This segment cross a provincial boundary, and has to the north a canyon in the South Saskatchewan River (looks just like the Grand Canyon!), and to the south of the highway lies the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Once inside Saskatchewan, you have the massive Sand Dunes a shor drive to the north. Also in this part of Saskatchewan there is oil & gas production (watch for the pumpjacks), Solar panel arrays and also large groups on wind turbines which generate electricity on the prairies.
Here is the itinerary for the 223 km along the #1 Trans-Canada Highway, between Medicine Hat, Alberta and Swift Current, Saskatchewan:
The Trans-Canada Highway serves as the city’s cross-town freeway. You can visit Medicine Hat’s downtown either from the west via 41A (opposite the Highway 3 junction) or from the east, via Dunsmore Ave. The famous Saamis Teepee is overlooking the Kin Coullee Park, about midway between the two, and on the south side of the Trans-Canada. There is a Medicine Hat Visitor Centre at the ecit to the Saamis Teepee.
About 1 km west of the Saamis Teepee (and 1 km east of the river crossing) is the junction with Highway 3, the Crowsnest Highway, which takes you west to Lethbridge, Fernie, Cranbrook, Castlegar, Osoyoos (and the Okanagan), and Hope and the entire Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley leading to Vancouver.
On the east side of Medicine Hat is the Saamis Teepee, (shown above) which recognizes the FIrst Nations and their important to Canada’s development. The structure was originally used in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and moved to Medicine Hat shortly thereafter.
Just east and north of Medicine Hat the South Saskatchewan River forms deep canyons cutting into the surrounding prairie (shown above). Take Highway 41 north (the drive is about 100km–an hour– but worth it), and it crosses the river, and climbs up the north side, and when you reach the level of the surrounding prairie, turn around and come bac!
Southeast of Medicine Hat are the Cypress Hills, (and likewise, southwest of Maple Creek, when coming from the east) about an hour south of the Trans-Canada, which are the largest hills between the Rockies and Labrador, and worthy of a provincial park shared by TWO provinces). There are no cypress trees there, but the area was so-named by early French explorers who mistook the area’s lodgepole pine. The hills are wetter than the surrounding prairie and are home to bison, grizzly bears, elk, mule deer, wolves and trumpeter swans.
You will feel the impact of the Cypress Hills while driving on the Trans-Canada, with a rise in elevation just east of the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, with great views regardless of which direction you are driving!
North of Piapot are the Great Sand Hills (shown above), which were formed from beach deposits of ancient glacial lakes. This geologic anomaly has some unusual animals including kangaroo rats, white tailed jack rabbit, coyote, mule deer, pronghorn antelope. Some of the dunes can been seen from the Trans-Canada. Crane Lake to the northeast of Piapot is a major breeding site for waterbirds.
South of Piapot you can see wind turbines on a ridge, capturing the power from the strong winds across southern Saskatchewan. There are move wind turbines (in the Rhineland area) that can be seen from Highway 4 south from Swift Current
Swift Current is the largest community and major market centre in southwestern Saskatchewan.
Use mouse to drag/move map. Click on “+” or “–” to zoom in or out. “Satellite” combines map & photo.
