The past ATVing season has been very busy for the newly formed Timberland Tours in Big River, Saskatchewan. The ATV season started out very dry—but then came the rains, the summer storms and the plough winds. We have kept busy clearing fallen trees, including along one trail that was hit very hard. Approximately five kilometres of this trail are completely blocked off; Big River's ATV and snowmobile clubs are currently working to get it cleared before the snowmobiling season begins.
Many of Timberland Tours' rides took ATVers to an area referred to as the Block, containing a community called Timberlost. This was an area where settlers arrived during the 1930s to escape the parched land of the Prairies. These early settlers built log homes, barns, stores, schools and a post office. Some remnants of these buildings still exist today, and local volunteers have marked the homestead locations, the Timberlost cemetery and many other sites. In 1956, the government paid each family left in the area $500 to move. Fortunately, the settlers gladly accepted the offer, as it was a tough area to make a living.
Big River is a great area for ATVing, with many abandoned logging roads. Lakes and streams lie within minutes of town, and it is possible to fish from the dock at the end of Main Street. There are trails leading everywhere, so unless you are very familiar with the area, it is advisable to have a GPS or a guide. As the seasons change, so does the ride. Early in the year, the smell of spring is in the air. As the seasons progress, the wildflowers emerge, and during the berry season it is not uncommon to see where the bears have pulled down the berry trees to get at their favourite fruits. In fall—wild mushroom season—the aroma of the woods changes with the colours of the leaves.
Timberland Tours has guided many groups of ATVers through the Big River area, with rides varying in length from 40 kilometres to 100 kilometres. Timberland Tours' guides can be contacted through the Timberland Motel in Big River, Saskatchewan.
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