Glamping near Swift Current with campfires

Swift Current offers restaurants, boutiques, a full rodeo schedule, and fun places to hang out for a coffee or a brew (check out the Black Bridge microbrewery), but beyond the downtown casino and culture scene are nature spots to explore. Just a short drive away is Grasslands National Park, one of Canada's most impressive, as well as an array of provincial parks prime for setting up camp. Look out for summer festivals in Swift Current, such as the Windscape Kite Festival.

Take a scenic drive along the Badlands Parkway to spot bison from your vehicle, then set up camp at one of the many spectacular Grasslands campsites in the wide-open plains of this vast prairie park. Hiking and kayaking are epic, and if that's not enough, the park's Dark Sky Preserve means you'll be sleeping beneath a carpet of stars. Stay the night at Grasslands to experience front and backcountry camping, tipis, and oTENTiks.

For most campers, Southern Saskatchewan is best visited between May and September, though it may still be a little chilly until mid-June, so dress in layers and pack a sweater or two. Even summer nights can get cool. If you are into winter camping and its complementary activities (ice fishing and snowmobiling are big here), winter campsites are open but unlikely to offer power or water.

• Campers should never get close to bison herds. Use common sense around whatever wildlife you run into on your Saskatchewan trip and keep your distance. 
• Entry fees apply in Canada’s national parks, as do camping fees. Popular campsites can book out early, so it's best to book online as soon as you know your dates to secure your spot.
• Getting around Swift Current without a car will be pretty much impossible.