Note:
| KM | (metres) | Info | ||
| 0 | Central Ave N intersection, S to downtown Swift Current, Highway 4 N to Leader, Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park (Swift Current) | 766 |
| |
Best Western Inn, just S of highway.. Westwind Motel, just N of highway.. Swift Current, access to downtown.. Cypress Regional Hospital, 1.4 km SE of highway, via Central 1st Ave and Lorne St E… York Hotel, downtown, 1.7 km S of highway… Imperial Hotel, downtown, 1.7 km S of highway… Rainbow Motel, SE side of intersection.. City Centre Motel, SE side of intersection.. Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park, on Lake Diefenbaker, 51 km N of highway. water sports, camping, golfing.. | ||||
| 1 | Service Rd access (EB, WB separate) (Swift Current) | 765 |
| |
| 2 | 11th Ave NW exit, access to services (S), Tail Campground (N) (Swift Current) | 748.3 |
| |
| Trail Campground, 0.5 km N of highway.. Travelodge Swift Current, NW corner of intersection.. | ||||
| 3.6 | River Crescent , access to N & S service roads | 741.6 |
| |
| K Motel, on N side of highway.. | ||||
| 10 | Junction Hwy 32, N to Success, Cabri, Leader | 744.9 |
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Town of Cabri, 54 km to NW of highway, large sculpture of Antelope, Canada Goose, and Wheat.. Town of Leader, pop. 1000, 142 km to NW of highway, all services… access to Great Sandhills, SE of Leader… | ||||
| 13 | Enchanted Village Tea Room | 743.4 |
| |
| 14 | Highway Roadside Turnout, picnic area N side | 761.1 |
| |
| 17 | Junction Highway 630 | 769.6 |
| |
| 23 | Goose & Gander Lakes to south of highway | 752.6 |
| |
| 33 | Access to town of Webb, 1.5 km S of highway (Webb) | 786.1 |
| |
| 43 | Antelope Rd, access to town of Antelope (S) (Antelope) | 777.5 |
| |
| 49 | Roadside turnout & picnic area S side | 770.8 |
| |
| 56 | Highway 37 junction, S to Gull Lake and Hwy 631E (Gull Lake) | 779.7 |
| |
Gull Lake, 0.5 km S of highway.. Gull Lake Museum, open June to Labour Day.. Gull Lake Campground, 1 km SE of highway.. Great Sandhills Ecological Reserve, to the Northwest of the town.. Town of Shaunavon, pop. 1700, 52 km S of highway.. | ||||
| 79 | Highway 633 (S) to Tompkins | 797.4 |
| |
Village of Tompkins, 0/5 km S of highway, pop. 200… Shady Place Campground, in Tompkins.. Tompkins has a golf course, curling rink, skating rink, ball diamond, and playground… | ||||
| 104 | Highway 614 (S) to Piapot (Piapot) | 761.4 |
| |
| village of Piapot, 1.6 km S of highway. No services… Piapot Saloon and Guesthouse, 1 km S of highway | ||||
| 129 | Highway 21, south to Maple Creek, airport, facilities (10 km) (Maple Creek) | 760.2 |
| |
Town of Maple Creek, 10 km to S of highway, all services.. Maple Creek Visitor Centre. Fort Walsh & Cypress Hills Massacre National Historic Sites of Canada, 52 km S of highway.. Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, West Block. 62 km S of highway. camping, watersports, hiking… Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Centre Block. 62 km S of highway. camping, watersports, hiking… Maple Creek Hospital, 10 km S of highway.. | ||||
| 155.4 | Highway 635, north to Hatton | 800.4 |
| |
| Village of Hatton, no services, 8 km N of highway.. | ||||
| 167.8 | Saskatchewan visitor information kiosk | 738.8 |
| |
Saskatchewan visitor information kiosk. | ||||
| 168 | Alberta-Saskatchewan Border (AB-SK border) | 738.5 |
| |
