Lake Diefenbaker

This is a destination-level article covering a large, sparsely populated rural area with multiple small towns and villages.

Lake Diefenbaker is a reservoir and sparsely populated rural area in the transition area between southern and central Saskatchewan.

Understand

Lake Diefenbaker

Named after John G. Diefenbaker, former Prime Minister of Canada, Lake Diefenbaker was formed by the construction of Gardiner Dam and the Qu'Appelle River Dam across the South Saskatchewan and Qu'Appelle Rivers respectively. Construction began in 1959 and the lake was filled in 1967. The lake is 225 km (140 mi) long with approximately 800 km (500 mi) of shoreline. It has a maximum depth of 66 m (217 ft), while the water levels regularly fluctuate 3–9 metres (9–27 feet) each year. There are three provincial parks and various regional parks on the shores of Lake Diefenbaker. Recreational activities include fishing, boating and camping. The Town of Elbow contains a marina for boat storage and house boat rental.

Towns and communities

• 1 Beechy : a small village along Hwy 342
• 2 Birsay : a small village at the junctions of Hwys 45 & 373
• 3 Broderick : a small village along Hwy 15
• 4 Central Butte : a small town at the junctions of Hwys 19 & 42
• 5 Elbow : on the northeastern shore of Lake Diefenbaker on Hwy 19, near the Qu'Appelle Valley Dam
• 6 Loreburn : a small village at the junctions of Hwys 19 & 44
• 7 Lucky Lake : northwest of Lake Diefenbaker at the junction of Hwys 42 & 45
• 8 Macrorie : north of Lake Diefenbaker on Hwy 44, near the Gardiner Dam
• 9 Outlook : downstream from Lake Diefenbaker on Hwy 15
• 10 Riverhurst : on the eastern shore of Lake Diefenbaker on Hwy 42, home of the Riverhurst ferry
• 11 Whitecap : within the Whitecap Dakota First Nation on Hwy 219; 26 km (16 mi) south of Saskatoon

Other destinations

• 1 Danielson Provincial Park
• Douglas Provincial Park
• 2 Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park

Get in

The best way to access the area is by car. Lake Diefenbaker is 1 hour south of Saskatoon and 2 hours northwest of Regina, the locations of the two nearest airports. The area can be accessed from Highway 11 via Highway 44 at Davidson or Highway 15 at Kenaston. Highway 219 provides an alternative access from Saskatoon, while Highway 42 links to Highway 2 near Moose Jaw.

Get around

Car is essential because the large, sparsely populated area. Lake crossings are minimal, with bridges at Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park (Highway 4 north of Swift Current), the Gardiner Dam (Highway 44), and Outlook (Highway 15); a free ferry crosses the lake at Riverhurst.

See

• 1 Gardiner Dam (Hwy 44 over the South Saskatchewan River (Lake Diefenbaker)). The third largest embankment dam in Canada and one of the largest embankment dams in the world.  
• 2 Qu'Appelle River Dam (1 km from Hwy 19 over the Qu'Appelle River). The third largest embankment dam in Canada and one of the largest embankment dams in the world.  
• 3 Riverhurst Ferry, Hwy 42. 1.5 km (0.93 mi) cable ferry across Lake Diefenbaker, operated by the Saskatchewan Department of Highways and Transportation. (updated Mar 2019)

Do

Casino

• 1 Dakota Dunes Casino, 204 Dakota Dunes Way, Whitecap. 84,000 sq ft facility includes a casino (with 500 slot machines, 14 table games), multi-purpose rooms, and restaurant. (updated Mar 2019)

Golf

• Dakota Dunes Golf Links, Whitecap, ☏ +1-306-664-4653, toll-free: +1-877-414-4653. Laid throughout natural sand dune formations and indigenous prairie grasses. (updated Mar 2019)
• Harbor Golf Club & Resort, Elbow (1 km SW of Elbow on the shore of Lake Diefenbaker), ☏ +1-306-854-2300. 18-hole championship golf course overlooking Lake Diefenbaker; dining available. (updated Mar 2019)
• Sage View Golf Course, Riverhurst (in Palliser Regional Park near Riverhurst), ☏ +1-306-353-2065. (updated Mar 2019)

