See the sights in Saskatchewan
This region offers something for all recreationists
The dirtier the better: ATV Mud Mania is a popular annual event in Prince Albert. — Photo courtesy Teena Logodin
Whether it’s open spaces for ATVing, golf courses for hitting the links or lakes for boating, Saskatchewan will offer something for all recreationists.
In Hudson Bay, check out Hudson Bay Regional Park, winner of the Park on the Move 2010 award.
“It’s got camping, picnic sites, playgrounds and ball diamonds,” said Elly Ferguson, the Town’s economic development officer. “There is a nine-hole golf course and the Red Deer Downs, which is a horse racing track.”
In Rocanville, head to the Town & Country Golf Club and try for a birdie or better.
The club hub
Riders who have been to Candle Lake during the winter know it’s an excellent place for sledding—but this resort community is a multi-season destination. Boating, golfing and a stay in a well-furbished cabin all make for a fun experience.
Candle Lake Golf Resort has an 18-hole course that appeals to all skill levels. Group or private lessons are offered, and there are a number of tournaments happening throughout the summer.
Fishing frenzy
Come July 3 and 4, anglers from across the prairies will be heading for Big River for the first Big River Walleye Classic, taking place on the waters of Delaronde Lake.
“Delaronde Lake is beautiful,” said Grace Snyder, one of the event’s organizers. “The water is so clean that there are still many who get their drinking water from it.”
Big River is well known for the variety of outdoor recreation available in the region.
“I don’t know where else you could live and have not only (excellent ATV and sledding trails) at your doorstep, but also a boat launch at the end of main street,” said Snyder.
Get muddy
The smell of rubber, the roar of ATV races and sun shining off pristine cars—all this and more can be found at ATV Mud Mania, happening at the Prince Albert Exhibition grounds on August 21. Visitors can watch ATV races or a demolition derby—while helping raise money for charity.
“What we’re having that day is in conjunction with Pines Services, one of the sponsors, and the Buckland fire department,” said Jim Barbondy, the director in charge of Mud Mania. “It is a fundraiser to raise money for some new equipment for the fire department.”
Barbondy said that this is the third annual Mud Mania, and that past events have been a hit with both participants and spectators.
See the cities
It’s easy to tour some of Saskatchewan’s largest cities by travelling from Regina to Swift Current to Saskatoon and back to Regina. This trip, taking about 10 hours, follows portions of the Trans-Canada Highway, as well as highways 4, 7 and 11. Riders can marvel at the diversity of the land; Saskatchewan has everything from wide open fields to boreal forests.
It’s easy to time a trip around an event and pull into Saskatoon on July 30 for the Ride the Bridges Rally. This event goes until August 2 and is packed with activities such as a poker rally, a pancake breakfast, a variety of rider courses and a show and shine. Riders can also participate in a ride to the scenic Waskesiu area.
From the land to the lakes
Big River and Candle Lake cater to recreationists who love spending their time in the great outdoors
Wide open spaces: Snowmobilers and ATVers from Big River and Candle Lake have a vast trail network just outside their front doors. — Photo courtesy Bill Gerow
Boreal forests, swamplands and Saskatchewan’s largest vertical drop—these are just a few of the land features found around Big River and Candle Lake. Bill Gerow, a member of the Timber Trails ATV Club in Big River, has been involved with motorsports for much of his life. Gerow was more than happy to tell RidersWest about the club and the abundant recreation opportunities near by. h3. Ride from dawn until dusk “The ATV club got going about four years ago,” said Gerow. “We formed it because we wanted to get people onto trails, rather than farmlands.” There are hundreds of kilometres of trails within the area, many of which pass by local resorts. Gerow said it’s easy to go straight from your doorstep to your ATV or sled for a ride. One exciting thing that the ATV and snowmobile clubs were involved with this past winter was grooming and signing their trails. Gerow said that they received a grant from the government of Saskatchewan to enhance the trail system. The government and the clubs each contributed half the money needed for the upgrades. h3. Got your GPS? Before hopping on a sled or quad, Gerow had some advice for visitors and local trail users alike. “I really suggest that you take a GPS with you as there are so many trails,” he said. “We have (some of) them marked, but not all. Even the local guys say, ‘Wow, you can get lost here!’” With such an extensive riding area, it’s no surprise that the ATV club is holding a rally in May. At 65 kilometres long, the rally is the perfect length to give visiting ATVers a taste of what the area has to offer. h3. Lakes full of fish There are pristine lakes dotted across the region that, in some cases, are accessible only by ATV or snowmobile. In total, there are 40 lakes in the immediate area, resulting in another popular pastime—watersports. “Every (lake) has something different to offer,” said Gerow. “Most of them have beautiful sandy beaches and fish—everything from lake trout to pickerel and walleye.” If you’re in the area, make like a local and bring your fishing rod along on your ATV—Gerow said that many quadders will catch their dinners before heading home after a day on the trails.
