I may have spent the first twenty years of my life in Saskatchewan, but if I’m being honest, I had no idea there were a dozen ferries dispersed across the landscape, waiting to transport cars and passengers across the rivers. Late last summer and into early fall, in an effort to explore my home province, I decided to try out a few of these ferries. Since I didn’t have a chance to write about it before the ferries closed for the winter, spring is the perfect time as the ferries typically open again in April. Any ferry (or two) is perfect for a weekend day trip as it is possible to visit nearby sites and towns as well. Here is my Saskatchewan Ferry Tale.
Riverhurst Ferry
The Riverhurst Ferry is located two hours northwest of Regina and crosses a wide stretch of the South Saskatchewan River. We decided to cross at Riverhurst and then drive around Lake Diefenbaker before returning to Regina. There is no fee, but you may wish to consult ferry schedules because it crosses only once per hour. You probably won’t complain if you have to wait though, since the riverbank is truly gorgeous here. The erosion from the waves has given the area a feeling of going to the seaside and you’ll be tempted to snap pictures in all directions.
We set off from Regina on one of those days prairie people know all too well, a day when the wind feels like it might carry you off if you don’t have something to hold on to. Despite the furious winds whipping up waves and tearing at my hair, I couldn’t resist leaving the car to take in the scenery.
Due to the pandemic, passengers must stay in their vehicles during the half-hour crossing. Destiny didn’t mind at all. She’s an experienced road tripper and in training to become a pirate on the River Saskatchewan.
Lake Diefenbaker and Elbow
After crossing at Riverhurst, we drove north to reach Lake Diefenbaker, stopping briefly at an expansive beach (not pictured) before driving around the perimeter of the lake. The lake would have been glorious on a calmer day, and in spite of the strong winds there were people enjoying the water, but it was just a little too frigid for my taste. The northernmost portion of Lake Diefenbaker falls within Danielson Provincial Park. Heading south again, we drove to Elbow, where Google Maps had promised ice cream and coffee (essentials on any summer road trip).
Elbow has more than coffee and ice cream, offering a glimpse into history on the prairies. The old Pool grain elevator still stands proud, a sentinel that brings back fond memories for all those of us who grew up here. Elbow also has a replica sod house, which serves as the local museum. It is a reminder of how settlers lived in the early 20th century.
Clarkboro Ferry
The Clarkboro Ferry is about 20 minutes outside Saskatoon and can be accessed via Warman. The ferry is much smaller than the one at Riverhurst, but then again, the stretch of water is much narrower. We used the crossing on an early fall trip north to our cottage, a small detour to visit parts of Saskatchewan we had never seen before.
Little Ukrainian Greek Church on the Prairie
We didn’t have much of a plan after crossing the Clarkboro Ferry except to locate some of the Orthodox-style churches in the area. Google Maps showed some writing in the Cyrillic alphabet and we figured that might be a good place to start. The navigator took us to the hamlet of Smuts, where we found a Catholic church constructed in Neo-Byzantine style in 1926. St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is a Municipal Heritage Property, and although it was not open, it was still fun to see the Byzantine style right here on the prairies. Note also the detached belfry, common amongst the churches in the area. Just down the road is the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church, also constructed in 1926.
On the way to the next ferry crossing, we came across a Ukrainian Catholic Ascension Church located on Fish Creek Road (639).
Hague Ferry
To return to Highway 11, we took the Hague ferry west across the South Saskatchewan River. The Clarkboro and Hague ferries were quite similar in size. This river is one of our great natural assets, and what better way to cross than by ferry? If, like me, you didn’t even know Saskatchewan had ferries, I would encourage you to get out and write your own Saskatchewan Ferry Tale!
Pingback: Surveying South Sask: Great Day Trips from Regina - Danee with Destiny