Saskatchewan Highway 34

{{Short description|Provincial highway in Saskatchewan, Canada}} {{Use Canadian English|date=July 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox road |province=SK |type=Hwy |route=34 |map={{maplink-road|type=line|stroke-width=3|id=Q7425285}} |map_custom=yes |map_notes=Highway 34 highlighted in red |image= |photo_notes= |photo_width=250 |length_km=62.3 |length_round=1 |length_ref=<ref name=length>{{google maps|title=Highway 34 in Saskatchewan|url=https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.3677175,-105.2367128,9.56z|access-date=January 31, 2018}}</ref> |established= |direction_a=South |direction_b=North |terminus_a={{jct|state=MT|Sec|511}} at the U.S. border near Big Beaver; Port of Entry closed |junction={{jct|state=SK|Hwy|18}} at Big Beaver |terminus_b={{jct|state=SK|Hwy|13|Hwy|334}} west of Ogema |rural_municipalities=Happy Valley, Bengough, Key West |previous_type=Hwy |previous_route=33 |next_type=Hwy |next_route=35 }}

'''Highway 34''' is a paved, undivided provincial highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from Highway 13 about {{convert|16|km}} west of Ogema south to the US border. The highway used to connect to Montana Secondary Highway 511 at the Port of Big Beaver, however the port is now closed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Whitetail/Big Beaver Border Crossing, Montana |url=https://clui.org/ludb/site/whitetailbig-beaver-border-crossing#:~:text=With%20just%20a%20few%20cars,few%20feet%20inside%20the%20US |publisher=The Center for Land Use Interpretation |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref> Highway 34 is in the south-central part of Saskatchewan and travels through a geographical area of rugged badlands, rolling hills, and open prairie. It is about {{convert|62|km}} long.

== Route description == Highway 34 begins at the now closed U.S. border crossing of Big Beaver. The Canadian government closed the port to northbound traffic in 2011 while the U.S. closed it to southbound traffic in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/2013_nr/jan13/01252013_5.xml|title=CBP Announces Closure of Port of Whitetail, Montana|last=CBP|date=January 25, 2013|website=U.S. Customs and Border Protection|publisher=U.S. Department of Homeland Security|publication-place=Washington|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130626171745/http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/2013_nr/jan13/01252013_5.xml|archive-date=June 26, 2013|access-date=April 4, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> From the U.S. border, Highway 34 heads north across West Beaver Creek en route to meet Highway 18 near Big Beaver.<ref>{{cite web |title=South - Big Beaver - Hwys 18, 34 |url=https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/community/412/big-beaver#sort=relevancy |website=Tourism Saskatchewan |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Big Beaver| work = Aust's General Store | url = http://www.austsgeneralstore.com/index_files/bigbeaver.htm | access-date = 2007-12-26| archive-url = https://archive.today/20070111070521/http://www.austsgeneralstore.com/index_files/bigbeaver.htm| archive-date = 2007-01-11| url-status = dead}}</ref> About {{convert|17|km}} north of the intersection with Highway 18 is the access road to Castle Butte. From there, Highway 34 drops into and traverses the Big Muddy Valley. Coming out on the north side of the valley, the highway continues in a northerly direction where it meets Highway 705 about {{convert|5|km|0}} south of Bengough.<ref>{{cite web |title=South - Bengough - Hwy 34 |url=https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/community/3/bengough#sort=relevancy |website=Tourism Saskatchewan |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref> Highway 34 has a {{convert|4|mi|order=flip}} concurrency with Highway 705 before it splits off to the east on the north side of Bengough. From that concurrency, Highway 34 heads straight north for another {{convert|16|km}} until it ends at Highway 13. Highway 334 carries on north from the end of 34.<ref>{{Cite web | last =Adamson | first =J | title =Canadian Maps: January 1925 Waghorn's Guide. Post Offices in Man. Sask. Alta. and West Ontario. | date =January 16, 2005 | url =http://www.rootsweb.com/~canmaps/1925Waghorn/January1925-44-45.html | access-date = 2007-12-26}}</ref>