A block of time
Travel back in history by ATV
Country roads, take me home: Old logging roads near Big River travel past wetland areas for great wildlife viewing. — Photo courtesy Barry Nontell
Barry Nontell and his wife, Clarice, like to take guests of their motel, the Timberland Motel in Big River, on an ATV tour back through time. “We can leave right from here and put on 35 to 50 miles a day,” said Barry. “There are lots of old logging roads, and west of Big River is an area called The Block. It was settled in the ’30s and pretty much everybody moved out by 1956.” Trails lead ATVers through old roads in a neighbourhood that no longer exists, giving riders the unique sense of time travel. Barry said day trippers will often take the scenic route skirting Prince Albert National Park, since there are several small lakes off the beaten track between Big River and Prince Albert, and several high points along the way. “One of our favourite trips is to the top of the ski hill to view the river and the lake,” he said. The Big River Timber Trail ATV club is very active, said Barry, with a recent rally bringing in more than 350 ATVers. The draw is the terrain, which has something for everyone—including the opportunity to go back in time.
Teaching safe practices
Young riders in Bonnyville will learn ATV safety this summer
Seeing the need: On April 4, 2009, Glen Smith and Terry Coulombe held a registration day in Bonnyville for a free ATV safety course for youth. — Photo courtesy of Glen Smith
When one thinks about ATVing, what often comes to mind are thoughts of fast, exhilarating riding or good times spent with family and friends; rarely is someone’s first thought of ATVing related to safety. However, while ATVing is a lot of fun, it must also be done safely. h3. Spreading awareness Glen Smith is an instructor for HSE Integrated Ltd., Canada’s largest national industrial safety services company. Mainly, Smith teaches classes about oilsands safety, and last year he took the Canadian Safety Council ATV instructors training course, as a lot of the workers he trains drive quads for their job. With this knowledge, Smith decided that he would try to implement a program in Bonnyville, Alberta, to teach young people about ATV safety. “I decided that we needed to do something about quad safety in the area,” said Smith. “We have had a couple of bad accidents with youth in the area.” In winter 2008, Smith, HSE Integrated and Terry Coulombe, the owner of T&T Power Sports Ltd. in Bonnyville, all became involved with creating an ATV safety course for youth; they worked on setting up a program that would be free of charge for any child. To test the program and see how many participants it would attract, Smith and Coulombe held an open house on April 4 of this year, and more than 100 children signed up. “We don’t want any charge for the kids,” said Smith. “HSE is providing the books, so it’s free of charge that way; (Coulombe) is providing the quads and I am providing my time. It is on my own time, not (company) time. It will be Saturdays and days off in the evenings. I am going to do it in my own backyard.” For the children to be certified by the ATV Canadian Safety Council, Smith can teach only four children at a time. He sees this as a bonus, as the course will be so much more than just an awareness class. “I have grandkids and I have been riding ATVs for a good part of my life,” said Smith. “My kids have been raised on them. ATVs were getting a bad name—and it wasn’t the ATV, it was the riders that were giving them a bad name. And I was sick of hearing about kids getting hurt. I thought, ‘Well, if I can save one life or one injury by doing something, then it will be worth it,’ so that is why I decided to do it.” During the course, Smith will be teaching the youth basic safety training for ATVing, such as getting onto your quad from the left side because that is where your brake is, as opposed to the right side where the quad’s throttle is located. “It is not the ATV,” said Smith, “it is just the awareness. Kids need to learn a little about wearing helmets and just the basics of ATVs. It is not the real hard things that are hurting them—it’s the basics. It is what I call rider active—knowing how to shift your weight and how not to get yourself into situations that you can’t get out of.” At the culmination of the course, Smith said, the kids will be given a certificate from the Canadian Safety Council. He is looking forward to teaching the youth about ATV safety. “Out of 100 kids,” said Smith, “if I can get to 50 per cent of them, that is 50 kids that are trained better than when I started.” Due to the mandatory small class sizes, Smith doesn’t know if he will be able to teach the course to all the children who signed up. He is looking for volunteers to assist him in instructing a couple of the classes; anyone who is interested can call Smith at 780-826-5300.
