Blackstrap Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Blackstrap Provincial Park is a conservation area with a man made lake, a provincial campground, and a man made mountain; Blackstrap Ski Hill
. Blackstrap Provincial Park is located east of Dundurn
and accessed via Saskatchewan Highway 211
which is approximately 7 km (4 mi.) long. The highway connects Highway 11
near Dundurn
to the main access road for Blackstrap Provincial Park and Township Road 330. After approximately km 6 on Saskatchewan Highway 211
, the highway descends into the valley where Blackstrap Provincial Park is located. Directly after this slope is a causeway
over the Blackstrap Reservoir, at the end of which is Highway 211's eastern terminus. In 1969, 1970 Mount Blackstrap was constructed to host the 1971 Canada Winter Games which were awarded to Saskatoon. The land used to create the mountain later became the reserve for Lake Blackstrap. Water used to flood and maintain the lake is gravity fed via an earthen aqueduct
from Lake Diefenbaker
. Local legend claims that the name for the region is derived from an incident involving the breaking of a barrel of Blackstrap Molasses during transport through the valley, thereafter becoming known as Blackstrap. Fred Wilson, reeve of the Dundurn
RM
, Whitecap Dakota First Nation and surrounding municipalities in the area
have shown support to convert the provincial park to a regional park. Development of the roadways, cabins, housing, and camping would impart more financial aid to the park, which would be addressed by the communities. The operation of the ski hill for the year of 2007 was estimated at $465,000 by the provincial government. No private sector came forward to run the hill, and it was closed down. But due to a sudden boom in the immigration to the province and a booming economy, offers are expected to come in. Provincial funding to Blackstrap Provincial Park has historically supported the ski hill operations only and the remainder of the park has deteriorated. Christine Tell, minister of Tourism, parks, culture and sport, and Van Isman, Tourism and parks deputy minister will update the provincial government's Blackstrap provincial park management plan to aim to make Blackstrap the best facility it can be.
Activities include mountain biking, fishing, hiking, boating, wind sailing, cross country and downhill skiing and camping.
The Resort Village of Thode is located on the north-west Shore of Lake Blackstrap directly across from the main beach at Blackstrap Provincial Park, and is home to approximately 156 people who live there year round. Most of the people in the Resort Village of Thode live either directly on the lakeshore, or have an unobstructed view over the lakeshore road which separates them from the lake. The Resort Village of Shields is on the north-east Shore of Lake Blackstrap and is home to approximately 172 people who also live there year round. The Resort Village of Shields also has a golf course which includes a view of Lake Blackstrap, and is maintained locally by the Shields community. Unlike Thode, only a portion of the Resort Village of Shields is lakefront property. Shields and Thode (as they are locally called) have, in addition to the full time residents, summer cottagers which are not reflected in the population statistics. Skyview Estates is a small group of large estate homes located between north-west bend of Blackstrap Lake and accessed from Highway 11
. The estates have a view of the mountain; Blackstrap Ski Hill
, and the lake, and are across from the Blackstrap Provincial Park camp grounds. Skyview Estates has its own marina allowing the residents unlimited access to the water. However, the estates themselves do not actually connect to the shore.
, yellow perch
, northern pike
, burbot
and white sucker
.
Blackstrap Ski Hill
Blackstrap Ski Hill, is a man-made skiing and snowboarding hill located 30 minutes south of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada east of Highway 11, the Louis Riel Trail. It is one of only a few man-made mountains in the world. It is a unique feature on Saskatchewan's prairie landscape...
. Blackstrap Provincial Park is located east of Dundurn
Dundurn, Saskatchewan
-Sites of interest:Blackstrap Provincial park and Blackstrap Ski Hill a conservation area with man made lake as well as a man made mountain is located 7 kilometers or 5 miles to the east of town. In 1969, 1970 Mount Blackstrap was constructed to host the 1971 Canada Winter Games which were awarded...
and accessed via Saskatchewan Highway 211
Saskatchewan Highway 211
Highway 211 is a highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It connects Highway 11 near Dundurn to the main access road for Blackstrap Provincial Park and Township Road 330...
which is approximately 7 km (4 mi.) long. The highway connects Highway 11
Saskatchewan Highway 11
Highway 11 is a major north-south highway in Saskatchewan, Canada that connects the province's three largest cities: Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. It is a structural pavement major arterial highway which is approximately long. It is also known as the Louis Riel Trail after the 19th century...
near Dundurn
Dundurn, Saskatchewan
-Sites of interest:Blackstrap Provincial park and Blackstrap Ski Hill a conservation area with man made lake as well as a man made mountain is located 7 kilometers or 5 miles to the east of town. In 1969, 1970 Mount Blackstrap was constructed to host the 1971 Canada Winter Games which were awarded...
to the main access road for Blackstrap Provincial Park and Township Road 330. After approximately km 6 on Saskatchewan Highway 211
Saskatchewan Highway 211
Highway 211 is a highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It connects Highway 11 near Dundurn to the main access road for Blackstrap Provincial Park and Township Road 330...
, the highway descends into the valley where Blackstrap Provincial Park is located. Directly after this slope is a causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
over the Blackstrap Reservoir, at the end of which is Highway 211's eastern terminus. In 1969, 1970 Mount Blackstrap was constructed to host the 1971 Canada Winter Games which were awarded to Saskatoon. The land used to create the mountain later became the reserve for Lake Blackstrap. Water used to flood and maintain the lake is gravity fed via an earthen aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
from Lake Diefenbaker
Lake Diefenbaker
Lake Diefenbaker is a reservoir in Southern Saskatchewan, Canada. It 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 long with...
