Eastern Saskatchewan
They just keep going
The trails in east Saskatchewan seem to last forever
Premium conditions: The territory in Saskatchewan is famous for a reason.—photo by Dwight Grzybowski
During prime snowmobiling months, sledders seek out regions with high snowfall, well-marked trails and lots of play areas. East Central Saskatchewan is home to an abundance of lakes, forests and snowy winters, making this region a sledding haven.
Head to sled in Hudson Bay
Rick Dolezsar is a past president of the Hudson Bay Trail Riders and is the director of the trails committee in Hudson Bay. An avid sledder, Dolezsar has been snowmobiling in Hudson Bay since the early ’80s and puts an average of 5,600 kilometres on his sled each winter—which, he said, is no problem.
“It is easy to be an avid rider in Hudson Bay,” said Dolezsar. “We have trailheads that depart right out of town and you can ride from your backyard. We have 600 kilometres of local trails and we are linked to the entire Saskatchewan network.”
Dolezsar said that visitors to the area can sled for the better part of a week and not ride the same trail twice. There are a few trails that lead and loop around the Wildcat Hill Provincial Wilderness Park and they are Dolezsar’s personal favourites.
“We have a number of looped trails to the north of town here in the provincial forest,” said Dolezsar. “One of them goes up to the Wildcat Hill Wilderness Park where the snow conditions are usually excellent. This area has the second highest elevation in Saskatchewan and the Wildcat Hill trail is a personal favourite of mine. We also have a trail that goes to the southeast of town out to the Porcupine Forest and that trail goes to a higher elevation and you end up at Moose Range Lodge. Hudson Bay is located in the valley and provincial forest surrounds us and our trail system heads up into the forest in most directions.”
Yorkton has much to offer
Yorkton has a well-developed trail network and a dedicated club of sledding enthusiasts. The Yorkton Sno-Drifters maintain over 550 kilometres of trails with their three groomers. Darrell Mirva, a member of the club, said that there’s much variety on the trails.
“There’s wide open areas where you can just cruise,” said Mirva. “Also, there’s access to a lot of fields where, in many years, we get a lot of powder. There’s always a good mix of wildlife to see.”
Sledders will be happy to find a number of warm-up shelters as well. There are more than a dozen within sledding distance of Yorkton. Snowmobilers with GPS units can find the co-ordinates of the shelters at www.yorktonsnoriders.com.
Sledders from outside Yorkton will enjoy their stays in the community; it is one of the few locations that allows sledding within city limits.
Discover the trails around Carlyle
Snowmobilers looking to hit the trails around Carlyle will enjoy the trail system in Moose Mountain Provincial Park, a mere 20 minutes from Carlyle.
“The park has a lot of bush trails,” said Ben Baker, a long-standing member of the Moose Mountain Snowmobile Club. “Some of the roads are turned into sled trails for the winter. The main trail is the centre road, which goes right from the village end into the west end of the park. We call it Camp 100.” Baker also suggests riding the Southern Trail, the Bennett Lake Road and the Stevenson Lake Road.
The terrain around Carlyle is varied, with some treed areas interspersed with open areas and hills. There are many opportunities for ice and lake riding.
Baker said that though the park itself is not large, the trail network within Moose Mountain Provincial Park expands far beyond the park’s borders. More than 400 kilometres of trails are maintained by the club, leading to communities such as Carlyle, Melville, Yorkton and Stoughton. All the trails are linked, enabling sledders to travel easily from one town to another.
There are shelters located throughout the trail system, the closest to Carlyle being the Silver Bullet. Shelters can also be found around Kisbey, Stoughton and on the Stevenson Trail.
The club distributes free maps from local gas stations and snowmobile dealerships, as well as their website. Visit www.mmsnowmobiling.com to download a map.
Winter is wonderful in Watrous
Whether it’s a peaceful prairie ride or a riveting day trip through several towns, Watrous is a perfect stop for sledders. There is a large trail network starting from the nearby community of Humboldt, within an hour’s drive. Trails here lead to towns such as Watson and Naicam.
East of Naicam, Greenwater Lake Provincial Park is a well-known sled destination. There are 108 kilometres of two-way groomed sled trails in the park, some of which link into the Trans-Canadian Snowmobile Trail. The trails are groomed weekly and well signed. There are several warm-up shelters throughout the park. There are also plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing.
Approximately 60 kilometres from Watrous, there are trail systems around Last Mountain Lake. More than 200 kilometres of groomed trails are found here.
Saskatchewan contacts
-
Give your seat new life with SaddleSkins
Snowmobiles have special cover requirements. Extra cold weather can cause ordinary vinyl to split and crack. Travelcade SaddleSkins™ for sleds are made of a heavy-duty cold weather material that is impervious to cold down to more than minus 40 degrees. All features of the original seat are retained—rear compartment, lights, side buffers all duplicated in our replacement covers. SaddleSkins are available for motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles with original manufacturer’s fit and design. Their weather-resistant vinyl endures all sorts of riding conditions, and replaces duct tape and unsightly tears at an economical price.
Warn XT and RT Winch Series: the best winches in the world are now even better.
The complete line of WARN® Powersports winches lets you ride with confidence knowing that when you need to pull yourself out of the muck or move a heavy load, you’ll be up to the task time and time again. Both the XT Extreme Terrain and RT Rugged Terrain winches are designed specifically for powersports vehicles. Standard features includes weather-resistant sealed construction; rugged and reliable three-stage planetary geartrains; patented disc brakes for enhanced control; efficient electrical systems for less battery drain; easy-to-use clutch dials; and legendary WARN quality. You can be assured these winches are the best on the market. Both the SaddleSkins and WARN Powersports winches are available at Recreation Supply Co. Ltd. in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Recreation Supply Co. Ltd -
The perfect spot for either business or pleasure
The Candle Lake area is well-known to snowmobilers for its great snow conditions and 500 kilometres of sheltered trails. The Candle Lake SnoDrifters snowmobile club maintains the trails throughout the area, there are warmup shelters and fuel is available at several locations. We now offer Polaris 550 snowmobile and cabin rentals, providing a warm place to stay for your winter holiday.
For detailed sledding information, see www.sasksnowmobiling.sk.ca. We have a terrific VIP Winter Stay Package available for additional savings. You can also rent a hot tub or sled right here at the resort.
Our year-round convention centre along with our event planners are perfect for business retreats, weddings, reunions, conventions and any other special events.Candle Lake Golf Resort -
East Central. SK
The destination for every level of sledder
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 a snowmobiler's dream. It is no wonder that our area won 11 Rider’s Choice Awards for our spectacular sledding terrain.
East Central Tourism -
Big River, SK
Convenient, comfortable and affordable
We are located on the Trans-Canadian Snowmobile Trail, so you can snowmobile right up to the door of your comfortable room. There are cross-country skiing trails leading from the motel, and we are minutes away from downhill skiiing areas.
The Timberland Motel features a range of amenities, such as air conditioning, wireless high-speed Internet, an outdoor hot tub and much more. 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.
The motel itself is also for sale, so rent a room now and see the incredible potential in this modern, clean facility.Timberland Motel
