Tag Archive for: Sask Storyteller

Blue and white "Welcome to Duck Mountain Provincial Park" sign with a stone pillar base, surrounded by green grass and yellow autumn trees.

Madge Moments: My Trail Start at Duck Mountain

ELLA-VATED TRAILS

Tracing prairie trails through memory, discovery, and home.

By Ella Gidluck, SaskTrails Storyteller

 

Duck Mountain isn’t new to me.

I’ve spent summers at Madge Lake for as long as I can remember. It’s where my family has a cabin, where we roast marshmallows, take the dogs for long walks, and jump into the lake even when the water feels ridiculously cold. I even worked at Friends of Madge Lake for a summer when I was 16, at the Treats & Treasures store by Ministick Beach. I know this place and its community. It’s part of who I am.

But this summer, I came back with a different purpose, and suddenly, everything looked a little different.

Instead of just visiting, I was here to see. To listen. To learn. I started my trip with a stop at Duck Mountain Lodge: a cozy, red-trimmed building tucked into the trees, with a bright blue sign that makes it impossible to miss. It ended up being one of the best decisions I could have made.

Front of Duck Mountain Lodge featuring large blue and brown wooden sign under a bright blue sky.

The iconic turquoise sign that welcomes visitors to Duck Mountain Lodge.

Duck Mountain Lodge, the perfect starting point for my trail storytelling trip.

A Lodge with Heart

The lodge sits right in the woods, tucked away but easy to find if you know where to look. I met April, one of the co-owners, who reopened the space with her partner Jordan in May 2023. From the moment we started talking, I could feel how much she loves this place, not just the lodge, but the park, the trails, and the people who show up year after year.

“Life is so hectic,” she said. “And when you’re out here, it’s just, *she takes a deep breath*… You can breathe.”

I knew exactly what she meant. Just stepping out of the car that morning felt like hitting reset.

April moved from Regina to Kamsack years ago, but Duck Mountain has always been her escape. She talked about frog hunting in creeks as a kid, the kind of childhood joy that sticks with you. Now, she’s building that kind of joy for other people through good food, warm beds, and real conversations.

We chatted in the new cafĂ© space, where fresh-baked treats sat behind glass and a chalkboard menu hung above the espresso machine. It’s modern and welcoming, with plants tucked between pastries and signs that say things like “Good Vibes Only.” A soft launch now, but it’s clearly becoming something special.

Café counter at Duck Mountain Lodge with drink fridge, dessert case, and welcome signs under hanging lights.

Duck Mountain Lodge’s cozy cafĂ© offers coffee, baking, and good vibes only.

The lodge café serves up smoothies, cinnamon buns, and good vibes.

Most of their visitors are from Manitoba, though more people from Saskatchewan are starting to catch on. She laughed about the number of folks who just stumble across the lodge while walking to the beach. This year feels like their first real summer. People are finally discovering them, and they are ready to welcome them with open arms.

April and I snapped a quick photo in front of the lodge before she darted back to the kitchen. It’s rare to meet someone who’s as passionate about people as she is about good food.

April, co-owner of Duck Mountain Lodge, sitting with Ella inside the lodge dining area with ketchup, salt and pepper on the table in front.

April and I after a great chat about trails, food, and finding peace in the woods.

Trail Wisdom

When I asked April about her favourite hikes, she lit up. Her go-to is a loop that starts from the Batka Lake parking lot and winds past Moose Lake, Jackrabbit Shelter, and the ski hill. It’s a solid workout with birdsong for background music and plenty of spots to stop, rest, and breathe.

“It’s like meditation,” she told me. “You just close your eyes and listen.”

That phrase stuck with me. Later in the week, I walked part of that route and thought about what she’d said. The trails I’ve known forever felt unfamiliar in the best way. Like I was being introduced to them for the first time, not by a map, but by someone who truly knows them.

One trail was lined with ferns – waist-high, bright green, and practically glowing in the sun. I’d never noticed them before, not like that. Maybe I just hadn’t slowed down long enough to look.

Dense green fern field surrounded by trees under midday light near Madge Lake.

A lush carpet of ferns just off the trail at Madge Lake.

More Than Just a Meal

Back at the lodge, April’s menu reflects her background as a certified health coach. She does it all: burgers, salads, vegan meals, gluten-free everything, even custom dishes for guests with dietary needs. She’s not just making food. She’s fuelling people, especially those who want to stay active while they’re here.

