Saskatchewan Highway 3

Travel continues west as Alberta Highway 45 at the Alberta – Saskatchewan border. The Saskatchewan portion of the route begins in the northwestern area of the aspen parkland ecoregion, 27 kilometres (17 mi) north of Lloydminster the border city. Ttrembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) form bluffs (small islands or shelter belts) which are typical in this area.[6] This area also marks the northernmost area of the Missouri Coteau which has produced the Thickwood Hills feature here.[7] Reverend Lloyd and Isaac Montgomery Barr lead the Barr colonists here to Brittania in the early 20th century.[8]

Hwy 3 proceeds east just to the south of the North Saskatchewan River. The river crossing is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of the Hwy 684 junction. Travel proceeds to the north east from here. Hwy 797 north provides access to Frenchman Butte and the Fort Pitt Provincial Historical Park (19 kilometres (12 mi)) off Hwy 3. There is still evidence of the North-West Rebellion, Battle of Frenchman's Butte when the Cree and Major General T.B. Strange met on May 28, 1885 here.[9] Paradise Hill, a village of about 500 people, had post office names of LeClair, Diggs and Archie before adopting the moniker Paradise Hill officially for the hamlet in 1928. Oil and gas plants provide the main employment to the area, followed by agriculture and farm machinery dealerships. A red river cart and ox statue are seen at the outskirts of the village commemorating the Carlton Trail which passed through this area en route between Fort Edmonton, and Fort Garry. The Trans Canada Trail is a walking or hiking trail crossing Canada and it makes its way here as well.[10]

2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) later is the junction with Hwy 21 north, the location of the Frenchman Butte No. 501 RM office. The Bronson provincial forest to the north provides incoming traffic during the fall hunting season. Cattle farming predominates the area, supplemented by grain crops and the oil & gas industry.[9] Hwy 21 forms a 10.1 kilometres (6.3 mi) concurrency with Hwy 3. Traveling north on Hwy 26 provides access to St. Walburg and Makwa Lake Provincial Park and Steele Narrow Provincial Historic Park.[1] Hwy 3 turn at the junction with Hwy 26 continuing south east. At the south east end of the 9.7 kilometres (6.0 mi) concurrency of Hwy 3 and Hwy 26 is the village of Spruce Lake and the junction with Hwy 796 west. The ecoregion has changed to boreal transition. Mixed wood boreal forest with jack pine, trembling aspen, white spruce, and tamarack (Larix laricina) furnish the forestry industry.[11]

Turtleford is a town at the junction of Hwy 3 and Hwy 26 and is located along the Turtle River. In 1983, Turtleford became a town with 500 residents, and built the nation's largest turtle. Ernie, a roadside attraction, is 8 feet (2.4 m) high.[12][13] Hwy 3 arrived in Turtleford from the north west and takes a V turn and leaves to the north east. After traveling 4.6 kilometres (2.9 mi), Hwy 3 turns and continues its route east. 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) from Turtleford, Hwy 26 north provides access to Livelong, 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) north of Hwy 3. The Westside Turtle Lake Resort Area, home of the Turtle Lake Monster is 18 kilometres (11 mi) north also along Hwy 26.[14]

Glaslyn is located south east at the Hwy 4 concurrency. The concurrency is 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) along the north east side of the village. The main economy of Glaslyn and area are agriculture, forestry, ecotourism, fishing, hunting and trapping. Glaslyn was a Welsh community which originally settled on the Meadow Lake – Battleford Trail. Turtle Lake, Meadow Lake Provincial Park and Jackfish Provincial Park are all popular destinations near this access point.[15][16] After Glaslyn the highway continues on its route to the south east. Little Loon Regional Park is located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) south of Hwy 3.[14] Cater and Belbutte area both unincorporated areas within Medstead rural municipality (RM).[17] Hwy 696 north provides access in 46 kilometres (29 mi) to Chitek Lake Provincial Recreation Site.

