Lake Diefenbaker

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

Understand

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 long with approximately 800 km of shoreline. It has a maximum depth of , 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

Beechy: a small village along Hwy 342
Birsay: a small village at the junctions of Hwys 45 & 373
Broderick: a small village along Hwy 15
Central Butte: a small town at the junctions of Hwys 19 & 42
Elbow: on the northeastern shore of Lake Diefenbaker on Hwy 19, near the Qu'Appelle Valley Dam
Loreburn: a small village at the junctions of Hwys 19 & 44
Lucky Lake: northwest of Lake Diefenbaker at the junction of Hwys 42 & 45
Macrorie: north of Lake Diefenbaker on Hwy 44, near the Gardiner Dam
Outlook: downstream from Lake Diefenbaker on Hwy 15
Riverhurst: on the eastern shore of Lake Diefenbaker on Hwy 42, home of the Riverhurst ferry
Whitecap: within the Whitecap Dakota First Nation on Hwy 219; 26 km south of Saskatoon

Other destinations

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

Gardiner Dam. The third largest embankment dam in Canada and one of the largest embankment dams in the world.
Qu'Appelle River Dam. The third largest embankment dam in Canada and one of the largest embankment dams in the world.
Riverhurst Ferry, Hwy 42. 1.5 km cable ferry across Lake Diefenbaker, operated by the Saskatchewan Department of Highways and Transportation. 2019-03-12

Do

Casino

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. 2019-03-12

Golf

Dakota Dunes Golf Links, Whitecap, +1-306-664-4653. Laid throughout natural sand dune formations and indigenous prairie grasses. 2019-03-11
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. 2019-03-11
Sage View Golf Course, Riverhurst (in Palliser Regional Park near Riverhurst), +1-306-353-2065. 2019-03-11

Hiking

Saskatchewan Landing Trails. 3 separate hiking trails in Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park. 2019-03-11
Beechy Sandcastles and Sunken Hill, +1-306-859-2205. Inquire before travel. 2019-03-11

Watersports

Chief Whitecap Waterway. Part of the Great Trail (Trans-Canada Trail), you can paddle 100 km the South Saskatchewan River between the Gardiner Dam and Saskatoon with various start and end points. 2019-03-11
Prairie Lake Vacations, Riverhurst, SK (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. 2019-03-11

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. 2019-03-12

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 2019-03-12

Central Butte

April’s Diner, 231 Main St, Central Butte, +1-306-796-2220. 2019-03-12
Farmhouse Kitchen (Central Butte Hotel), 109 Main Street, +1 306-796-9090. 2019-03-12

Elbow

Back Home Bakery and Deli, 431 Saskatchewan St, Elbow, +1 306-854-2244. 2019-03-12

Outlook

Cafe Mondo, 214 Franklin St, Outlook, +1 306-867-2888. 2019-03-12

Drink

Wolf Willow Winery, 51.61251°, -106.99743°, +1 306-867-9463. Saskatchewan's newest winery, producing wines from their own orchards, tours available. 2019-03-12

Sleep

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. 2019-03-14
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. 2019-03-14
Hitchcock's Hideaway Camping Resort, Birsay (14 km east of Birsay on Hitchcock Bay), 51.051352°, -106.844626°, +1 306-573-4446, hitchcockshideaway@gmail.com. Fully serviced RV and park model sites along with two cabin rentals. 2019-03-14
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. 2019-03-14
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. 2019-03-14
Palliser Regional Park, +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). 2019-03-14
Camp Wolf Willow, Outlook (15 km north of Outlook on the South Saskatchewan River), 51.61245°, -106.9975°, +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. 2019-03-14

Lake Diefenbaker - reservoir in Saskatchewan, Canada