Finlayson Island

Finlayson Island

Finlayson Island is a recreation destination and riparian forest nature park located in the centre of the North Saskatchewan River in between the communities of North Battleford and the Town of Battleford in Saskatchewan Canada.

The island park is accessed from each Saskatchewan community via arched foot bridges. The bridges connect to a day use area and 14+ kilometres of hiking trails. The day use area includes picnic tables and a washroom.

Finlayson Island is a year round recreation destination. During the summer months the island is a very popular location for outdoor activities like hiking, picnicking, fishing and birdwatching. In the winter months the trails become cross country ski routes.

The nature trails are well maintained easy going trails. The trails are decorated with information signs and a few shelters. The trail signs provide information about the indigenous plants and animals identified on Finlayson Island.

The west section of the island is like a wetland marsh while the east end of the island is covered in a forest of trees. In the centre of the island is a mixture of sand dunes and forest environments. The diversity of the landscape is due to the changing soils located throughout the island.

There are over 130+ various tree and plant species identified on the Finlayson Island. Some of the wildflowers include the Yellow Cone, Gaillardia and Field Mint. Some of the low lying plants and plants covering he floor of the forest include Silverweed, Bear Berry, Buffaloberry, Red Osier Dogwood and Juniper.

The forest on the island includes trees like the Chokecherry, Black Birch and Balsam Poplar. The forest, wetland and dunes are home to many species of animals including birds like the Great Horned Owl and mammals like the White-tailed deer.