Top 5 Roadtrips In and Around Balcarres, SK – RANKED!

My first Balcarres roadtrip came at a special time in my life. I’ll never forget being a recent graduate of managerial accounting and celebrating with a drive straight down mainstreet.

• Gerald, 1977

Hello fellow globetrotters, welcome back. You’ve likely recently began planning the yearly family trip to central Saskatchewan and are overwhelmed by the sheer amount of fantastic drives right at your fingertips. Lucky you, you’ve found the list authored by the authorities on rural roadways in and around Balcarres. Let us take the burden of decision making out of your hands. Just sit back, buckle up, slide on your favorite fingerless driving gloves, and plop down with a delicious hot cider to prepare for this transformative read.

#5 Township Road 257

What is there to say that hasn’t already been said about Township Road 257. I will let the above photograph do the talking (ps: it’s worth a thousand words). Uttering the number ‘257’ to any local will surely have you wrapped in an enthralling life altering tale with winding twists of fate, in stark contrast to the road itself.

#4 Main Street

Whether you do this one in an afternoon or spread it out over a seven day pilgrimage, Main Street in Balcarres has more than enough to keep the whole family absolutely locked in. My personal relationship with this road dates back one day, and without exaggeration it opened my third eye to the metaphysical universe, our existence within, and my purpose in this 4th dimension. Also, stop in to the local confectionary ‘Midnight Munchies’ for a quick snack if you’re famished. Cannot recommend enough the plain Lay’s chips – ask for the family size bag off their “secret menu”.

#3 Township Road 258

Set exactly 1 mile west of our number 5 spot, this township road is arrow straight with significant washboarding. Hit this road at just the right speed and you’ll feel butterflies.

#2 Range Road 12

Going north/south is about as good as it gets, but if you’ve been yearning to try out different directions this one is for you. Originally it can be a little bit disorienting to be going 90 degrees to your normal direction, but after a few hours your ears will adjust and the vision will stop spinning. Try going west at dusk for a thrilling experience of simulated blindness.

#1 Township Road 256

You always knew this one was coming, didn’t you. Most don’t earn their fingerless gloves until at least two or three trips down Township Road 256. A classic, this road grips you from start to finish. It evokes ancient memories of chariot races and naval warfare. Once the kids stop screaming in terror they will have made a memory to last a life time and will for sure be making return visits with their own little rugrats. Timeless and evocative.

Honourable Mentions:

Township Road 259

This might inspire some controversy but I didn’t become the ‘Road Rating Bad Boy’ by accident. Anyone that has an extra three or four weeks in and around the area should at least attempt a look, if not a drive, down this rugged piece of rustic construction. You just might change your tune and even turn your gaze to the infamous 260 (yes I said it)!

Township Road 260

Just go ahead and hate. This is MY list and I don’t even care.

South Service Road

This road was impossibly hard to understand in a ranking system that can seem so subjective (yet is 100% objective). It has everything, and nothing at the same time. If I could justify having a 1a and 1b this would surely still land somewhere in the honorable mentions. It’s great, and also not. Time to think for yourself on this one.

Conclusion

Balcarres, SK may offer a limited number of roads but they themselves contain unlimited freedom. Blast down any of these trails with your head cranked out the window, yelling whoopee and you’ll be transported to a simpler time before big government ruined literally all facets of life. After careful consideration these 5 roads represent the cream of the cream, but it should be noted that the whole 100 km radius around Balcarres is a straight-line drivers paradise. Enjoy!