Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/250756
by the way Trail Mix by Ryan Stuart S tretching 120 kilometres from the Alberta border to deep inside central Saskatchewan, the Boreal Trail may sound like a long walk in the woods. On the ground, though, the province's longest hiking route is far more varied than its name suggests, especially in the spring. Traversing the length of Meadow Lake Provincial Park, the trail passes through plenty of Jack pine, spruce and birch, while wildflowers carpet the trailside and songbirds fill the air. Expect to be woken by the haunting call of a loon or maybe even a wolf, two of the park's 100 species of 46 W e s t w o r l d | S p r i n g 2 0 1 4 p46-47_ByTheWay.indd 46 wildlife, along with black bear, moose and elk. And beavers? The industrious rodents are always busy in the park. The trail meanders around 10 lakes (many with sandy beaches), follows rivers and creeks and crosses dozens of wetlands. Grassy eskers lead to panoramic views, and there's an old fire lookout tower too. Backcountry campgrounds are spread like crumbs along the way, but there's no need to haul a heavy load if you don't want. The trail meets highway several times, especially along its western end. So, while it takes about seven days to trek the entire length, it's easy to travel the Boreal Trail in weekend-size chunks or even day-hike sections from a base in one of the park's campgrounds. W saskparks.net/borealtrail Paul Austring/Tourism Saskatchewan 14-01-23 10:15 AM