Cub Hills

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Cub Hills
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Cub Hills
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Cub Hills
Cub Hills (Canada)
Highest point
Elevation 684 m (2,244 ft)
Prominence 300 m (980 ft)
Coordinates 54°15′00″N104°30′01″W / 54.2501°N 104.5004°W / 54.2501; -104.5004
Geography
LocationFlag of Saskatchewan.svg  Saskatchewan, Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Parent range Cub Hills

The Cub Hills [1] are a hilly plateau located south-east of the geographical centre of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The hills are in the boreal forest [2] ecozone of Canada and the landforms of the hills were shaped more than 10,000 years ago during last ice age. Throughout the Cub Hills, there are dozens of lakes and rivers and several parks. [3] The Cubs Hills are 150 km (93 mi) north-east of Prince Albert and are in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District and Census Division #18. Several highways criss-cross the plateau to provide access to the various parks and other amenities. [4]

Contents

The principal highway through the Cub Hills is Highway 106, also known as the Hanson Lake Road, which begins at Smeaton and travels north into the hills then east to Flin Flon and the border with Manitoba. Other highways through the hills include 120, 912, 913, and 920. [5]

Geography

The glaciers retreated from the area about 10,000 years ago. And in their wake, they created many of the landforms in and around the Cub Hills, such as the valleys, lakes, and lowlands. Throughout the plateau, evidence left behind by the glaciers includes deposits of eskers and push moraines and tunnel valleys, which were created by subglacial erosion by meltwater. Many of the lakes, known as potholes, were created by depressions caused by dead ice when the glaciers were receding.

Boreal forest, muskeg, rolling hills, and small lakes and rivers are prominent features of the landscape today.

Lakes and rivers

The Cub Hills are entirely within the Hudson Bay drainage basin. Most of the hills are part of the Saskatchewan River watershed, including the northern, eastern, and southern slopes. The western slope of the hills flows north through the tributaries of the Nipekamew River, which flows into Lac la Ronge then the Churchill River via the Rapid River. The waters of the northern slope work their way north into various tributaries of the Sturgeon-Weir River, which meets up with the Saskatchewan River near the Manitoba border after going through Namew Lake, Whitey Narrows, and then Cumberland Lake of the Saskatchewan River Delta. The eastern slope of the hills is drained by the Mossy River and its tributaries into the Saskatchewan River Delta. Several rivers flow south out of the hills and into the east-flowing Torch River — a tributary of the Saskatchewan River.

Over 25 bodies of water throughout the hills are stocked with fish. The first stockings occurred in 1934 with the stocking of brook trout in McDougal Creek and Lost Echo Creek. In those two rivers, and three others, Nipekamew Creek, White Gull Creek, and Mossy River, brook trout became naturalised and feral. Lakes such as Piprell, Summit, Zeden are also stocked. All seven species of trout in Saskatchewan are found in the Cub Hills, including brown, rainbow, cutthroat, brook, tiger, lake, and splake. [6]

Other notable lakes in the hills include Upper and Lower Fishing Lakes, Little Bear Lake, the Gem Lakes, [7] Ispuchaw Lake, Crabtree Lake, Nipekamew Lake, Odell Lake, Lost Echo Lake, Bean Lake, and Stickley Lake. Big Sandy Lake is a large lake that is located at the north-eastern edge of the hills.

Parks and recreation

Narrow Hills Provincial Park, [8] originally established in 1934 as Nipawin Provincial Forest, covers much of the southern portion of the Cub Hills. The park has over 25 lakes, multiple campgrounds, lodges, and a wide network of trails for hiking, snowmobiling, and ATVing. [9]

There are four provincial recreation sites in and around the hills, all of which have campgrounds and access to lakes. They include Piprell Lake, [10] Little Bear Lake, [11] Jayjay Lake, and Big Sandy Lake. [12] [13]

The Cub Hills Game Preserve ( 54°12′00″N104°24′01″W / 54.2001°N 104.4004°W / 54.2001; -104.4004 ) [14] is a game preserve in the south-eastern area of the Cub Hills. [15]

Flora and fauna

The forests of the Cub Hills are classified as Mid-Boreal Upland and trees found in the forests of the hills include jack pine, aspen, birch, and spruce. There is a wide variety of animals that make the Cub Hills home, including moose, white-tailed deer, elk, black bears, timber wolves, lynx, snowshoe hares, beaver, and muskrats. Bird species include the loon and red-tailed hawk. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

