The 190 mile long (300 km) Swift Current-Battleford Trail was an important late-19th century transportation and communications link between settlements of

Swift Current Swift Current is the fifth largest city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is situated along the Trans Canada Highway west of Moose Jaw, and east of Medicine Hat, Alberta. Swift Current grew 6.8% between 2011 and 2016, ending up at ...

and

Battleford Battleford ( 2011 population 4,065) is a small town located across the North Saskatchewan River from the City of North Battleford, in Saskatchewan, Canada. Battleford and North Battleford are collectively referred to as "The Battlefords" b ...

- the result of a brisk trade, in buffalo bones which resulted heavy traffic between the two regions. Because of the large volume of

Red River cart The Red River cart is a large two-wheeled cart made entirely of non-metallic materials. Often drawn by oxen, though also by horses or mules, these carts were used throughout most of the 19th century in the fur trade and in westward expansion i ...

traffic, the ruts created during this period are still visible today. The historical significance of this resulted in The Battleford Trail becoming a provincial heritage site in 1982.

History

* First Nations Era - In pre-contact times,

First Nations First Nations or first peoples may refer to: * Indigenous peoples, for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area. Indigenous groups *First Nations is commonly used to describe some Indigenous groups including: **First Natio ...

likely used the trail's general route as a way of travelling between wintering areas to the north of

and the rich summer

bison hunting Bison hunting (hunting of the American bison, also commonly known as the American buffalo) was an activity fundamental to the economy and society of the Plains Indians peoples who inhabited the vast grasslands on the Interior Plains of North ...

grounds around Swift Current. * Métis Era - The Trail was used by the Métis in the earliest days when they roamed across the prairie hunting buffalo. When the railway finally arrived in Swift Current in early 1883, the entrepreneurial Métis began hauling freight and mail along the trail overland to Battleford. Prior to that, goods were hauled overland to Battleford from Winnipeg. Soon after, settlers, merchants, traders, and even government officials followed the Métis' lead and began using the trail. The route was in such demand that a stagecoach was established to transport people, freight, and mail between the two points. * Railway Era -

Fort Battleford Fort Battleford was the sixth North-West Mounted Police fort to be established in the North-West Territories of Canada, and played a central role in the events of the North-West Rebellion of 1885. It was here Chief Poundmaker was arrested, an ...

was the seat of the North-West Territories Government when the Canadian Pacific Railway arrived in Swift Current in 1883. As Swift Current was the closest railway head to Battleford, it became Battleford's primary trade and communication link to the outside world and remained so until 1891. An official survey and mapping of the trail was undertaken by R.C. Laurie in 1886. * North-West Rebellion Era - During the North-West Rebellion of 1885, Colonel William D. Otter, his troops, and around 50 North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) officers travelled the route on the march from Swift Current to Battleford to confront

Louis Riel Louis Riel (; ; 22 October 1844 – 16 November 1885) was a Canadian politician, a founder of the province of Manitoba, and a political leader of the Métis people. He led two resistance movements against the Government of Canada and its first ...

’s forces. The NWMP patrolled the trail from Swift Current to the Battlefords to ensure that military supplies arrived safely at their destination. They provided security for the 500 troops as well as the 200 civilian teamsters who were contracted to haul the supplies. Starting in 1886 the police presence in the area was reduced in numbers, however police continued patrols to provide general security, enforce laws, and assist settlers. For several years, the trail was well-trafficked with people, freight, and mail all using the route. * Era of Decline - The trail was only active for about 7 years as a result of the construction of a railway between Regina and Prince Albert via

Saskatoon Saskatoon () is the largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It straddles a bend in the South Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province. It is located along the Trans-Canada Hig ...

in 1890. This made Saskatoon the closet railway to Battleford and signalled the end of the Swift Current - Battlefords Trail. The trail remained in use for local travel as late as 1925.

Important sites on the trail

Sixty Mile Bush Outpost - Sixty Mile Bush Outpost was an important rest stop on the Swift Current-Battleford Trail. It was located close to the current town of

Biggar, Saskatchewan Biggar is a town in central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located on Highway 14, west of Saskatoon, the province's most populous city. Biggar has become well known for its unusual town slogan, an Olympic athlete, and a world-record deer. The ...

on Township 34 Range 15 West of the 3rd Meridian. It was named sixty mile bush as a result of being about sixty miles south of Battleford. It served as a NWMP post and a way station for travellers and the

stagecoach A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are draw ...

. Half-way houses were established about every forty miles along the trail to supply the stage coaches with a fresh set of four horses. They were stocked with food and provisions for the winter months for stage coach stopovers and a rest stop for passengers. In 1910 a few Métis were ranching in the area at which time a Catholic mission was established. Settlers began arriving in the area around 1906 and began laying claims to homesteads. The Sixty Mile Bush Outpost Monument, erected to commemorate the post reads; "This was the site of the sixty mile bush outpost. A stopping place on the Swift Current-Battleford Trail. A log house provided lodging over the trail. Two NWMP were stationed here from 1886 to 1889. The house later became a store for the settlers. A

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

was built at the site in 1906. The settlement disbanded about 1911 after the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad and the town of Biggar were established." Battleford Trail Wheel Rut Area - The Battleford Trail Wheel Rut Area is located in the city of Swift Current. It consists of a small plot of native grass prairie that contains two deep and parallel

and wagon wheel ruts. These marks in the ground are the remnants of the historic Swift Current-Battleford Trail and have been designated as a Municipal Heritage Property.

Communities near the trail

Several modern communities exist on or near the original Swift Current-Battleford trail, some of them, like Swift Current and Battleford, existed at the time, while others have grown up along the trail since then. *

* Stewart Valley * Saskatchewan Landing *

Kyle Kyle or Kyles may refer to: Places Canada * Kyle, Saskatchewan, Canada Ireland * Kyle, County Laois * Kyle, County Wexford Scotland * Kyle, Ayrshire, area of Scotland which stretched across parts of modern-day East Ayrshire and South Ayrshir ...

Sanctuary A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place, such as a shrine. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This secondary use can be categorized into human sanctuary, a sa ...

* Otter Spring * Elrose * Rosetown * Herschel * Biggar * Cando * Mosquito First Nation *

References

{{Reflist

External links

Tourism Swift Current

Swift Current Museum

Trail of the Mounties
Swift Current Tourist attractions in Saskatchewan Heritage sites in Saskatchewan Historic trails and roads in Saskatchewan

History

Important sites on the trail

Communities near the trail

See also

References

External links