Prairie Gold on the Yellowhead

The Yellowhead Highway doesn't get the same fame as the Trans-Canada, but it should. This route isn’t just about getting from one city to another, it’s about the small towns, local attractions, and off-the-highway detours that break up the journey. The kind of places you might miss if you’re not looking but will make you glad you pulled over.

When planning your next trip from Edmonton to Saskatoon, give yourself time to stop and witness these hidden gems.

First Stop – Elk Island National Park, AB – 45 mins from Edmonton

You don’t even have to drive too far outside of Edmonton for the first stop. Pull into Elk Island National Park for one of the most remarkable wildlife experiences in all of Canada. This compact national park is one of the last remaining refuges for free-roaming plains bison, and the viewing is exceptional. You may spot a herd grazing just metres from the road, which is a sight that never gets old.

Beyond bison, Elk Island has a network of easy hiking trails, excellent birding (over 250 species recorded here), and picnic areas that make a perfect slow-morning start to your road trip. Pack a lunch, pick a trail, and let the pace of this park settle in before you hit the highway.

Pro tip: Bison are most active in the early morning and late afternoon. An early departure from Edmonton rewards you with the best viewing before the day heats up.

Second Stop – Mundare, AB – 1.5 hours from Edmonton

Welcome to Mundare, home of the world's largest Ukrainian sausage, a 42-foot kielbasa monument built to honour the town's Ukrainian heritage and its famous Stawnichy's sausage made here since 1959. The monument itself is unforgettable, endlessly photographed, and exactly the kind of thing road trips exist for.

Stop for a photo. Possibly two. This sausage deserves the attention.

Third Stop – Vegreville, AB – 1.5 hours from Edmonton

Just down the road from Mundare, Vegreville raises the roadside monument stakes with one of the most beautiful, and mathematically complex, public sculptures in North America. The Vegreville Pysanka is a massive, shimmering Ukrainian Easter egg standing nearly 10 metres tall, built from over 3,500 aluminum pieces in a design that incorporates traditional Ukrainian motifs. It was created in 1975 and remains a genuine engineering marvel.

Alberta's Ukrainian heritage runs deep through this corridor, and Vegreville is its most vivid expression. Stop for photos and walk around the monument to appreciate the craftsmanship and extraordinary geometry up close.

Fourth Stop – Mannville, AB – 2 hours from Edmonton

Mannville is a quiet agricultural town with a scenic secret: the river valleys here cut dramatically through the flat prairie landscape, revealing a lush, hidden world of coulees, tree-lined banks, and wildlife corridors that most highway drivers speed right past. Pull over and take in the view. It's one of those moments where the Prairies remind you, they're anything but bland.

Fifth Stop – Lloydminster, AB/SK – 3 hours from Edmonton

Straddling the Alberta Saskatchewan border, Lloydminster is split right down the middle by the 4th Meridian, and the World’s Tallest Border Markers make that invisible line hard to ignore. It’s an easy stop to stretch your legs and refuel, but what often surprises people is just how good the food and drink scene is for a city of its size.

For a bite to eat, Tasty K’s is a locally owned favourite. The donairs are out of this world, and if you’re a dill-fanatic, you have to try their onion rings, coated in dill seasoning and served with dill mayo on the side. If you’re thinking of eating on the go, their take-home pizzas also travel well.

Sixth Stop – North Battleford, SK – 4.5 hours from Edmonton

The Western Development Museum (WDM) in North Battleford is one of four locations in Saskatchewan's remarkable WDM network, and it's dedicated to the history of agricultural and industrial development on the Prairies. The highlight is an impressive collection of vintage machinery, along with a recreated heritage village that offers a vivid look at early settler life.

History fans and curious travellers alike will find it worth an hour of their time.

Seventh Stop – Saskatoon, SK – 5.5 hours from Edmonton

After a day on the Yellowhead, rolling into Saskatoon feels like the reward. The South Saskatchewan River winds through the heart of the city, giving it a kind of beauty that shows itself from almost every angle. From the Broadway district to the riverbank trails and the local restaurant scene, Saskatoon is a city that punches well above its weight.

Two quick stops worth making while you’re here: the Meewasin Valley Trail, for an easy walk along the river with some of the best city views, and Remai Modern, Saskatoon’s museum of modern and contemporary art, set right on the South Saskatchewan River. Even if you’re not big on galleries, it’s worth a visit for the architecture and river views alone.