Little Bear Lake is a lake in the boreal forest ecozone in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The lake is in a hilly plateau called Cub Hills and the landforms, such as the lakes and streams, of the Cub Hills were formed over 10,000 years ago during the last ice age. Little Bear Lake is accessed from the Hanson Lake Road, which runs along the eastern side of the lake, and by a small airport called Little Bear Lake Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torch River (Saskatchewan)</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Torch River is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is the dam at Candle Lake, near Candle Lake Provincial Park, and it travels east through boreal forest and muskeg en route to its mouth in the Saskatchewan River Delta. Torch River Provincial Forest, a conservation area, is located along the course of the river, near where White Fox River flows into Torch River. Torch River is a significant tributary of the Saskatchewan River and it is part of the Hudson Bay drainage basin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narrow Hills Provincial Park</span> Provincial park in Saskatchewan, Canada

Narrow Hills Provincial Park is a northern boreal forest provincial recreational park in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is located in a hilly plateau called the Cub Hills and contains several recreational facilities and over 25 accessible lakes within its boundaries. The geographical features of the park, including the lakes, valleys, and lowlands were formed over 10,000 years ago during the last ice age. The town of Smeaton is the closest community and it is located 70 kilometres (43 mi) to the south.

Peitahigan Lake is a lake in Meadow Lake Provincial Park in the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. The lake is one of six notable lakes in the Rusty Creek watershed. The other lakes include Rusty, First Mustus, Second Mustus, Third Mustus, and Fourth Mustus. Rusty Creek and the lakes are part of the Waterhen River drainage basin. The Waterhen River is a tributary of the Beaver River, which flows north into Lac Île-à-la-Crosse and the Churchill River, a major tributary in the Hudson Bay drainage basin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McDougal Creek</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

McDougal Creek is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is at the southern end of Divide Lake at the northern end of Narrow Hills Provincial Park in a hilly plateau called Cub Hills. The landforms of the Cub Hills, such as the lakes, streams, steeply rolling hills, and flat lowlands, were formed over 10,000 years ago during the last ice age. The entire course of the river is in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nipekamew River</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Nipekamew River is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is Nipekamew Lake at the north-western edge of the Cub Hills and its mouth is in Nipekamew Bay at the southern shore of Lac la Ronge. From the northern tip of Nipekamew Lake, the river travels from south to north through muskeg and boreal forest en route to Lac la Ronge. Lake la Ronge empties north into the Churchill River through Rapid River.

Nipekamew Lake is a lake in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The lake is north-east of Clarence-Steepbank Lakes Provincial Park and north-west of Narrow Hills Provincial Park and the Cub Hills. It is a long and narrow lake that runs in a north to south direction and is surrounded by boreal forest, rolling hills, and muskeg. The outflow, Nipekamew River, is at the northern end of the lake and at the southern end of the lake, neighbouring East Trout Lake flows directly into it through a short channel. Several other smaller rivers, such as Nipekamew Creek, also flow into the lake. The lake is part of the Churchill River watershed, which flows into the Hudson Bay.

East Trout Lake is a lake in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The lake is directly north of Clarence-Steepbank Lakes Provincial Park in Saskatchewan's Northern Administration District. It is a long and narrow lake that runs in a west to east direction and is surrounded by boreal forest, rolling hills, and muskeg. Several streams flow into the lake and its outflow is at the eastern end where it flows directly into neighbouring Nipekamew Lake through a short channel and bay. The lake is part of the Churchill River watershed, which flows into the Hudson Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nipekamew Creek</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Nipekamew Creek is a river in the boreal forest ecozone in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Its source is in muskeg approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Piprell Lake, near Highway 913. From the muskeg, the creek flows in a northerly direction through forests, rolling hills, glacier formed valleys, first into Stuart Lake, then Nipekamew Lake. The creek can be accessed from Highways 927, 913, and 912. After the creek leaves Stuart Lake, it follows the course of Highway 912 from there until it empties into Nipekamew Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mossy River</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Mossy River is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is east of Little Bear Lake and north-east of Narrow Hills Provincial Park in a hilly plateau called Cub Hills. The river travels through hills, boreal forest, and muskeg for about 100 kilometres en route to its mouth in the Saskatchewan River Delta. Highway 920 is the only road to access the mainstem of the river and there are no communities nor settlements along the course of the river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Gull Creek</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

White Gull Creek is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is White Gull Lake, near the south-western boundary of Narrow Hills Provincial Park and near the southern slopes of the Cub Hills. The river travels through boreal forest and muskeg en route to its mouth at the Torch River. The Torch River is a tributary of the Saskatchewan River as it flows into one of North America's largest inland fresh water deltas, the Saskatchewan River Delta. There are no communities nor settlements along the river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stewart Creek (Saskatchewan)</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Stewart Creek is a river in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is Lower Fishing Lake of the Cub Hills in Narrow Hills Provincial Park, and it travels south through boreal forest and muskeg en route to its mouth at the Torch River. The Torch River flows east to the Saskatchewan River, which is part of the Hudson Bay drainage basin. There are no communities nor settlements along the course of the river.