“I don’t penny-pinch,” she said. “I’m using the real good cheese. It’s not about making money. It’s about people leaving here saying, ‘This is the best plate I ever had.’ That means more to me.”

She also shared her own story of going gluten-free during her training and how it completely changed how she felt, even though she didn’t realize gluten had been affecting her in the first place. That kind of lived experience shows in the way she talks to guests. She’s not just handing out menus. She’s giving people options they didn’t know they needed.

I took my sister, Finlee, to the Lodge for lunch, we ordered pasta… and judging by her double thumbs-up, it was a hit. There’s something lovely about a place that feels this good and feeds you well.

Smiling young woman giving thumbs up behind a plate of cheesy spaghetti with a breadstick at Duck Mountain Lodge.

Finlee gives the spaghetti at Duck Mountain Lodge two thumbs up.

Finlee approved: hearty pasta and happy hikers welcome.

Coming Soon: Coffee and Cinnamon Buns

As if the lodge wasn’t already full of personality, April is now opening a specialty cafĂ© with homemade donuts, smoothies, cinnamon buns, and milkshakes. I got a sneak peek of the milkshake cookbook. Yes, it includes a Fruity Pebbles one. Yes, I will be back.

She’s easing into it slowly, with more homemade items rolling out as she gains strength and rhythm. Her goal is to offer something good. Not just good enough. Good enough to remember.

Lasting Impressions

Before I left, I asked April how she’d finish this sentence:
“You haven’t truly experienced Duck Mountain until
”

“Until you’ve been here,” she said. “Like really been here. You can’t explain it. You have to feel it.”

I think she’s right.

On one of our last nights, I wandered down to the dock. The clouds were thick, but the sun still found its way through. The lake was still. It felt like the park was quietly saying, “You’re right where you need to be.”

Sun shining through clouds over a calm lake surrounded by trees and tall reeds.

Sun reflections over the water near the dock at Madge Lake.

End of day at Madge, where the trails wind down and the reflections start.

This first part of my Madge Lake journey reminded me that familiarity doesn’t mean you’ve seen it all. There’s always another story tucked between the trees, another voice to listen to, another trail waiting to surprise you.

Woman reading a brochure while sitting in a model boat at the Duck Mountain Provincial Park visitor center with educational displays behind her.

Getting to know the local trails at the Duck Mountain park office.

Next up, I take on the Fen Trail, visit Batka Lake Lookout, and learn what happens when you accidentally step off the boardwalk in the name of curiosity. Spoiler: it’s spongy.

 

This article is part of the SaskTrails Storyteller Series. Thank you to the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association and Trans Canada Trail for supporting this initiative.

Ella Gidluck is the Saskatchewan Trails Association’s 2025 Summer Storyteller. She’s a university student with a love for quiet places, trail snacks, and telling the stories behind the paths we walk.

Entrance sign at Echo Valley Provincial Park surrounded by trees

Echo Valley – Built by Heart, History, and Hikers

ELLA-VATED TRAILS

Tracing prairie trails through memory, discovery, and home.

By Ella Gidluck, SaskTrails Storyteller

Until now, Echo Valley Provincial Park had always been somewhere I drove past, not into. I thought I was coming for a quick volunteer trail cleanup. I didn’t expect to walk away with a map, a few new trail names in my head (Badger, Owl, Raccoon) and a story about legacy, accessibility, and the quiet power of community.

This isn’t just a beautiful place to hike. It’s a place that’s been shaped by people who care.

“We all just pitch in.” – Rick, Trail Volunteer

Echo Valley trailhead sign with trail names

Trail names like Badger, Owl, and Raccoon greet you right from the start.

Rick met me in the parking lot, bright-eyed and fully geared up. He’s one of the folks behind the Echo Valley trail system as it exists today. He mapped routes with GPS (and a little help from the deer), organized cleanups, and added signage so you don’t get lost out there.

“We started from scratch. I just wanted a place to run, but I couldn’t maintain it all by myself
 Now we’ve got over 1,000 people in the Facebook group.”

Rick, longtime volunteer at Echo Valley, standing on the trail

Rick, one of the original volunteers behind Echo’s current trail system.

He walked me through trail history like a local legend, pointing out how certain names came to be:

  • Badger Trail: “It’s the gnarliest one. Badgers are gnarly.”
  • Owl Trail: Named after the owl that swooped across the trees mid-run.
  • Rock Garden: A glacial bed of giant boulders you pass near the bottom of Badger Trail.

His favourite? “Definitely Badger. Down the hill, up through the bridges, past the glacier rocks. It’s got everything.”

