Introduction  |    The Assiniboine   |  The Souris    |   The Little Saskatchewan    |   The Boundary Trail    |    Here & There The Little Saskatchewan River The Little Saskatchewan River flows from Lake Audy in Riding Mountain National Park, south into the Assiniboine west of Brandon. Much of that distance its course winds within a deep and very scenic valley. It is a small river, excellent for paddlers, not readily navigable by larger craft. It passes through Elphinstone, the original site of Strathclair, Minnedosa, the former site of Riverdale, Rapid City, and Rivers.  Its waters have been harnessed for industrial and recreational purposes through the creation of several dams. The first hydro electric plant in Manitoba was built just upstream from its confluence with the Assiniboine. They called it the Ten Mile Dam. That was in 1901. The hydro generated there  served Brandon until the 1920's and served as a swimming, boating and fishing spot for some time after that. A dam at Minnedosa also was first erected as a power plant. An extreme flood washed it away in 1948. The resulting torrent flooded the town and washed away the Ten Mile Dam over 50 km downstream.  The Minnedosa Dam It was re-built for primarily recreational purposes and serves as popular beach and campground today. Just downstream from the Hydro Dam you can see the site of the Glenorky Ski Hiill. In 1969 a much larger dam project was undertaken near Rivers creating Lake Whatopanah. Another smaller project has created a small lake in Rapid City. Another view of the former Glenorky site. 1. Abandoned Riverdale Bridge,  50.191475N  99.975044W 2. Rapid City - Abandoned Railway Bridges N50.13518,  W100.01547 Two rail lines crossed just east of the village. 3. The "Rumble Bridge" near Rivers: N50.13518,  W100.01547 The former main route south. 4. Cossar Crossing - Former Railway Bridge Site   N50.019533, W100.242249 The rail line from Brandon to Wheatland and Lenore was built in 1901 - before Rivers was established. 5. Pendennis Bridge: Former Bridge Site: N49.93365,  W100.18773 6. Kirkham's Bridge: N49.91448, W100.14510 7. Daly Bridge. N49.88076,  W100.11332 For more info (pdf) ...