== Major attractions == Notable parks and other attractions accessible from Highway 34 include: * Big Beaver Regional Park is a small park with camping and picnicking facilities at Big Beaver on the west side of Highway 34 near the intersection with Highway 18.<ref>{{cite web |title=Big Beaver Regional Park |url=https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/listings/1664/big-beaver-regional-park |website=Tourism Saskatchewan |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref> * Highway 34 passes through the Big Muddy Badlands, which is a {{convert|55|km|adj=on}} long, {{convert|3.2|km|adj=on}} wide, and {{convert|160|m|adj=on}} deep valley of erosion and sandstone along Big Muddy Creek.<ref name="virtualsk.com">{{Cite web | title =Virtual Saskatchewan - The Big Muddy Badlands | date =1997–2007 | url =http://www.virtualsk.com/current_issue/the_badlands.html}}</ref> Big Muddy Lake is downstream along Big Muddy Creek and east of Highway 34.<ref>{{Cite book | last =Richards | first =J.H. | title =Saskatchewan: Atlas of Saskatchewan | place=Saskatoon | publisher =Modern Press | year =1969 }}</ref> Castle Butte, an outcrop of sandstone and compressed clay that protrudes {{convert|60|m}} above the flat prairie, is to the west of the highway.<ref>{{cite web |title=Castle Butte |url=https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/listings/39/castle-butte |website=Tourism Saskatchewan |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title =Virtual Saskatchewan - The Big Muddy Badlands | date =1997–2007 | url =http://www.virtualsk.com/current_issue/the_badlands.html | access-date = 2007-04-23}}</ref> * Bengough Regional Park is on the west side of Highway 34 adjacent to Bengough. The park has a campground, ball diamonds, horseshoe pitches, a cook shack, swimming pool, paddle pool and whirlpool, and a golf course.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bengough & District |url=https://saskregionalparks.ca/park/bengough-district/ |website=Regional Parks of Saskatchewan |publisher=Saskatchewan Regional Parks |access-date=18 July 2024}}</ref> * Willow Bunch Lake is to west of Highway 34.

== Major intersections == From south to north: {{SKinttop}} {{Jctint |county_special=Happy Valley No. 10 |cspan=3 |location=none |lspan=2 |type=closed |km=0.0 |mspan=2 |road={{jct|state=MT|Sec|511}} (no access) |notes=Port of entry permanently closed }} {{Jctplace |type=closed |km=none |place=Canada–United States border at Port of Big Beaver }} {{SKint |location=Big Beaver |km=10.3 |road={{Jct|province=SK|Hwy|18|city1=Coronach|city2=Minton}} |notes= }} {{SKint |county_special=Bengough No. 40 |cspan=2 |location=none |type=concur |km=39.9 |road={{Jct|province=SK|Mun|705|dir1=west|city1=Harptree}} |notes=South end of Hwy 705 concurrency }} {{SKint |location=Bengough |type=concur |km=46.4 |road={{jct|province=SK|road|Township Road 54|city1=Viceroy}}<hr />{{Jct|province=SK|Mun|705|dir1=east|city1=Colgate}} |notes=North end of Hwy 705 concurrency }} {{SKint |county_special=Key West No. 70 |location=none |km=62.3 |road={{jct|province=SK|Hwy|13|name1=Red Coat Trail|city1=Assiniboia|city2=Weyburn}}<hr />{{jct|province=SK|Hwy|334|dir1=north|city1=Avonlea}} |notes= }} {{Jctbtm|keys=closed,concur}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070623050728/http://saskhighways.homestead.com/number.html Saskatchewan Highways Website—Highway Numbering] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070416053322/http://www.milebymile.com/main/Canada/Saskatchewan/Canada_Saskatchewan_road_map_travel_guides.html Saskatchewan Road Map RV Itineraries]

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