The old wagon route from Tranquille to Pruden Pass was used to connect the Wheeler Mountain homesteaders community with the sanatorium and homes in the Tranquille area.   The road now sits inside Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area and has gradually become rougher and more difficult to drive with the gate often locked.   Now it is a 4WD route up into Pruden Pass where it ends at gate.

Drive towards Tranquille and take the Red Lake Road. Cross the tracks and look for the gate on the right. If the gate is not locked, 4WD vehicles can try their luck, but the double track is very rough so it may be better to park and hike or bike up the road. All of the route is in the open sagebrush hills. There are numerous side tracks, but the most interesting route is to follow the track all the way to Massey Lake. This lake sometimes dries out in the summer and a gate bars the way beyond. At this point, a double track veers right to go to the top of Mount Mara and another one goes left to climb up Wheeler Mountain.

We try to do this hike/bike in the fall or winter. The south-facing open slopes are too hot in the summer, but this is a scenic and rewarding route in cool weather or even when there is a bit of snow on the ground. On the west is Tranquille Creek. Wheeler Mountain cliffs lie north and Mount Mara lies east. To the Massey Lake junction and back is about 7.5km. Try this route as a hike or bike, but bring a camera and enough time to explore one of the sidetracks too.