Lost Echo Lake is a lake in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in Narrow Hills Provincial Park. It is situated in a glacier-formed valley in the Cub Hills and the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. It is south of Summit Lake and is accessed from secondary roads that branch off of Highway 913. While there are no communities nor settlements on the lake, there is the Lost Echo Wilderness Campsite on the western shore.

Summit Lake is a lake in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in Narrow Hills Provincial Park. It is situated in a glacier-formed valley in the Cub Hills and the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. It is located north of Lost Echo Lake and is accessed from Highway 913. There are no communities or settlements on the lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caribou Creek</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Caribou Creek is a river in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is in a hilly plateau called Cub Hills, near the western boundary of Narrow Hills Provincial Park. The river heads south following a glacier-carved valley through the Cub Hills en route to its mouth at Lower Fishing Lake. The entire course of the river is in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. Caribou Creek is a tributary of Stewart Creek, which flows south and into the east-flowing Torch River. Torch River is a tributary of the Saskatchewan River as it flows into the Saskatchewan River Delta. Much of the upper watershed was burned in 1977 in what is known as the Fishing Lakes Fire and is now dominated by a forest of jack pine.

Lower Fishing Lake is a lake in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in Narrow Hills Provincial Park. It is situated in the Cub Hills and the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. The lake is accessed from Highway 920, which connects to Hanson Lake Road and Highway 120. The Fishing Lakes Fire of 1977 burned much of the region upstream and around the lake and now the area is now dominated by jack pine, which is a tree species that is well adapted fire burned forests.

Zeden Lake is a small recreational lake known for its trout fishing in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in Narrow Hills Provincial Park. It is situated in the Cub Hills and the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. The lake is surrounded by a forest of mature jack pine.

Piprell Lake is a lake in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. The lake is located in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, just south of the geographical centre of Saskatchewan in the Cub Hills. It is west of the western boundary of Narrow Hills Provincial Park and south-east of Clarence-Steepbank Lakes Provincial Park Piprell Lake Recreation Site and Rainbow Lodge are situated at the northern end of the lake and its amenities are accessed from Highway 913.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piwei River</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Piwei River is a river in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. It begins at the western end of the Porcupine Hills at Piwei Lakes and heads in an easterly direction through a glacier-formed valley and into the Etomami River, which is a tributary of the Red Deer River.

Woody River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The river's source is in the Porcupine Hills and Porcupine Provincial Forest of eastern Saskatchewan. From there it flows south through boreal forest and then east through Boreal Plains in the Parkland Region of Manitoba en route to Swan Lake. The river parallels the Swan River for much of its route as it travels through Swan River Valley between Duck Mountain and Porcupine Hills of the Manitoba Escarpment. Bowsman is the only notable community along the course of Woody River. Several highways cross it, including Saskatchewan's Highway 980, Manitoba's Roads 588, 366, 268, and Manitoba's Highway 10.

References

  1. ↑ Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Cub Hills". www4.rncan.gc.ca.
  2. ↑ "Boreal Plains Ecozone". ecozones. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  3. ↑ "Cub Hills, Saskatchewan, Canada". mindat. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "Cub Hills". peakery. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  5. ↑ "Cub Hills, Saskatchewan Map". Geodata. Geodata.us. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "Trout Streams of the Cub Hills". environment.gov.sk. Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment.
  7. ↑ "Gem Lakes". Tourism Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  8. ↑ "Narrow Hills Provincial Park". Tourism Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Government.
  9. ↑ "Narrow Hills Provincial Park Trails". Tourism Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  10. ↑ Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Piprell Lake Recreation Site". www4.rncan.gc.ca.
  11. ↑ Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Little Bear Lake Recreation Site". www4.rncan.gc.ca.
  12. ↑ "Big Sandy Lake Recreation Site". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  13. ↑ "Big Sandy Lake Outdoor Adventures". Tourism Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  14. ↑ Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Cub Hills Game Preserve". www4.rncan.gc.ca.
  15. ↑ "Map of Cub Hills Game Preserve, Saskatchewan, Conservation area - Canada Geographical Names with Maps".
  16. ↑ "Ecoregions of Saskatchewan". usask. University of Saskatchewan. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
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