renkatie

So, I am driving from Ontario out to Kelowna with my girlfriend. She has never done the drive. I have done it a few times before, but it was always the 3 day push. We are taking our time so that we can enjoy the views and stops along the way. We are planning on Camping throughout the trip. We are in our late 20's and early 30's and I am also a Photographer if that helps with any of the stops.

My Questions are: From your experiance, Is Hwy 1 more scenic then hwy 16 through Saskachewan from Ontario?

: Where are great places to camp off either Highways (free/or fees) and arn't affected by the heavy floods from the spring?

Thank you,

Aramis

We are talking about Saskatchewan here, so the term "better drive" is relative.

The Yellowhead isn't far enough north to get your out of that pure flat prairie feel of our famously planked province.

If it was me, I would take the Trans Canada and use the time saved to dash in to Cypress Hills Provincial Park (Hey "Hills"!!!) or Grasslands National Park for some really nice rolling prarie scenery. The photographer in you will be happier.

Do not stop in Regina - Do not pass Go, Do not collect any money, keep driving.

You can tie your steering wheel off to the door handle for a long stretch most of the trip between Brooks and Medicine Hat. You got flat everywhere, but if you want straight and flat - there's your 30 mile stretch.

You could also stop in Dinosaur Provincial Park, near Drumheller for some hellacious hoodoo scenery if you take the TCH.

BAK

I'd stay south, and follow Aramis' advice about Cypress Hills, and other interesting landscapes south of highway 1.

The good newsin REgina is that the nicest stuff -- museum and the legislature building, some decent restaurants, gas stations, -- are on the south side of town.

Moose Mountain Provincial park, in eastern Sask, is worth a visit, too.

In Alberta, you get to cowboy country earlier than if you are up in Edmonton.

renkatie

great! thanks for the help!

Darlene_O

I agree with Aramis.. on most everything. But I Love Regina!
Lived there for six years and thoroughly enjoyed the city. Wascana Park was fantastic! And the city has a lot to offer..

We spent some time in Drumheller some years ago with the kids. The Hoodoos were amazing!

NorthwestMale

""You could also stop in Dinosaur Provincial Park, near Drumheller for some hellacious hoodoo scenery if you take the TCH.""


I wonder if it's better when you're taking 'THC' as well ??

Borealis

Drumheller is in Alberta not Saskatchewan, and is actually somewhat north of the Trans Canada (65 km).

Dinosaur Provincial Park is northwest of Brooks (50 km) and about approximately 160 km southeast of Drumheller.

Both areas are worth a visit, the landscape of the badlands makes for interesting photography. Even in the rain it makes for wonderful images - the colours and striations in the soil really "pop out" when wet.

And don't forget about the world class Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology in Drumheller.

However, all these places are in Alberta not Saskatchewan.

Personally I really love the Saskatchewan landscape (even though I'm an Albertan !!!) - the sky is incredible, there is a quiet strength to the land that grabs you, and there are numerous opportunities for fabulous photographs of land, light and sky that would be difficult to find anywhere else in Canada.

Highway 16 (the Yellowhead) is dreadful in Manitoba (narrow, no shoulders, full of potholes, worse the closer you get to the Sask border). However, Riding Mountain National Park (west-central Manitoba) is worth a visit.
Once in Sask the Yellowhead improves, and becomes divided four lane near Saskatoon.

As was mentioned above, Grasslands National Park (the west bit south of Val Marie) and Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park (southwest Sask) are both scenic, even though you would need to make side trips off the main route (Trans Canada).

Hope this helps.

Kwoo

I enjoy reading other people's posts, even if I'm not going to the destination they are going to because it's another way of learning about different destinations. So I've read this post & have a question: What is hoodoo scenery???

Borealis

A hoodoo is a sandstone pillar resting on a thick base of shale that is capped by a large stone. They take millions of years to form (by erosion). Hoodoos are very fragile and can erode completely if their capstone is dislodged.

For photos check this out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ho...Drumheller.jpg

Aramis

No one said that Drumheller or Dinosaur Provincial Park were in Saskatchewan.

The OP is traveling to Kelowna, so Alberta is going to get in the way.

The Alberta recommendations were just "support" for taking the TCH instead of the Yellowhead.

You are correct in pointing out the Dinosaur PP is closer to Brooks than Drumheller. Drumheller is far more interesting, though. Adding it as a side trip from the TCH only adds about 1:15 to the drive.