Things to Do
Things to Do
You could spend a weekend at Blue Sky Ranch without leaving your porch, and plenty of guests do. But the property rewards the curious. Trails, water, wildlife, and a few surprises are all within walking distance of wherever you're staying.
The Trails
Seven ways down to the river.
Seven trails wind through the river hills and down to the North Saskatchewan. They get mowed twice a year, and one is wide enough to drive, so gear and less-mobile guests can ride down. Every one of them ends somewhere worth standing for a while.
Four have names so far: River Run, Maple Shade, Chokecherry Lane, and Moose Path. [TK: remaining trail names, from the trail map]. A downloadable trail map with a QR code is in the works.
- 7 trails to the river
- Mowed twice a year
- Walking distance from every stay
On the Water
The river is the reward.
The North Saskatchewan runs along the property, with white sandbars, a swimming spot, and river views that run for miles in both directions. A wide trail leads down to the water. What you do when you get there is up to you.
River Fishing
The river here holds sturgeon and walleye [TK: confirm third species], and the sandbars make natural places to cast from. Bring your gear and your patience. [TK: licence requirements]
Canoeing the North Saskatchewan
Put in from the property and explore the islands and sandbars along this stretch of river. Guests have paddled out to a sandbar just for the picnic; it is that kind of river. Bring your own canoe or kayak. [TK: boats on site]
Swimming & Sandbars
There is a swimming spot below the hills, and the white sandbars shift with the river from year to year. Guests swim, play ball on the sand, and picnic where the view is. Water levels change; have a look before you wade in.
The Beaver Dams
Seven beaver dams cascade one over the other on their way down the ravine to the river. The overlook above them is one of the best short walks on the property.
Horses
Bring your horses on holiday.
Corrals with water bowls and prairie pasture sit right beside the Foreman’s Cabin, so your horses stay a short walk from your bed. Ride the river hills on mowed trails, then turn them out for the evening while you take the fire pit.
Horse-friendly vacation spots are rare within an hour of Saskatoon. This is one, and it is run by a family that keeps cattle and horses of its own.
Around the Property
The farmyard keeps its own schedule.
Wildlife & Bird Watching
Deer, moose, and beavers live in the river hills and along the water, and the trails give you a fair chance of meeting them at a respectful distance. Bring binoculars for the birds.
Fire Pits
Every stay has a fire pit close at hand, and firewood is supplied. For the nights that turn cold, the saloon keeps a vintage cowboy fireplace burning indoors.
The Cowboy Saloon
A former cattle shed, rebuilt into the ranch's saloon: a vintage cowboy fireplace, a refurbished hundred-year-old pool table, and a bar, with the stage and beer garden close by. It is part of the Granary common space that comes into play with stays and events.
The Stage
A former cattle feeder, rebuilt into a stage that has hosted live bands and at least one very large party. It sits by the beer garden, and yes, you can get up on it.
The Summer Kitchen
A genuine Mennonite pioneer building from the owner's great aunt's family farm, moved here across the river ferry with its chimney intact. These days it is the games area. The old wood stove stays cold; insurance says so.
Vintage Cars for Photos
A few well-aged vehicles have found their way into wedding photos and family portraits. [TK: confirm which vehicles are available for photos]
The Wedding Chapel
A small chapel set on its own private spot, away from the foot traffic, fitted with real church windows sourced from a church up north. See how it fits into a wedding at the ranch.
[TK: chapel seating capacity, karaoke or sound equipment on the stage, and which vehicles are available for photos]
The Ravine
The Grand Canyon of the Prairies.
That's the owner's name for it, and once you're standing at the edge, the nickname stops sounding like a stretch. The ravine cuts deep through the property on its way to the river, seven beaver dams cascade down it one after another, and a giant-rock lookout at the rim gives you the whole show: water, hills, and sandbars running for miles in both directions. [TK: access and best route]
Stargazing
Step outside, look up, give your eyes a few minutes.
Out here the nearest streetlight is a long way off. Clear nights bring skies guests describe as "million-starred," and when conditions line up, the northern lights put on the kind of show you can't book in advance.
Winter
The quiet season, honestly.
Most of the property closes for the winter. Grandma's House stays open [TK: confirm second winter unit], and the land does what the prairie does: goes white, goes quiet, and turns the night sky up a notch. If a winter stay in a warm old farmhouse sounds right, get in touch and we'll talk dates.
Pick a trail, then pick a porch.
All of it comes with every stay. Book one, and the rest of the property is yours to wander.