Skytrail
bridge in Saskatchewan, Canada
The SkyTrail Bridge spans the South Saskatchewan River in Outlook, Saskatchewan, Canada. It was originally built by the Canadian Pacific Railway over the full width of the river's flood channel and has eight spans. It served as a railway bridge from October 23, 1912, until March 16, 1987. In 2003 it was converted to a pedestrian bridge and is now the longest pedestrian bridge in Canada. The bridge is part of the Trans-Canada Trail. Due to structural issues, the bridge has been closed since late 2013.
Origins
The SkyTrail Bridge dates back as far as 1887, when it officially opened as the Saint-Laurent Railway Bridge in Montreal, Quebec. The bridge was deconstructed in 1911 to make way for a new, double track bridge parallel to the old single track bridge. The sections of the bridge were then transported to Outlook and used in the construction of the new Outlook Railway Bridge, which officially opened on October 23, 1912.
Bridge Design
The SkyTrail features a fascinating bridge design known as a whipple truss — and the SkyTrail features the longest known Whipple trusses in Canada and North America.
The public source identifies “Skytrail” as bridge in Saskatchewan, Canada. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Skytrail, bridge and Saskatchewan.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Skytrail”, the useful work is to connect “bridge in Saskatchewan, Canada” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Place names and jurisdictional language are key evidence: both can reveal earlier catalogue descriptions and overlooked record series. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jan 22, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q7538075. Authority coordinates are 51.490, -107.072. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1912, 1987, 2003 and 2013.
A single description cannot reconcile every naming convention, rebuilding phase or administrative transfer associated with a place. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Skytrail”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Skytrail primary sources, Skytrail archive and Skytrail research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Skytrail”?
- What physical evidence or contemporary plan supports the description?
- Which earlier names or jurisdictions may reveal additional records?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Skytrail” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.