| 168.2 | Alberta visitor information kiosk | 739.7 |
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Alberta visitor information kiosk (they make you pay for Alberta road map!). | ||||
| 170 | Walsh, Range Rd 11A | 742.5 |
| |
| Town of Walsh to N of highway, no services.. | ||||
| 180 | Range Rd 21 | 760.2 |
| |
webcam 500 m East of Range Road 40 | ||||
| 187.8 | Irvine, Bull Trail (S) | 765 |
| |
| 188 | Accommodation on highway | 760.5 |
| |
| 193 | Highway 41 (S) to Elkwater, Cypress Hills (To Cypress Park) | 745.5 |
| |
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, 30 km SE of highway. Camping, hiking, water sports… | ||||
| 209 | Highway 41N | 734.9 |
| |
| 210.7 | Township Rd 120A, east access to Dunmore (Dunmore) | 735.5 |
| |
| 212.7 | Dunmore to N (Dunmore) | 739.1 |
| |
| 213 | RV Dealership to N | 712.6 |
| |
| 213.1 | EB Exit for service rd (Dunmore) | 716.6 |
| |
| 215 | Bullshead Creek crossing, Exit to N, RV park | 700.4 |
| |
| 221.5 | Dunmore Rd, accommodation (Medicine Hat) | 717.8 |
| |
Medicine Hat Lodge, hotel with waterslide, N side of intersection.. Petro-Canada station to N of intersection, with Fas Gas and Canadian Tire stations about 1 km N of highway… Comfort Inn And Suites Medicine Hat, just to N of intersection.. east access to downtown Medicine Hat.. | ||||
| 222.6 | WB Exit for 13 Ave (Medicine Hat) | 715.4 |
| |
| 223 | Underpass for 13 Ave SE, shopping & services (Medicine Hat) | 717.8 |
| |
Howard Johnsons Medicine Hat, just to N of intersection.. Days Inn Medicine Hat, just to N of intersection.. Imperial Inn, just to N of intersection.. Husky and Shell stations on N (EB side of highway), Turbo station 0.5 km, via 13 Ave SE | ||||
| 223.2 | EB Exit for 13 Ave (Medicine Hat) | 718.1 |
| |
| 224.4 | Major intersection: South Ridge Dr SW, access to college and attractions, golf course (Medicine Hat) | 708.1 |
| |
Medicine Hat College to NE side of intersection. Saamis Teepee, world’s largest Teepee, 1.1 km to SW of highway, marking the Saamis Archaeological Site. Tourism Medicine Hat. | ||||
| 224.8 | Passing Medicine Hat College (N), World’s larges teepee on S side (Medicine Hat) | 699.5 |
| |
| 225.8 | Creek crossing, parks & sports fields (Medicine Hat) | 672.7 |
| |
| 226.4 | 16th Street SW intersection, services on S side (Medicine Hat) | 697.4 |
| |
| Bel-Aire Motel, on S side of highway.. Esso, Husky and RaceTrac gas stations on S (EB) side of intersection. .. | ||||
| 226.8 | WB Exit to Hwy 3/41A (Medicine Hat) | 699.5 |
| |
| 227 | Interchange Hwy 3/41A, EB access to Bomfort Cr service Rd, east to downtown Medicine Hat on Gershaw Dr, west to Medicine Hat airport (Medicine Hat) | 699.2 |
| |
east to downtown Medicine Hat via Gershaw Dr.. Medicine Hat Municipal Airport (MHMA), 1.8 km to SW of highway.. Highway 3 Crowsnest Highway, southern route to Vancouver, via Fort MacLeod, Osoyoos, Hope… Circle T Lodge, 0.4 km to SW. Satellite Motel, 0.5 km to SW. Sundeck Motel, 0.4 km to NE of highway.. Hat Motel, 0.4 km NE of highway.. Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre (formerly Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery) to S of junction, accessed via #3 and Bomford Crescent. Access to Lethbridge, 170 km to SW via Highway 3. Fort Macleod, 210 km SW via highway 3. Historic Downtown, turn of the century architecture, shopping. Medalta Potteries factory, National Historic Site, about 5 km NE of highway, via downtown. | ||||
