The Meewasin Valley Authority has recently made the South Saskatchewan River Ecocanoe Tour Map Guide available online in pdf form. This series of maps is an excellent resource for paddling the South Sask from Gardiner Dam to the Forks. Originally published in 1998, it has been out of print and unavailable for some years now.The guide breaks down the trip into sections or "reaches" each of which can be paddled in a day (usually a short day but that might depend on the section and on the wind). It provides information on access points, historical highlights of each region, and points of interest along the way. The original version was published on large paper sheets (11x17) with the map on the front, and the extra information on the back, with all of the sheets packaged in a folder so that you can take just the relevant sheets when paddling certain sections.
The maps can be found on the Meewasin Valley Authority web site.
12/6/08 Update: I just realised that the guide available online so far only covers Gardiner Dam to Saskatoon. I called the Meewasin Valley Authority this morning and they tell me that the second half of the guide (Saskatoon to the Forks) should be available online soon (two weeks?). Also, the MVA will be making black and white photocopies of the guide and will have them available at the MVA office for $10 to cover the cost of printing. I wonder how much it would cost to have a company like Mondrian print colour copies of the guide? (I have sent them a query by e-mail.)
By the way, the full set of maps are now available at the link given (despite what the MVA says, don't let them confuse you).
ReplyDeleteBy the way, back in June of 08 I checked on the costs to get these maps printed in colour on 11x17 paper. To have all 26 pages printed, it would cost about $25 and up. 8)
ReplyDeleteWe are looking at canoeing the South Saskatchewan River and considering different options for launch points. Those maps are great!
ReplyDeleteWould you have any first-hand or second-hand knowledge of the River levels this month in the Saskatoon area? My paddling partner is a beginner so we don't want anything too challenging or gruelling. We are looking to launch end of July. Thanks!
Hello MEG,
ReplyDeleteI haven't been on the S. Sask R. Lately, but I wouldn't expect the flow to be overly much. The river normally peaks in late June or early July which is how long it takes for the meltwater to reach us from the mountains. This year everything's been low and they've been holding water back in the Diefenbaker reservoir, metering it out more slowly than usual.
You can find water level information from Sask Watershed Authority at http://www.swa.ca.
From the Moon Lake graph it appears that the river level has changed very little since April, which means it is low.
Cheers,
Bryan
Do you know of any guidebooks that cover the length of the South Saskatchewan? I'd like to do a trip from Calgary to Saskatoon on the Bow and Saskatchewan.
ReplyDeleteNo sorry, I don't know of anything that covers upriver from Diefenbaker Dam. Aside from the map set discussed in this post, I learned today that GoTrekkers (http://www.gotrekkers.com) are making a map that also covers downstream from Diefenbaker. I saw it at Eb's Sail & Sports this afternoon. You could enquire with GoTrekkers to see if they have plans to produce one for other parts of the river.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Bryan