White Butte
White Butte is a collection of bedroom communities east of the provincial capital, Regina in southern Saskatchewan. It consists of the towns of White City, Pilot Butte, and Balgonie, plus the surrounding area. It is in the Southeastern part of the province and is located on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1). With about 12,000 people (2016), White Butte is a similar size to Estevan.
Understand
White Butte is pronounced so that it rhymes with “cute”. The name of the region comes from combining the names of its two largest towns, White City and Pilot Butte.
White Butte is not one city. Rather, it consists of three towns:
- 🌍 White City – with about 5,000 people, home to most of the services and places of accommodation in the region
- 🌍 Balgonie – with about 1,500 people, home to the high school in the region
- 🌍 Pilot Butte – with about 2,000 people
In between and surrounding each of these towns consists of farmland and acerages.
History
Indigenous peoples inhabited the area for many years before any European settlement. European settlement in the area can be traced back to the 1840s. The Canadian Pacific Rilway was constructed through the region in 1882, and in that same year the towns of Pilot Butte and Balgonie were founded along the railway (which is still in operation).
World War II had a harmful effect on the towns, as residents moved to the nearby city Regina. After World War II, people became more reliant on cars, so living in Pilot Butte and Balgonie began to become a popular option for those who wanted to commute to work in the city. In the late 1950s, the Trans-Canada Highway was completed around the two towns. At this time, White City was formed along this new highway.
All three towns in White Butte have experienced substantial growth since 2011. White City is now the largest town in White Butte.
Get in
By plane
- Airplane services are available to nearby Regina.
Major highways
- Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) − White Butte sits along the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1 in Saskatchewan) and is a 10-minute drive east of Regina. Calgary is 7 hours to the west on Highway 1, and Winnipeg is a 5-hour drive to the east on Highway 1.
- Highway 10 − Fort Qu’Appelle is 45 minutes to the northeast on Highway 10, and it continues to Melville then Yorkton.
- Higwhay 48 – runs further into southeast Saskatchewan toward Kipling and Wawota.
Minor highways
- Highway 46 is a short commuter highway into Regina.
- Highway 364 is a short commuter highway from Edenwold.
Get around
To navigate White Butte, you need a car.
See
Parks
🌍 Pilot Butte parks and Butte Hill. The two main parks in Pilot Butte (Inland and Discovery Ridge parks), located on either side of Butte Street. These parks are home to the Butte Hill, pathways around around a small lake, ball diamonds, geocaches, and playgrounds. Free.
Movies
🌍 Moonlight Movies drive-in theatre. Drive-in movie theatre in Pilot Butte, new in 2021
Do
Events
🌍 Pilot Butte Rodeo. Pilot Butte’s own annual rodeo event. Hosted on Father’s Day weekend (in June) of each year alongside many other events in the town.
Hiking
🌍 White Butte Trails. 12.7 km of trails open year-round. In the winter: groomed skate and classic cross-country ski trails plus a hiking trail. In the summer: hiking and cycling trails. Pet-friendly, accessible via two parking lots (one at each trailhead), two warm-up shelters and an outdoor pit toilet. Free.
Golf
🌍 Aspen Links Country Club, 310 Emerald Park Rd, Emerald Park, ☏ +1 306 791-7467. Country club and golf course throughout the town of White City/Emerald Park.
🌍 Green Acres Golf Course, 100 South, Ladysmith Rd, ☏ +1 306 771-2579. 8AM to 7PM. 9-hole golf course with grass greens located between Pilot Butte and Balgonie. Also a place to catch a bite to eat, or practice at the driving range.
🌍 Westfalia Golf Course, Butte Road, Pilot Butte. 9-hole golf course with sand greens located directly north of Pilot Butte.
Sports
🌍 Balgonie Curling Rink, 114 King Street, Balgonie, ☏ +1 306 771-4343.
🌍 Balgonie Swimming Pool, 137 King Street, Balgonie, ☏ +1 306 771-2342.
Eat
🌍 Broncos Pub and Grill, 1505 Aaron Dr, Pilot Butte, ☏ +1 306 761-2221. Opens 11AM each day. A new restaurant home to drinks, burgers, and a place to hang out. After 8PM, the restaurant turns into a bar.
🌍 Colleen’s Diner, 101 S Railway St, Balgonie, ☏ +1 306 771-4525. Opens 9AM each day.
🌍 Dosu Wok, 156 4th Street, Pilot Butte, ☏ +1 306 781-7211. 11AM to 10PM. Chinese and Canadian cuisine, including buffet and a bar. Also hosts an event annually on Chinese Lunar New Year.
🌍 The Ice House, 60 Great Plains Rd, Emerald Park, ☏ +1 306 781-2933. Opens 10AM each day. Pizza, burgers, fries, and other food in Emerald Park (White City). As well as off-sale alcohol
Drink
The legal drinking age in Saskatchewan is 19 years.
Sleep
Mid-range
🌍 Ramada by Wyndham Emerald Park/Regina East, 32 Great Plains Rd, Emerald Park, ☏ +1 306 525-5300. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. $85.
🌍 Sleep Inn Regina East (Emerald Park), 22A Great Plains Rd, Emerald Park, ☏ +1 306 525-5300. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. $100.
Camping
🌍 Comfort Plus Campground. Campground located north (across Highway 1) of White City
🌍 Dyer Straits Campground, ☏ +1 306 789-2404. Campground located north (across Highway 1) of White City
Stay safe
White Butte is a safe area.
Go next
| Routes through White Butte |
| Medicine Hat ← Regina ← | W E | → Whitewood → Brandon |
| END ← | W E | → Fort Qu'Appelle → Yorkton |