From farmlands to forested trails
Collin Hartl has had a lifelong passion for ATVing
Explore and discover:: Collin Hartl and fellow ATVers stop to take in the scenery around Lintlaw — photo by Collin Hartl
Collin Hartl of Lintlaw, Saskatchewan, is an avid ATVer who has had a passion for the sport since he was 12. He loves getting out for a ride in the area around his hometown. “It is really scenic around here,” said Hartl. “I grew up only a mile away from the forest reserve—we had farmland that was right beside it and that always made it more enjoyable—chasing cattle or guiding other people. Hartl said that on this farmland, one can find abandoned homes that belonged to early farmers who lived on the land almost 60 years ago. “This is a huge area of the forest reserve and in the bush there are abandoned farmyards and houses,” said Hartl. “It is kind of neat to be driving in the middle of the deep bush and all of a sudden there is an old farmyard and it is kind of weird that it is all abandoned. Because it is a forest reserve no one can farm that land though.” Hartl is one of the owners of Lintlaw Service, a Ski-Doo and Can-Am dealership. Running the shop can make life busy sometimes, but Hartl manages to find time to get out on his ATV. “When I get a minute to go I have to just go,” said Hartl, “because if I wait to get something organized, then I miss out.”
Plenty of possibilities
Anglers, ATVers and golfers will love this region of the province
Non-Stop Fun:: From quadding through rough terrain to relaxing on sandy beaches, the options are limitless in East Central Saskatchewan. — photo courtesy M. Roebuck and T. Goebel
The key to the ultimate outdoor vacation is at your fingertips when visiting this part of Saskatchewan. Many of the communities have fantastic golfing opportunities, great fishing spots, beautiful lakes and endless trails to explore. Watrous, a town 100 kilometres east of Saskatoon, is famous because of its proximity to Manitou Beach; north of Watrous a wonderful par 36, nine-hole golf course awaits. Lakes, golf courses and parks surround Canora. In particular, Good Spirit Lake Resort has an 18-hole golf course, numerous walking trails, opportunities to fish for walleye and northern pike, and luxurious accommodation for the whole family. In addition to having great ATVing trails, Hudson Bay offers rewarding fishing. To test your luck, head to the town of Hudson Bay for the Hudson Bay Lions Club Fishing Derby at Parr Hill Lake on June 7. Entry is $50 per fisherman, with the grand prize of $1,000 (minimum) being awarded for the longest jackfish caught. However, if no fish are caught throughout the day, the Lions Club will donate the allocated prize money to a charity. Most known for being the oil can capital of the world, Rocanville—a community 20 kilometres west of the Manitoba border—is alive with sporting events, recreational activities and excellent campgrounds.
