Explore the road trip gems in little towns northwest of Moose Jaw
Summer is approaching which means the itch to get out on the road is here, and the good news is there’s plenty of interesting road trip stops to the west and northwest of Moose Jaw that can be reached in no time at all. On any regular year you can be assured that business is as usual but as we continue to go through the pandemic this year 2021, the road trip will be a great adventure in itself but due to social restrictions, there may be some venues and events that won’t be open or are cancelled. You may want to call in advance to see if a stop will be available for a tour or visit. For the full experience, here’s a weekend route that loops all the way through six small prairie towns that may surprise you with their interesting amenities, events, artists and tourism spots. First, head west from Moose Jaw on Highway 1 to the first stop on the tour: Mortlach. This little village, located about 30 minutes from the city, has a bustling downtown food and shopping atmosphere worth a visit. The Mortlach Museum offers the opportunity to take a photo inside the town’s original jail cell and provides a great history of the area — where the first archaeological dig in Saskatchewan in 1954 took place.
Continuing west for another 30 minutes, head over to the village of Chaplin for more touristy attractions. With a municipal campground, public outdoor pool and designated dog park, Chaplin makes for a great rest stop along Highway 1.
The Chaplin Nature Centre offers birdwatching opportunities and tours through the Chaplin Lake nature area.
It’s also known for its prime birdwatching opportunities, as the village is home to the Chaplin Shorebird Reserve and Chaplin Nature Centre. Chaplin Lake is a very important part of the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network and sees over 100,000 shorebirds migrate through the area per year, with May and August the prime times for birdwatching. Turning northwards at Chaplin on Highway 19, continue on for 30 minutes down the road to Central Butte — the amenities hub in the area.
The Saskatoon Berry Festival in Mortlach is a wildly popular event.
The village is also famous for its annual Saskatoon Berry Festival, typically held in June, which draws enormous crowds to enjoy music, activities and delicious pies. Juno-Award-winning singer-songwriter Megan Nash also hails from the Mortlach area and often performs at the festival and other nearby events.
Chaplin also has an outdoor swimming pool.
The Lett’s Splash Play Park is a popular spot in Central Butte during the summer.
With two restaurants, a grocery store, pharmacy, several banks and the Palliser Plains Co-op gas station, convenience store and lumber yard, Central Butte is the place to stop for a bite to eat or to refuel. On really hot days, you can also cool off with a visit to the Lett’s Play Splash Park, or take a break from the car by playing a few holes on the town’s 9-hole disc golf course, which offers a nice walk throughout the community. Artist Bill Philpott, known for his acrylic paintings of prairie landscapes and ranch life, also calls Central Butte home, with a gallery of his work available to tour by appointment located in his home. From Central Butte at the junction of Highway 19
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