The Saskatoon Forestry Park & Zoo began as a tree nursery and is now one of the city’s most popular outdoor family attractions. The park is great for a picnic and has peaceful walking paths and a small zoo.
The park was designated a National Historic Site in 1990 for the important role it played in growing 147 million trees for farms across Canada. Many of the trees remain today, along with the historic farmhouse and a large fishing pond. The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo is one of the city’s most popular family attractions and will be loved by all with an interest in nature.
Board the Kinsmen Express Zoo Train for a guided tour of the zoo. A great activity for the elderly or families with young children, the train takes visitors to all of the major attractions in the zoo without having to walk a lot. If you explore the zoo on foot, you can also read the educational signs along the paths to learn more about the habitats and habits of the animals.
The zoo’s most popular animals are the local species, many of which are endangered. See wolves, grizzly bears and a variety of native deer and moose. There are also many foreign species, including lions and African pygmy hedgehogs.
After your zoo visit, explore the expansive forestry farm park, a beautiful place to enjoy nature. Find a shady spot beneath a caragana, ash, maple, willow or elm tree or enjoy a picnic lunch under a gazebo. At the centre of the park sits the forestry farmhouse with a historic hall for gatherings. Register for a fishing permit for the day to try your luck in the farm’s trout pond.
The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo is located on the outskirts on Saskatoon, about 5 miles (8 kilometres) from the city centre. Reach the park by bus or car. There is on-site parking available for a fee. Both the park and zoo are open daily, but only the zoo has an admission fee.