The town of Spiritwood is in an agricultural community based in the north – central parkland area. Grain growing, ranching and tourism increase the traffic here.[18][19] Mildred is a small unincorporated area which belongs to Spiritwood RM.[17] The village of Shell Lake, the oasis of the parklands, is accessed 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) northeast of Hwy 3. The physiographic region is within the Saskatchewan plains region, more specifically the Saskatchewan River plain. The features include deep, terraced river valleys, as well as hillocky glacial debris.[20] The RM of Canwood provides civic governance to Hawkeye, and Ordale, both located just north of Hwy 3.[17] Shellbrook is located southwest of Shell Brook, at the junction of Hwy 240 and Hwy 3.[21][22]

Crutwell is a part of Shellbrook No. 493 RM south of the Hwy 55 – Hwy 3 concurrency. This concurrency at 42 kilometres (26 mi) is the longest of the route.[1] The city of Prince Albert, Gateway to the north, is the third largest in the province and is located on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. Highways 55, 302, 2 and 3 all meet here. Agriculture, forestry, mining, and tourism are the largest employers in this sector. Waskesiu Lake in the Prince Albert National Park is located 88.6 kilometres (55.1 mi) north of the city on Hwy 2. This city is centrally located along the highway demarks the transition area between the shield boreal forest to the north and the prairie agricultural lands in the south benefiting from the best of both vegetative regions.[14][23][24]

Muskoday First Nation has reserved for itself the 9,686.8 hectare (23,936.6 acres) through which Hwy 3 travels from north west to south east. The South Saskatchewan River divides the reserve almost in half from north to south and also intersects with Hwy 3. Departure from the reserve is due south along Hwy 3. The town of Birch Hills, A Tradition of Pride and Prosperity, is located at the junction of Hwy 25 south west.[25][26] Travel from Birch Hills continues due east. Brancepeth is north of Hwy 3, a small hamlet of Birch Hills No. 460 RM.[17] At the junction with Hwy 778, Hwy 3 turns south east. Kinistino, a town of 649, is located at the junction of Hwy 778.[17][27] The Fort à la Corne Provincial Forest and the confluence of the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers are both located within the RM of Kinistino. SCAPE – the Study of Cultural Adaptations in the Prairie Ecozone – is studying the Forks of the Saskatchewan River area and Fort-à-la-Corne lands. The "Changing Opportunities & Challenges: Human-Environment Interaction in the Canadian Prairies Ecozone" program is delving into the archeology, ethnohistory, geomatics, geoarcheology, paleobotany, soil science, and oral traditions of the area.[28][29][30] The village of Beatty, first named Stoney Creek, is located at the junction of Hwy 368.[31]

The City of Northern Lights, Melfort is home to 5,192. The Agriculture Melfort Research Station is centered here along with many other agriculturally based industries. The Tiger Hills Uplands ecozone provides rich soil to grow a diversity of crops.[17][32][33] The concurrency of Hwy 3 and Hwy 6 is a 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi) long concurrency at the Hwy 41 junction. Hwy 3 continues due east from Melfort.[1] The town of Star City is north of the Hwy 681 junction. The village of Valparaiso, one of the few Spanish settlements of the province is just north of Hwy 3.[34] The town of Tisdale, is surrounded by lakes Barrier Lake, Marean Lake, Tobin Lake, and Greenwater Lake Provincial Park. Agriculture and manufacturing are the dominant industries in the area. Besides the major provincial highways 35 and Hwy 3, both the Canadian National Railway (CNR) and the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) serve this town. Over 11,000 vehicles per day travel the two highways through Tisdale. At the intersection of Hwy 35 and 3 is the world's largest honey bee at 6 feet (1.8 m) high.[35][36]

Hwy 3 continues due east until the junction with Hwy 23 at the hamlet of Crooked River. The Hwy 23 concurrency is 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi) in a north north east direction. At the end of the concurrency Hwy 3 continues due east.[1] The hamlet of Peesane is located at the beginning of the Hwy 679 concurrency which is 0.8 kilometres (0.50 mi) in length.[1] Mistatim a village which is Proud of its Past ..... and Planning for its Future, has an economy based on agricultural mixed farming, hunting trapping and forestry.[37] Mistatim is located south of the Pasquia Forest Reserve, and north of the Porcupine Forest Reserve.[38] The EDEN Regional Economic Development Authority (REDA) encourages tourism, investment, economic and recreational activities in the area.[39]