. Local legend claims that the name for the region is derived from an incident involving the breaking of a barrel of Blackstrap Molasses during transport through the valley, thereafter becoming known as Blackstrap. Fred Wilson, reeve of the Dundurn
Dundurn No. 314, Saskatchewan
Dundurn No. 314 is a rural municipality in north-central Saskatchewan on the South Saskatchewan River. RM Dundurn is an administrative division for the rural area around the town of Dundurn. It is located in Census Division No. 11 for enumeration purposes...
RM
Rural municipality
A rural municipality, often abbreviated RM, is a form of municipality in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, perhaps best comparable to counties or townships in the western United States...
, Whitecap Dakota First Nation and surrounding municipalities in the area
Rural municipality
A rural municipality, often abbreviated RM, is a form of municipality in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, perhaps best comparable to counties or townships in the western United States...
have shown support to convert the provincial park to a regional park. Development of the roadways, cabins, housing, and camping would impart more financial aid to the park, which would be addressed by the communities. The operation of the ski hill for the year of 2007 was estimated at $465,000 by the provincial government. No private sector came forward to run the hill, and it was closed down. But due to a sudden boom in the immigration to the province and a booming economy, offers are expected to come in. Provincial funding to Blackstrap Provincial Park has historically supported the ski hill operations only and the remainder of the park has deteriorated. Christine Tell, minister of Tourism, parks, culture and sport, and Van Isman, Tourism and parks deputy minister will update the provincial government's Blackstrap provincial park management plan to aim to make Blackstrap the best facility it can be.
Activities include mountain biking, fishing, hiking, boating, wind sailing, cross country and downhill skiing and camping.
Location
Legal Land Description township 32- range 3-West of the 3rd Meridian106th meridian west
The meridian 106° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
Local communities
Local communities on the shore of Lake Blackstrap include two villages and one small group of estates; the Resort Village of Thode; the Resort Village of Shields; and Skyview Estates.The Resort Village of Thode is located on the north-west Shore of Lake Blackstrap directly across from the main beach at Blackstrap Provincial Park, and is home to approximately 156 people who live there year round. Most of the people in the Resort Village of Thode live either directly on the lakeshore, or have an unobstructed view over the lakeshore road which separates them from the lake. The Resort Village of Shields is on the north-east Shore of Lake Blackstrap and is home to approximately 172 people who also live there year round. The Resort Village of Shields also has a golf course which includes a view of Lake Blackstrap, and is maintained locally by the Shields community. Unlike Thode, only a portion of the Resort Village of Shields is lakefront property. Shields and Thode (as they are locally called) have, in addition to the full time residents, summer cottagers which are not reflected in the population statistics. Skyview Estates is a small group of large estate homes located between north-west bend of Blackstrap Lake and accessed from Highway 11
Saskatchewan Highway 11
Highway 11 is a major north-south highway in Saskatchewan, Canada that connects the province's three largest cities: Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. It is a structural pavement major arterial highway which is approximately long. It is also known as the Louis Riel Trail after the 19th century...
. The estates have a view of the mountain; Blackstrap Ski Hill
Blackstrap Ski Hill
Blackstrap Ski Hill, is a man-made skiing and snowboarding hill located 30 minutes south of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada east of Highway 11, the Louis Riel Trail. It is one of only a few man-made mountains in the world. It is a unique feature on Saskatchewan's prairie landscape...
, and the lake, and are across from the Blackstrap Provincial Park camp grounds. Skyview Estates has its own marina allowing the residents unlimited access to the water. However, the estates themselves do not actually connect to the shore.
Fish species
Fish species include walleyeWalleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
, yellow perch
Yellow perch
The yellow perch is a species of perch found in the United States and Canada, where it is often referred to by the shortform perch. Yellow perch look similar to the European perch, but are paler and more yellowish, with less red in the fins. They have six to eight dark, vertical bars on their sides...
, northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, burbot
Burbot
The burbot is the only gadiform fish inhabiting freshwaters. It is also known as mariah, the lawyer, and eelpout. It is closely related to the marine common ling and the cusk...
and white sucker
White Sucker
The White Sucker is a bottom-feeding freshwater fish inhabiting North America from Labrador in the north to Georgia and New Mexico in the south. It is a long, round-bodied fish with a dark green, grey, copper, brown, or black back and sides and a light underbelly. When fullgrown, it is between 12...
.
See also
- Arm River-WatrousArm River-WatrousArm River-Watrous is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. This constituency is located in south central Saskatchewan. Grain farming and cattle ranching are the major economic activities. Wynyard is home to the larger industries in this constituency...
- Blackstrap Ski HillBlackstrap Ski HillBlackstrap Ski Hill, is a man-made skiing and snowboarding hill located 30 minutes south of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada east of Highway 11, the Louis Riel Trail. It is one of only a few man-made mountains in the world. It is a unique feature on Saskatchewan's prairie landscape...
- Dundurn, SaskatchewanDundurn, Saskatchewan-Sites of interest:Blackstrap Provincial park and Blackstrap Ski Hill a conservation area with man made lake as well as a man made mountain is located 7 kilometers or 5 miles to the east of town. In 1969, 1970 Mount Blackstrap was constructed to host the 1971 Canada Winter Games which were awarded...
- List of Saskatchewan parks
- List of Canadian provincial parks
- Saskatchewan Highway 211Saskatchewan Highway 211Highway 211 is a highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It connects Highway 11 near Dundurn to the main access road for Blackstrap Provincial Park and Township Road 330...
- Saskatchewan Highway 11Saskatchewan Highway 11Highway 11 is a major north-south highway in Saskatchewan, Canada that connects the province's three largest cities: Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert. It is a structural pavement major arterial highway which is approximately long. It is also known as the Louis Riel Trail after the 19th century...
External links
- Blackstrap Provincial Park
- http://www.publications.gov.sk.ca/details.cfm?p=11115 Fish Species of Saskatchewan