‘Roads scholar‘ picks favourite spots from past year
Emphasizing his love of nature, the Saskatchewanderer shared with Erin Petrow some favourite places in the province to visit.
Kevin Dunn spent the last year exploring the province as this year’s Saskatchewanderer. With a heavy focus on getting outside, he found some truly magical places during his time driving through the southern plains to the northern forests.
The former City of Saskatoon maintenance worker shares some of his favourite spots and activities for people interested in finding new and unique places to experience this winter.
Q: Where did you experience your best day as the Saskatchewanderer?
A: The best day was getting the job ... but another standout was going to Stanley Mission and hopping on fat bikes with a group of 20 riders. We rode our bikes along the lakeshore for about 20 kilometres to one of Saskatchewan’s largest waterfalls called Nistowiak (Falls). This was a two-day trip, but this was something that was big for me because it took a lot of energy and commitment. I was limping for about a week afterwards.
We were on snow and it was about -15 C outside and as we got close you can hear the rush of the water and once you arrive you see it. The mists are rising and everything looks like what you would see on a postcard, but it’s right in front of you in plain sight. It took a lot of my energy to get there, but being able to showcase the waterfalls in the wintertime was the key thing for me.
Q: What are the best spots in the province to get outside and enjoy some winter activities?
A: I’m going to say Ness Creek. There’s been a lot of focus on Ness Creek in the summertime, but recently they’ve been pushing to promote their winter activities because they are a yearround place that you can hang out and visit.
Last winter I actually went to Ness Creek for their third annual winter festival, which was pretty small scale, but they did an amazing job with sleigh rides, fireworks, ice carving and all that kind of winter stuff. Going out there, it’s on the edge of the boreal forest and the edge of Prince Albert National Park, so everything you need is there — like you would see at Waskesiu — just on a smaller, less commercialized scale.
I would say Ness Creek would be one of my destinations to go for a relaxing day to cross-country ski, snowshoe and kind of just connect to nature.
Q: What event or place struck you as the most unusual?
A: One that really stands out for me, it’s in this little town off the beaten path called Stenen, Sask. While I was checking out the area, I was also getting a lot of suggestions about checking out this place to eat called Rawhides.
This restaurant is literally in the middle of nowhere in a town of about 40 to 100 people and it’s an old school that they have converted into a country bar. They’ve converted it in the best way they could have — it’s something you would expect to see in a big city — and it was packed. People travel far to come to Rawhides ... it was something that just blew me away. People would be driving from as far away as Yorkton, maybe an hour away, just to go for supper.“
Q: Where would you suggest people visit if they are hoping for a short, relaxing weekend getaway?
A: “This was a more recent trip of mine — I visited a place called Waters Edge Eco Lodge at Greig Lake in the Meadow Lake Provincial Park. It’s a luxurious accommodation in the middle of the forest and it’s done up in a way that it blended into the surrounding environment while still being warm and welcoming for people wanting to have a retreat in nature.
They try to be as respectful to the environment as possible and while they are doing all that, the place is done up in a way you would feel like you were walking into a lodge in B.C., but this is really done Saskatchewan style. It’s just in the middle of the bush, but everything is there for you, so you feel very at home, but you’re still getting that opportunity to just let go and relax.“
Q: What activities or place would you suggest checking out near Saskatoon or Regina for people who only have a day or are looking to stick close to home?
A: “I think Saskatoon has a real advantage here because you can travel within an hour radius around the city and you’d be able to find something, no problem.
North of Saskatoon by Blaine Lake you have Saskatchewan’s largest tree, where you have to go, drive, follow the signs and find it in the valley of the North Saskatchewan River and you could continue the journey another half an hour and check out the Crooked Bush near Hafford, Sask. South of the city, you could go to Lake Diefenbaker and visit the two nearby provincial parks, Douglas and Danielson, and each one provides so much to see and do.
Regina is in close proximity to Moose Mountain Provincial Park, which is interesting because it’s mostly plains down there and then all of a sudden you hit Moose Mountain and it’s just large forests, rolling hills and lots of lakes. Straight south of Regina you have the Big Muddy Valley and that’s filled with amazing natural landforms and cliffs.
Each community I found has something that you could travel to and make a day trip out of it.“
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity and length. epetrow@postmedia.com