REGINA
Standing on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, near the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, presents a view of an endless river and a valley on either side.
It鈥檚 one of the spots on the Trans sa国际传媒 Trail that trail development manager Kristen Gabora says can leave visitors in awe.
鈥淲e opened the Chief Whitecap Waterway at Whitecap Dakota First Nation, and when you鈥檙e standing on that riverbank and you鈥檙e looking out, it鈥檚 just the most beautiful, beautiful thing ever,鈥� said Gabora. 鈥淭he whole waterway is phenomenal.鈥�
The Chief Whitecap Waterway is the Trans sa国际传媒 Trail鈥檚 first paddling route in Saskatchewan.
It鈥檚 just over 100 kilometres of water trail, running through the Whitecap Dakota First Nation from the Gardiner Dam on Lake Diefenbaker to the city of Saskatoon.
The waterway is part of about 1,700 kilometres of the Trans sa国际传媒 Trail in Saskatchewan. The trail is connected through walking paths, waterways and on gravel country roads.
The idea of creating a trail that would link Canadians from coast to coast started in 1992. Since then, Trans sa国际传媒 Trail, a not-for-profit organization, has been working with donors, governments and volunteers to create an epic trail on both land and water routes.
鈥淭he trail really is a living symbol of national collaboration, one that will continue to grow and flourish for generations to come,鈥� said Trans sa国际传媒 Trail president and CEO Deborah Apps.
Every province and territory has its own stretch of the trail, which is owned and operated at the local level.
There are about 20,770 kilometres of trail across sa国际传媒 so far and it鈥檚 87 per cent connected. Saskatchewan鈥檚 section was announced as fully connected Oct. 1.
Some 40 rural municipalities in Saskatchewan got on board with the project and chose routes that link people to points of interest. They intentionally stayed off highways.
鈥淲e really wanted to keep people all about what Saskatchewan is and it鈥檚 not about following a ribbon of highway,鈥� said Gabora.
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> See TRAIL, page D7
鈥淚t鈥檚 about following grid roads, which are like following the roads of the pioneers.鈥�
Standing on that dusty road that stretches forever, with farmland on either side, makes you wonder what the first settlers thought when they stood here, says Gabora. It must have been intimidating and inspiring at the same time.
鈥淓verywhere you go on this trail, I think you get that feeling,鈥� said Gabora.
鈥淵ou get the rich history of Saskatchewan. You get the feeling of our settlers. You get the feeling of our First Nations. This whole province is just so etched in history and I think, at times, we tend to forget that. And I think on this trail it gives you a chance to get back to those roots and to really feel one with nature.鈥�
Work is also finishing up on a six-kilometre part of the Elbow Trail, running between the golf course in the village of Elbow and Lake Diefenbaker.
Gabora says it will be a must-see spot.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very quiet. It鈥檚 peaceful,鈥� she said.
鈥淎t times, you鈥檙e up on an open hill, on an open prairie hill overlooking the lake [with] this beautiful vista. Then you come around a corner and you鈥檙e in dense, dense trees and brush and you feel like you鈥檙e in the middle of a forest. It鈥檚 just unbelievable. There are so many different aspects to this trail.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not overly long, but it鈥檚 beautiful, and it is a major link between Douglas Provincial Park and Danielson Provincial Park.鈥�
The Trans sa国际传媒 Trail website lists five must-see sections of the trail in Saskatchewan, including a bicycle-friendly stretch along the Louis Riel Trail that leads cyclists to the National Historic Site at Batoche, Riel鈥檚 headquarters and the site of the last battle of the North-West Rebellion of 1885.
Gabora says Batoche is her favourite historical spot on the trail.
She also likes the sunset from the Saw-Whet Trail near Lumsden, just north of Regina, and says the Wakamow Valley Suspension Bridge in Moose Jaw is the 鈥渋cing on the cake鈥� for a trail with kids.
But it鈥檚 hard to choose an overall favourite spot.
鈥淚 have been probably on every section of this trail and they are all so unique and they all pull at my heartstrings for different reasons,鈥� said Gabora.
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If You Go...
Explore the trail map at www.thegreattrail.ca
Visit www.chiefwhitecapwaterway.ca for details on planning your trip, including canoe rentals.