Small wooden trail sign that reads 'Beware of Troll'

Echo Valley trail wisdom: come for the views, beware of trolls.

Rick also talked about how they’ve added “You Are Here” signs, color-coded markers, and community-friendly maps to help people explore safely. No app required. “We thought the techy people would scan the QR codes. Turns out, they just take pictures,” he laughed.

“This is your backyard.” – Shelly, Park Manager

Shelly, the park manager, talked to me about Echo’s bigger vision. It’s a legacy being built one trail and tree at a time. She told me how local school kids from Standing Buffalo, Pasqua First Nation, and Fort Qu’Appelle helped plant over 100 trees in the park last fall. They named them too — Leafy, Superman, Scotty (the Scots Pine). Elmer (the Elm), Sparkles.

“We want people to feel like this is theirs to protect, but also theirs to enjoy.”

Shelly shared Echo’s upcoming accessibility plans: a new all-persons trail close to the campground. Not paved, but solid-surfaced with minimal elevation changes, it’s built for walkers, wheelchair users, and anyone needing a more stable path.

“Right now, we don’t have a fully accessible trail. But we’re working on it.”

Framed photos from the 1980s Girl Guide Jamboree on display in the visitor centre

Framed slides from the 1980s Girl Guide Jamboree, still on display in the visitor centre.

Echo is also preserving its past, like a set of slides from the 1980s Girl Guide World Jamboree when over 3,500 Girl Guides camped right in the valley. One photo shows kids playing wheelchair volleyball — proof that Echo was thinking about accessibility long before it became a buzzword.

From Glacial Boulders to Girl Guides

Echo Valley is full of these unexpected stories. A trail system partly designed by following deer paths. A running race that doesn’t stop until everyone but one drops (yes, really — Rick calls it the “Backyard Ultra”). A park with one side reserved just for nature-based recreation to keep the valley wild for future generations.

“We’ve got people out here who care as much about the park as I do,” Shelly said. “That’s when cool things happen.”

If You Go

  • Start with Deer Trail if you’re new or bringing kids. It’s flat, shaded, and loops around with a great valley view.
  • Looking for a challenge? Try Badger Trail. You’ll find bridges, coolies, and the legendary Rock Garden.
  • Stop by the visitor centre and ask about the Girl Guide slides.
  • If you see a tree named Sparkles
 give her a little wave.
Echo Valley trail with trees opening into a clear walking path

The kind of view that makes you slow down, breathe deep, and stay a little longer.

My Ella-vated Trail Ratings

5/5 Trees Named by Kids Who Totally Got It Right
Looking at you, Sparkles.

4.9/5 “You Are Here” Signs That Prevented a Panic Spiral
The other 0.1 is on me, not the map.

5/5 People Who Showed Up Because They Care
And somehow made trail cleanup feel like a party.

Echo Valley Provincial Park trail map showing all trail names and routes

Here’s your go-to trail map to start planning your Echo adventure. Don’t worry—they’ve added “You Are Here” signs too.

Read more trail stories and enter the 2025 Photo Contest at sasktrails.ca

This article is part of the SaskTrails Storyteller Series. Thank you to the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association and Trans Canada Trail for supporting this initiative.

Ella Gidluck is the Saskatchewan Trails Association’s 2025 Summer Storyteller. She’s a university student with a love for quiet places, trail snacks, and telling the stories behind the paths we walk.

Welcome to the Trail

Ella-vated Trails

Tracing prairie trails through memory, discovery, and home

Ella Gidluck standing in front of colorful spring flowers and trees, smiling at the camera

Hi, I’m Ella. I’m a storyteller, a curious beginner, and someone who’s spent most of her life in Saskatchewan without realizing how many trails are waiting to be explored. This summer I’m setting out to change that.

As the Trail Storyteller with the Saskatchewan Trails Association, I’ll be travelling across the province to walk, watch, listen, and share. I’ll be posting updates here through trail reflections, short videos, photos, and conversations with the people who love these places and keep them alive.

Some stories will be playful. Some will be quiet. All of them will come from real moments on real paths.

Whether you’re someone who hikes every weekend or just likes to follow along from the comfort of home, I’m glad you’re here. Let’s see where the trail leads.

About Ella

Ella Gidluck is a student, writer, and the 2025 Trail Storyteller with the Saskatchewan Trails Association. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, she is spending the summer exploring trails across the province and sharing the stories she finds along the way. With a camera in hand and a curious mindset, she is drawn to the quiet details, the local voices, and the feeling of discovering home all over again.