# 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 (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

* 50.8833-107.3831 Beechy : a small village along Hwy 342
* 51.1-106.9832 Birsay : a small village at the junctions of Hwys 45 & 373
* 51.512-106.9123 Broderick : a small village along Hwy 15
* 50.792-106.5084 Central Butte : a small town at the junctions of Hwys 19 & 42
* 51.144-106.5595 Elbow : on the northeastern shore of Lake Diefenbaker on Hwy 19, near the Qu'Appelle Valley Dam
* 51.2301-106.59856 Loreburn : a small village at the junctions of Hwys 19 & 44
* 50.998-107.157 Lucky Lake : northwest of Lake Diefenbaker at the junction of Hwys 42 & 45
* 51.322-107.0828 Macrorie : north of Lake Diefenbaker on Hwy 44, near the Gardiner Dam
* 51.488889-107.0527789 Outlook: downstream from Lake Diefenbaker on Hwy 15
* 50.9167-106.8510 Riverhurst : on the eastern shore of Lake Diefenbaker on Hwy 42, home of the Riverhurst ferry
* 51.866667-106.70055611 Whitecap : within the Whitecap Dakota First Nation on Hwy 219; 26 km (16 mi) south of Saskatoon

## Other destinations

* 51.253889-106.8761111 Danielson Provincial Park
* Douglas Provincial Park
* 50.666111-107.9897222 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

* 51.27-106.8711 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.
* 50.9825-106.4332 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.
* 50.9108-106.9313 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)
* 51.4901-107.0724 SkyTrail Bridge, Outlook. The SkyTrail Bridge spans the South Saskatchewan River in Outlook. It was originally built by the Canadian Pacific Railway over the full width of the river's flood channel and has eight spans. In 2003 it was converted to a pedestrian bridge and is now the longest pedestrian bridge in Canada. Due to structural issues, the bridge has been closed since late 2013. (updated Jan 2025)

## Do
### Casino

* 51.8903-106.70391 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

* 51.61251-106.997431 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

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)
* 51.051352-106.8446261 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)
* 50.8903-106.9422 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)
* 51.61245-106.99753 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)