Hiking

• Saskatchewan Landing Trails. 3 separate hiking trails in Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park. (updated Mar 2019)
• Beechy Sandcastles and Sunken Hill (7.2 km W of Beechy on Hwy 342, then 29 km S on Howendale Road), ☏ +1-306-859-2205. Inquire before travel. (updated Mar 2019)

Watersports

• Chief Whitecap Waterway. Part of the Great Trail (Trans-Canada Trail), you can paddle 100 km (62 mi) the South Saskatchewan River between the Gardiner Dam and Saskatoon with various start and end points. (updated Mar 2019)
• Prairie Lake Vacations, Riverhurst (Departures adjacent to Hwy 42 near the Riverhurst Ferry - East Crossing), ☏ +1-306-796-7375. Rentals for Lake Diefenbaker on a tour boat, houseboat, pontoon boat or fishing boat. (updated Mar 2019)

Eat

Birsay

• Birsay Kitchen, Birsay (located at the intersection of Hwys 373 & 646 in Birsay), ☏ +1 306-573-2106. Home-cooked meals and pizzas, ice cream, and cinnamon buns. (updated Mar 2019)

Broderick

• Terrace Dining Room, 109 King Street, Broderick (from Hwy 15, S on Wilkinson Ave, W on King St), ☏ +1 306-867-2216. Steak house; highlighted on City TV’s The Prairie Diner. $10 - $25. (updated Mar 2019)

Central Butte

• April’s Diner, 231 Main St, Central Butte, ☏ +1-306-796-2220. (updated Mar 2019)

• Farmhouse Kitchen (Central Butte Hotel), 109 Main Street, ☏ +1 306-796-9090. (updated Mar 2019)

Elbow

• Back Home Bakery and Deli, 431 Saskatchewan St, Elbow, ☏ +1 306-854-2244. (updated Mar 2019)

Outlook

• Cafe Mondo, 214 Franklin St, Outlook, ☏ +1 306-867-2888. (updated Mar 2019)

Drink

• 1 Wolf Willow Winery (20 km (12 mi) north of Outlook), ☏ +1 306-867-9463. Saskatchewan's newest winery, producing wines from their own orchards, tours available. (updated Mar 2019)

Sleep

Palliser Regional Park near Riverhurst

Camping is the recommended form of accommodation, with facilities available at the provincial parks (Danielson, Douglas, and Saskatchewan Landing), regional parks, as well as privately own campgrounds. There are also a few cabin rentals and B&B options.

• Birsay Campground, Birsay, ☏ +1 306-858-7169. Fully serviced sites with picnic tables also come complete with electricity, water and sewer and a portable washroom for tenters. (updated Mar 2019)
• Elbow Sunset Suites & RV Park, Elbow, ☏ +1 306-854-2144. Fully serviced RV sites (30 & 50 amp service) as wells one bedroom self contained units available. Short-term and seasonal stays. (updated Mar 2019)
• 1 Hitchcock's Hideaway Camping Resort, Birsay (14 km (8.7 mi) east of Birsay on Hitchcock Bay), ☏ +1 306-573-4446, toll-free: +1-877-442-6259, hitchcockshideaway@gmail.com. Fully serviced RV and park model sites along with two cabin rentals. (updated Mar 2019)
• Lakeside RV Park, Elbow, SK, ☏ +1 306-221-0740, booking@lakesiderv.ca. Short stay and seasonal RV camping. All the sites are fully serviced with electricity, water and sewer, and come complete with firepits and picnic tables. (updated Mar 2019)
• Loreburn Campground, Loreburn, ☏ +1 306-230-1097. 12 fully serviced sites that include power, water and sewer hook-up. Laundry facilities and internet service are available. (updated Mar 2019)
• 2 Palliser Regional Park (10 km west of Riverhurst), ☏ +1 306-353-4604. Contains about 270 campsites, hotel, golf course (9 holes), outdoor pool and kids pool (supervised) and a marina. The vast shoreline offers beach options (unsupervised). (updated Mar 2019)
• 3 Camp Wolf Willow, Outlook (15 km (9.3 mi) north of Outlook on the South Saskatchewan River), ☏ +1 306-867-8314, contact@campwolfwillow.com. Features solar-powered, furnished teepees on raised cedar floors, on sites equipped with firepits and picnic tables. There are also sites to bring your own tent or RV. Accessible to the Whitecap Waterway. (updated Mar 2019)

Go next

Routes through Outlook

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