Rural exploration is extremely common on the prairies because of the spread out population. There are two types of exploration, rural and urban. Rural exploration is the exploration of areas that are not cities and towns. On the prairies, it may include abandoned farmhouses, rural and abandoned churches or schools, and other items like abandoned vehicles, barns, etc. Urban exploration would be ghost towns or abandoned buildings within a city or town.
Note: If you are looking for large locations like hospitals, industrial sites, office buildings, hotels, and other large locations, the prairies is not the best route. Yes, sometimes these locations do appear but most are demolished right away or heavily secured. The prairies are best known for smaller locations.
People always ask us how we find all the places we have visited, so here are 6 easy steps to get you started. To find interesting places you need to get off the pavement and drive the back roads, also known as grids or gravel roads. You can do all the research possible and you still won't know what's out there until you start driving. We have been surprised many times.
Also, know that you may find nothing, very little, or lots on a trip. That's all part of the hobby.
1. Choose an area.
Depending on what you are looking for, it is best to do some research beforehand. If you want farmhouses, you can pick anywhere in the province. If you want something more specific it's best to research those areas before you head out. An example would be, certain areas are more predominant for Ukrainian churches or stone houses.
2. Map it out.
When we first started exploring, we used paper maps, historic books, and other resources. Today there is a wide variety of resources including social media posts/pages, Google Maps, mapping apps, websites, and historical books or sites. I always suggest picking an app or an online source and marking out all the points you want to visit. Stick with one application as it is easier to track what you visit. Don't forget some areas of the province may have not reception so download your maps for offline use.
3. Pack your bag.
Always bring your camera, clothing for all weather, good shoes/boots, a flashlight, and snacks. It's always important to have a first aid kit as well as some safety gear (masks, rope, gloves, etc.). Have enough extra stuff to be covered for a couple of days in case something happens to your vehicle or the weather changes. Knowing where the gas stations are is also important, many parts of the province will have large gaps between gas stations, and many of those gas stations may have limited hours or be card lock only - don't get stranded!
4. Hit the road!
If you want to find interesting things in this province it's best to get off the pavement and hit the back roads. If you have a destination in mind, take the back roads to it rather than the highway. Pavement usually doesn't lead to interesting sites.
5. Don't forget to read the signs.
While out on the grids, be sure to watch for signs (or lack of). This may include uncontrolled intersections and railway tracks, private property/no trespassing signs, and unmarked dangers like wells. There are laws in place now for trespassing so it's best to get permission. In Saskatchewan, you are not allowed to step onto rural property without permission. This means you need to shoot from a public road or get permission. Rural properties no longer require signage to keep people off.
6. Follow the rules
- Take nothing but pictures.
- Leave nothing but footprints.
- Break nothing but silence.