| KM | (metres) | Info |
| KM | (metres) | Info | ||
| -3.8 | Interchange Hwy 3/41A, EB access to Bomfort Cr service Rd, east to downtown Medicine Hat on Gershaw Dr, west to Medicine Hat airport (Medicine Hat) | 699.2 |
| |
east to downtown Medicine Hat via Gershaw Dr. Medicine Hat Municipal Airport (MHMA), 1.8 km to SW of highway. Highway 3 Crowsnest Highway, southern route to Vancouver, via Fort MacLeod, Osoyoos, Hope… Circle T Lodge, 0.4 km to SW. Satellite Motel, 0.5 km to SW. Sundeck Motel, 0.4 km to NE of highway. Hat Motel, 0.4 km NE of highway. Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre (formerly Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery) to S of junction, accessed via #3 and Bomford Crescent.. Access to Lethbridge, 170 km to SW va Highway 3.. Fort Macleod, 210 km SW via highway 3. Historic Downtown, turn of the century architecture, shopping. Medalta Potteries factory, National Historic Site, about 5 km NE of highway, via downtown. | ||||
| -3.6 | WB Exit to Hwy 3/41A (Medicine Hat) | 699.5 |
| |
| -3.4 | 16th Street SW intersection, services on S side (Medicine Hat) | 697.4 |
| |
| Bel-Aire Motel, on S side of highway.. Esso, Husky and RaceTrac gas stations on S (EB) side of intersection. .. | ||||
| -2.8 | Creek crossing, parks & sports fields (Medicine Hat) | 672.7 |
| |
| -1.8 | Passing Medicine Hat College (N), World’s larges teepee on S side (Medicine Hat) | 699.5 |
| |
| -1.4 | Major intersection: South Ridge Dr SW, access to college and attractions, golf course (Medicine Hat) | 708.1 |
| |
Medicine Hat College to NE side of intersection.. Saamis Teepee, world’s largest Teepee, 1.1 km to SW of highway, marking the Saamis Archaeological Site Tourism Medicine Hat.. | ||||
| -0.2 | EB Exit for 13 Ave (Medicine Hat) | 718.1 |
| |
| 0 | Underpass for 13 Ave SE, shopping & services (Medicine Hat) | 717.8 |
| |
Howard Johnsons Medicine Hat, just to N of intersection.. Days Inn Medicine Hat, just to N of intersection.. Imperial Inn, just to N of intersection.. Husky and Shell stations on N (EB side of highway), Turbo station 0.5 km, via 13 Ave SE | ||||
| 0.4 | WB Exit for 13 Ave (Medicine Hat) | 715.4 |
| |
| 1.5 | Dunmore Rd, accommodation (Medicine Hat) | 717.8 |
| |
Medicine Hat Lodge, hotel with waterslide, N side of intersection.. Petro-Canada station to N of intersection, with Fas Gas and Canadian Tire stations about 1 km N of highway… Comfort Inn And Suites Medicine Hat, just to N of intersection.. east access to downtown Medicine Hat.. | ||||
| 7.8 | Bullshead Creek crossing, Exit to N, RV park | 700.4 |
| |
| 9.8 | RV Dealership to N | 712.6 |
| |
| 9.9 | EB Exit for service rd (Dunmore) | 716.6 |
| |
| 10.1 | Dunmore to N (Dunmore) | 739.1 |
| |
| 12.1 | Township Rd 120A, east access to Dunmore (Dunmore) | 735.5 |
| |
| 13.8 | Highway 41N | 734.9 |
| |
| 29.8 | Highway 41 (S) to Elkwater, Cypress Hills (To Cypress Park) | 745.5 |
| |
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, 30 km SE of highway. Camping, hiking, water sports… | ||||
| 34.8 | Accommodation on highway | 760.5 |
| |
| 35 | Irvine, Bull Trail (S) | 765 |
| |
| 42.8 | Range Rd 21 | 760.2 |
| |
webcam 500 m East of Range Road 40 | ||||
| 52.8 | Walsh, Range Rd 11A | 742.5 |
| |
| Town of Walsh to N of highway, no services.. | ||||
| 54.6 | Alberta visitor information kiosk | 739.7 |
| |
Alberta visitor information kiosk (they make you pay for Alberta road map!).. | ||||
