.

Beaver Creek for thousands of years, prior to the arrival of the Europeans, had been a hunting ground and living area for the First Nation people. In future years, the land was acquired by a European named Charles Gillespie for agriculture.

In 1913 Charles Gillespie donated 24 hectares (60 acres) of his land to the City of Saskatoon as a recreation area. In the next 15 years the area became known as a meeting place for events, picnics and celebrations - complete with a dance hall, ball diamond, ice house and a concession.

Today, the Beaver Creek Conservation Area area near Saskatoon, SK.  is a natural wilderness area protecting the creek's riparian environment, the short-grass prairie landscapes, local wildlife and a wide assortment of plant life. The conservation area is one of the few short-grass prairie environments left undisturbed in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada.

The natural prairie environment provides nesting and feeding grounds for many prairie birds and wildlife. There are songbirds chirping in trees and shorebirds and waterfowl exploring the creek valley. High in the sky, above the prairie grasslands, are predator birds searching for prey. It is not just birds here. There are also wildlife sightings of frogs, muskrats, beavers and minks.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan's Beaver Creek Conservation Area is a popular destination for wildlife sightings and outdoor adventures during the summer months like hiking, birdwatching, picnicking, horseback riding and canoeing. During the winter some trails are cross country ski routes.

Throughout the conservation area are walking trails. The trails provide an opportunity to explore the fragile, sandy banks of the creek, the forested paths of the creek valley and the wide open grassland prairie fields.

The longest trail is the Orange Trail measuring 4 kilometres. It is a loop trail hiking through grassland prairie fields and along the high banks of the South Saskatchewan River.

The Red Trail measures 0.8 kilometres and the Yellow Trail measures 1.0 kilometre. Both are short loop routes exploring the forested banks of Beaver Creek.

The Green Trail measures 1.5 kilometres and follows the banks of Beaver Creek. It is an interpretive trail exploring the history of the conservation area. Pick up an information pamphlet at the main centre and follow the marked posts on the Green Trail identifying historical data.

There are sections along the trail routes with wooden stairs, river bridges, boardwalk and hills. The dirt and sand trails follow a single track path most of the way. Most trails are exploring under the cover of trees (except for the Orange Trail).

There are sitting benches, lookout points, and information signs located along some of the trails. There is a canoe house and canoe launch on Beaver Creek. And near the main parking lot is an information centre with displays, nature tour guides and washrooms.