SATVA is starting to roll
The new ATV association puts the focus on safety and stewardship
A Unified Voice: : The Saskatchewan All Terrain Vehicle Association (SATVA) is a new organization that represents the riders of the province and promotes environmental awareness along with improved safety. — photo courtesy SATVA
The Saskatchewan All Terrain Vehicle Association (SATVA) is now in its second year of operation and Ken Anderson, president of the association, is hoping to spread the word about the organization and its mandates. “The goals and objectives are maintaining the right to ride in the province,” said Anderson. “(We’re) working with the various departments in the provincial government for the operation and maintenance of trails; for obtaining a substantial growth in the number of ATV safety instructors in the province; (and) working with Tread Lightly on environmental issues.” The organization is still in the early stages of development, but as ATVing is increasing in popularity—for recreational riders as well as farmers and ranchers—Anderson said the need for such an organization is apparent. “The ATV fraternity/industry here is reaping the benefits of the growth in Saskatchewan,” said Anderson. “That continued growth is going to have an impact everywhere, so we want to be ready to make sure that we have the resources and vehicles available to become good corporate citizens within the province.” Anderson believes that a central association can act as an advocate for riders and provincial ATV clubs as well as promote the activity as one that can be safe, environmentally low impact and accessible to all. “You need a voice—you need an umbrella organization within the province—so the ATV clubs and individuals riding ATVs have a . . . source of information,” said Anderson. Anderson believes that making riders aware of the many issues surrounding ATV use is important in order to curb some of the more dangerous or destructive activities that give all riders a bad name. “There are some issues where (the riders) do not respect private property or they do not respect the wetlands or marshes or areas that are environmentally sensitive,” said Anderson. “That is a big public awareness that has to be brought to their attention—that there are trails out there; that there are trails that are going to be developed. We do not need a bunch of criticism that seems to be consistent province to province about destroying the environment or not being sensitive to those issues.” Anderson is hoping the new provincial body will also help to increase safety awareness among riders in Saskatchew-an. One of the goals of the SATVA is to reduce the number of ATV-related accidents and injuries through the introduction of more safety programs and safety instructors provincewide. “We’re developing plans,” he said. “We’re working with the All Terrain Council of Canada, the Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Council, Tread Lightly and other groups like that to implement some of these plans—the bottom line being to make it a safer environment for us to operate in (and) hopefully reduce the bad publicity and bad incidents. “If we can do that, we expect that there will be more clubs and more members joining the association.”
Saskatchewan key contacts
Saskatchewan
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East Central. SK
The destination for every level of rider
You will find a surprise around every corner in Saskatchewan’s East Central region. The stunning transformation of the landscape from prairie to boreal forest showcases nature in its most grand form. Vast numbers of birds migrate through the area, making this an incredible destination for bird lovers. Unique communities are part of the mix, including four vibrant cities and a dynamic Ukrainian culture. Add a natural healing spa and a host of exciting events, not to mention a landscape that is truly an off-road enthusiast's dream. It is no wonder that our area won nine Rider’s Choice Awards for our spectacular ATVing terrain.
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Big River, SK
Convenient, comfortable and affordable
Ride from your door and enjoy an overabundance of ATV trails.
The Timberland Motel is located in a woodland setting with more than 20 lakes within 12 miles of our front door, but in Big River you can fish right where the town dock extends into Cowan Lake.
We are located on the Trans-Canadian Snowmobile Trail, so you can snowmobile right up to the door of your comfortable room. The Timberland Motel features a range of amenities, such as air conditioning, wireless high-speed Internet, an outdoor hot tub and much more.
The motel itself is also for sale, so rent a room now and see the incredible potential in this modern, clean facility.
The small shop with big service
Season's Edge Recreation has been serving Nipawin and surrounding area for more than 12 years, and we are dedicated to our customers' needs. Like our customers, we are also snowmobile and ATV enthusiasts.
Here at Season's Edge we ride what we sell so we are able to understand and respond to your needs. We know how important it is for you to have a great experience every time you ride.
On our days off, we look forward to jumping on our toys and hitting the trails or venturing out into the back country, so don't be suprised if you meet up with us next time you're out for a ride.