| 54.8 | Alberta-Saskatchewan Border (AB-SK border) | 738.5 |
| |
| 55 | Saskatchewan visitor information kiosk | 738.8 |
| |
Saskatchewan visitor information kiosk.. | ||||
| 67.4 | Highway 635, north to Hatton | 800.4 |
| |
| Village of Hatton, no services, 8 km N of highway.. | ||||
| 93.8 | Highway 21, south to Maple Creek, airport, facilities (10 km) (Maple Creek) | 760.2 |
| |
Town of Maple Creek, 10 km to S of highway, all services.. Maple Creek Visitor Centre. Fort Walsh & Cypress Hills Massacre National Historic Sites of Canada, 52 km S of highway.. Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, West Block. 62 km S of highway. camping, watersports, hiking… Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Centre Block. 62 km S of highway. camping, watersports, hiking… Maple Creek Hospital, 10 km S of highway.. | ||||
| 118.8 | Highway 614 (S) to Piapot (Piapot) | 761.4 |
| |
| village of Piapot, 1.6 km S of highway. No services… Piapot Saloon and Guesthouse, 1 km S of highway | ||||
| 143.8 | Highway 633 (S) to Tompkins | 797.4 |
| |
Village of Tompkins, 0/5 km S of highway, pop. 200… Shady Place Campground, in Tompkins.. Tompkins has a golf course, curling rink, skating rink, ball diamond, and playground… | ||||
| 166.8 | Highway 37 junction, S to Gull Lake and Hwy 631E (Gull Lake) | 779.7 |
| |
Gull Lake, 0.5 km S of highway.. Gull Lake Museum, open June to Labour Day.. Gull Lake Campground, 1 km SE of highway.. Great Sandhills Ecological Reserve, to the Northwest of the town.. Town of Shaunavon, pop. 1700, 52 km S of highway.. | ||||
| 173.8 | Roadside turnout & picnic area S side | 770.8 |
| |
| 179.8 | Antelope Rd, access to town of Antelope (S) (Antelope) | 777.5 |
| |
| 189.8 | Access to town of Webb, 1.5 km S of highway (Webb) | 786.1 |
| |
| 199.8 | Goose & Gander Lakes to south of highway | 752.6 |
| |
| 205.8 | Junction Highway 630 | 769.6 |
| |
| 208.8 | Highway Roadside Turnout, picnic area N side | 761.1 |
| |
| 209.8 | Enchanted Village Tea Room | 743.4 |
| |
| 212.8 | Junction Hwy 32, N to Success, Cabri, Leader | 744.9 |
| |
Town of Cabri, 54 km to NW of highway, large sculpture of Antelope, Canada Goose, and Wheat.. Town of Leader, pop. 1000, 142 km to NW of highway, all services… access to Great Sandhills, SE of Leader… | ||||
| 219.2 | River Crescent , access to N & S service roads | 741.6 |
| |
| K Motel, on N side of highway.. | ||||
| 220.8 | 11th Ave NW exit, access to services (S), Tail Campground (N) (Swift Current) | 748.3 |
| |
| Trail Campground, 0.5 km N of highway.. Travelodge Swift Current, NW corner of intersection.. | ||||
| 221.8 | Service Rd access (EB, WB separate) (Swift Current) | 765 |
| |
| 222.8 | Central Ave N intersection, S to downtown Swift Current, Highway 4 N to Leader, Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park (Swift Current) | 766 |
| |
Best Western Inn, just S of highway. Westwind Motel, just N of highway. Swift Current, access to downtown.. Cypress Regional Hospital, 1.4 km SE of highway, via Central 1st Ave and Lorne St E… York Hotel, downtown, 1.7 km S of highway… Imperial Hotel, downtown, 1.7 km S of highway… Rainbow Motel, SE side of intersection.. City Centre Motel, SE side of intersection.. Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park, on Lake Diefenbaker, 51 km N of highway. water sports, camping, golfing.. | ||||
| KM | (metres) | Info |
