Our Tour of the Qu’Appelle Valley
The Tear in the fabric of Saskatchewan
by Ab & Pieter van der Breggen
This photographic tour of the scenic Qu’Appelle Valley shows some of the many photos Ab and Pieter have taken over the past few years. They’ll add more as they take them–assuming, of course, they may prove worth seeing.
The tour itself present a photo at a time along with an explanation of that photo, followed by navigational links. The best way to view this tour on your phone is by holding it sideways (horizontally). The navigational links will move you the the Next or Last photo while Page Top will take you back here or back here when on Tours 2 and 3.
OK, let’s begin the tour. We hope you enjoy the show as much as we did taking the photos and that you come to the beautiful Qu’Appelle Valley sometime to see it for yourself.
Coming to the valley from Regina you will pass Edgeley which occupies a high point in the landscape, hence the communications tower.
Combines busy harvesting the grain crops grown in the area are a common sight in the later summer and early fall.
This view greats travellers heading into Fort Qu’Appelle on Highway 56 coming from Fort San along the north shore of Echo Lake.
Highway 10/35 can be seen in the foreground along with some of the business which serve highway traffic. Echo Lake is in the background.
View of the marsh on the north side of Fort Qu’Appelle from a footbridge found along a walking path which winds through the march.
Treaty 4 held a gathering in 2024 at the Treaty 4 grounds on the shore of Mission Lake across from the Governance Centre celebrating 150 years since the treaty was signed.
Treaty 4 150th Grand Entry in 2024 was spectacular with dancers in colourful regalia leading the way for dignitaries including Saskatchewan’s Lieutenant-Governor Russ Mirasty.
Outdoors at the Mid-Summer Art Festival which is an annual event at the Fort just across the Qu’Appelle River from Fort Qu’Appelle. It attracts large crowds and is much anticipated.
These young skiers are enjoying catching air in jumps at Mission Ridge Winter Park — a popular destination in winter months.
Mission Ridge Winter Parks ski runs are all lit up at night when they are operating — quite a sight to see from across the valley!
The annual Fort Winter Festival features many activities at the Fort north of town as well as on the ice. Here the quad racers get a quick start to their race.
Another treat for the whole family during the Fort Winter Festival is the Fireworks which are always spectacular!
Nature gives us a beautiful display of its own aided by the sun’s activity. It’s different each time and changing constantly as the Aurora Borealis dances across our norther sky.
Control structures at the out-flow end of each lake help keep the water levels even during the summer months and can be adjusted as needed. This one is on Echo Lake.
Heading west along the south shore of Echo Lake, this beautiful onion-domed church is at the Orthodox Christian Centre, located just off Highway 210 as you near B-Say-Tah Point.
The Saskatchewan Fish Hatchery on the south shore of Echo Lake was established in 1915. Open for tours May 1 to Labour Day, it is operated by the Sask. Wildlife Federation.
An active day for boaters on Echo Lake on the Echo Beach side of the Echo Valley Provincial Park. A place to relax as well as have fun!
A popular event at Echo Valley Provincial Park’s Echo Beach is the Plywood Boat Race which sometimes becomes a race to see who stays afloat long enough to make it back!
Echo Valley Provincial Park is not just a summer destination. It is popular in winter too with cross-country skiing and this ice-skating on long rinks created on park roads.