Hwy 3 continues south east from Mistatim for 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) then turns due east for 39.5 kilometres (24.5 mi) when there is a short stretch traveling north east. Prairie River of the Porcupine No. 395 RM lies to the north of this stretch of highway. Hwy 3 traveling east arrives at the junction of Hwy 9 at Hudson Bay. The Hwy 9 concurrency around the north west edge of the town is 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long.[1] Hudson Bay is Moose Capital of the World due to the high presence of western moose (Alces alces anderson). At this site were a Hudson's Bay Company Upper Red Deer post, North West Company Upper Red Deer post. The Rendek Elm Forest is located north and the Hudson Bay Regional Park is located south of Hwy 3. Forestry is a main concern of the area served by Wizewood – MacMillan Bloedel – Weyerhaeuser for years.[40][41][42] The highway continues east as Highway 77 after the Manitoba – Saskatchewan border.

The time zone in Saskatchewan uses Central Standard Time which is different from the time zone of Alberta which combines Mountain Daylight Time or (Central Standard Time) with daylight saving time.[1]

The North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA super corridor CanAm Highway travels along U.S. Route 85 connecting Mexico to Canada. The CanAm highway in Canada comprises Saskatchewan Highways 35, 39, 6, 3, and 2. The total length of the CanAm highway is 4,122 kilometres (2,561 mi), of which Hwy 3 contributes a 97.8 miles (157.4 km) segment length.[5] The route designated as CanAm in the 1920s continues south in Mexico as Mexican Federal Highway 45, and north as SK 102 but are not labeled the CanAm highway.[5][43]

From west to east:

