How to visit Saskatchewan’s famous sand dunes from Moose Jaw

Saskatchewan is an enormous province, twice the size of Germany and only just smaller than Texas, and it includes boreal forest in the north, transitional parklands in the middle, grasslands in the south — and, scattered all over, some of the world’s most prominent sand dunes.

Saskatchewan’s dunes are thousands of years old, dating to the end of the planet’s last ice age approximately 12,000 years ago. Continent-sized glaciers nearly two kilometres thick were forced into movement as they melted, creating enormous temporary rivers, carving out floodpaths, and grinding rock into fine powder, called ‘rock flour’ by geologists and ‘sand’ by the rest of us.

The process of sand deposition and erosion continues to this day and combines with prevailing winds to create an evolving scenery that can change dramatically between visits. Rolling dunes, constantly shifting sand patterns, and clear blue skies create a surreal and otherworldly landscape that is a photographer’s dream — and a must-see for those seeking the full Saskatchewan experience.

To see larger dunes, the Great Sandhills to the west are second in Canada only to the Athabasca Sand Dunes, which are nigh-inaccessible in the province’s far north. Reaching the Great Sandhills from Moose Jaw takes about three and a half hours. Visitors will take the Trans-Canada west for an hour and 45 minutes, then take SK-32 W exit just past Swift Current. Another hour on SK-32 W will bring you to Township Road 214 heading south. Half an hour on the township road will bring you to the Great Sandhills.

There are no amenities at the Great Sandhills, and