Rural municipality	Location	km[1]	mi	Destinations	Notes
Brittania No. 502		0.0	0.0	Alberta – Saskatchewan border Continues as Hwy 45 west – Marwayne, Two Hills
				Hwy 17 – Onion Lake, Lloydminster
	​	24.4	15.2	Hwy 684 south – Waseca
↑ / ↓	​	26.2	16.3	Crosses the North Saskatchewan River
Frenchman Butte No. 501	​	28.2	17.5	Hwy 797 north – Frenchman Butte
	Paradise Hill	38.9	24.2	Hwy 21 north – Pierceland	West end of Hwy 21 concurrency
	​	49.0	30.4	Hwy 21 south – Maidstone	East end of Hwy 21 concurrency
	​	56.3	35.0	Hwy 26 north – St. Walburg, Loon Lake	Hwy 3 turns southwest; west end of Hwy 26 concurrency
Mervin No. 499	Spruce Lake	66.5	41.3	Hwy 796 east
	Turtleford	85.4	53.1	Hwy 26 south – The Battlefords	Hwy 3 branches east; east end of Hwy 26 concurrency
Parkdale No. 498	​	105.3	65.4	Hwy 795 north – Livelong, Turtle Lake
	​	115.0	71.5	Hwy 697 south – Longhope
	Glaslyn	131.7	81.8	Hwy 4 north – Meadow Lake	Hwy 3 branches south; west end of Hwy 4 concurrency
		132.0	82.0	Hwy 4 south – The Battlefords	Hwy 3 branches east; east end of Hwy 4 concurrency
Medstead No. 497	​	150.2	93.3	Hwy 794 south – Medstead
Spiritwood No. 496	​	175.1	108.8	Hwy 696 north
	Spiritwood	187.4	116.4	Hwy 24 north – Leoville, Chitek Lake
		187.7	116.6	Hwy 378 south – Rabbit Lake, The Battlefords
	​	217.6	135.2	Hwy 695 north
	Shell Lake	219.2	136.2	Hwy 12 south – Blaine Lake, Saskatoon
Canwood No. 494	​	253.5	157.5	Hwy 694 north – Canwood	South of Ordale
Shellbrook No. 493	​	264.9	164.6	Hwy 40 west – Blaine Lake, The Battlefords
	Shellbrook	268.6	166.9	Hwy 55 west (NWRR) – Meadow Lake	West end of Hwy 55 concurrency
	Holbein	281.3	174.8	Hwy 693 north – Sturgeon Valley
Buckland No. 491	No major junctions
City of Prince Albert		310.8	193.1	Hwy 2 north – Prince Albert National Park, La Ronge Hwy 55 east (NWRR) – Nipawin	Interchange Hwy 3 branches south; east end of Hwy 55 concurrency; north end of Hwy 2 concurrency
				CanAm Highway west end
		311.6	193.6	To Hwy 55 east (Riverside Drive) – Nipawin	Interchange, northbound entrance and exit; northbound access to Hwy 55 east
		311.6– 312.0	193.6– 193.9	Diefenbaker Bridge across North Saskatchewan River
		312.0	193.9	River Street	Grade separated; southbound exit only
		312.5	194.2	15th Street W (Hwy 302 west) 2nd Avenue W (Hwy 2 south) to Hwy 11 – Moose Jaw, Saskatoon	Hwy 3 branches east; south end of Hwy 2 concurrency; west end of Hwy 302 concurrency
		314.0	195.1	15th Street E (Hwy 302 east) / 6th Avenue E	Hwy 3 branches south; west end of Hwy 302 concurrency
		316.1	196.4	Marquis Road	Alternate route to Hwy 2 and Hwy 11.
Prince Albert No. 461	No major junctions
↑ / ↓	Muskoday First Nation	336.0	208.8	Muskoday Bridge across South Saskatchewan River
Birch Hills No. 460		337.6	209.8	Hwy 789 west
	Birch Hills	350.5	217.8	Hwy 25 west – St. Louis
	​	353.3	219.5	Hwy 20 south – Humboldt
Kinistino No. 459	​	367.8	228.5	Hwy 682 north – Weldon, Weldon Ferry	West end of Hwy 682 concurrency
	Kinistino	377.3	234.4	Hwy 778 west	West end of Hwy 778 concurrency
		377.8	234.8	Hwy 778 east / Hwy 682 south – Meskanaw	East end of Hwy 682 / Hwy 778 concurrency
Flett's Springs No. 429	Beatty	393.2	244.3	Hwy 368 south – St. Brieux
	​	405.3	251.8	Hwy 41A south to Hwy 41 – Saskatoon
City of Melfort		407.0	252.9	Broadway Avenue (Hwy 6 north) – Choiceland	West end of Hwy 6 concurrency; Hwy 3 / Hwy 6 turns south at east end of city
		410.3	254.9	Hwy 41 west – Saskatoon Hwy 6 south – Regina	Hwy 3 branches east; east end of Hwy 6 concurrency
				CanAm Highway east end
Star City No. 428	​	428.2	266.1	Hwy 681 – Star City
Tisdale No. 427	Tisdale	446.9	277.7	Hwy 35 – Nipawin, Wadena
Bjorkdale No. 426	Crooked River	468.2	290.9	Hwy 23 south – Porcupine Plain	Hwy 3 branches north; west end of Hwy 23 concurrency
	​	471.5	293.0	Hwy 23 north – Carrot River	Hwy 3 branches east; east end of Hwy 23 concurrency
	​	503.6	312.9	Hwy 678 south – Porcupine Plain
Porcupine No. 395	​	521.4	324.0	Hwy 677 south / Prairie River Access Road – Carragana
Hudson Bay No. 394	Hudson Bay	562.1	349.3	Hwy 9 south – Preeceville, Yorkton	Hwy 3 branches north; west end of Hwy 9 concurrency
		565.7	351.5	Hwy 9 north – The Pas	Hwy 3 turns east; west end of Hwy 9 concurrency
	Armit	604.7	375.7	Hwy 980 south – Elbow Lake, Arran
	​	612.0	380.3	Manitoba – Saskatchewan border Continues as PTH 77 east – Baden, Swan River
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access       Route transition

• List of Saskatchewan provincial highways

• Saskatchewan Highways Website
• Abandoned Farm along Highway 3 Abandoned Places Canada Photographs of Abandoned Buildings & Homesteads in Canada.
• Saskatchewan Highway Sign
• Saskatchewan Road Trip Highway 3 Westbound Highway 20 to Highway 40 Photographed

Preceded by Hwy 6

CanAm Highway Hwy 3

Succeeded by Hwy 2