Buffalo Pound Provincial Park: Where ancient bison trails meet modern adventure
- Karin Schreiber
- Aug 1, 2025
- 4 min read
Rolling hills stretch across the southern Saskatchewan prairie, quietly holding centuries of stories. Just 20 minutes northeast of Moose Jaw, Buffalo Pound Provincial Park preserves the deep heritage of the land – where First Nations hunters once used ingenious strategies to guide massive bison herds into circular enclosures called pounds.
Today, the thundering hooves may be gone, but their legacy lives on. The park honours the sustainable practices that supported Indigenous communities for generations. Visitors can experience this living history through the park’s own bison herd – powerful reminders of the vast animals that once roamed these grasslands.
The ancient art of bison corralling
Long before European settlement, Indigenous peoples developed sophisticated systems for hunting bison. The buffalo pound was one such innovation -an enclosure formed using natural materials and knowledge of animal behaviour, migration patterns, and terrain.
Buffalo Pound’s landscape, carved by ancient glacial meltwater, was ideal for this technique. Valleys and ridges became tools for survival, shaping a practice that fed and sustained entire communities.
A living museum of prairie heritage
The park’s Visitor Centre brings this history to life through interactive exhibits on bison, Indigenous knowledge, and the geological forces that shaped the land. These displays reveal how traditional ways of understanding the environment continue to inform today’s conservation efforts.
Visitors can learn how glaciers carved the region’s signature valleys, creating habitats that supported both ancient bison herds and the diverse wildlife still found here today. Exhibits also highlight the skill and planning involved in buffalo pound hunts -from building the enclosures to reading animal movements.
For a taste of the present rooted in the past, visitors can enjoy a meal at The Trailhead Café, which overlooks the bison paddock. Featuring locally inspired ingredients, the café embodies the connection between landscape, food, and culture.
Wildlife watching through time
At Nicolle Flats Marsh and Boardwalk, modern-day explorers can watch migratory birds, muskrats, and northern pike - species drawn to the same rich wetlands that once attracted bison herds.
Surrounding hills and native grasslands host hawks, red-winged blackbirds, ground squirrels, and more. Every encounter is a link to the deep ecological story of the prairie.
Adventure in every season
Buffalo Pound offers year-round opportunities to connect with the land – just as people have done for thousands of years.
Summer invites fishing, canoeing, hiking, swimming, and biking along ancient trails once used by humans and animals alike.
Winter transforms the park into a wonderland for tobogganing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing.
Modern additions like two-disc golf courses – including a beginner-friendly 9-hole loop – offer new ways to experience this historic landscape.
Programs that bridge centuries
Educational programming at Buffalo Pound transforms a visit into a journey through time. Campfire storytelling, guided hikes, and hands-on workshops explore how Indigenous communities shaped and lived in harmony with this land.
Seasonal themes - such as traditional foods or winter survival skills - invite deeper understanding and reflection. School groups and visitors of all ages can learn directly from the land and those who have long understood it.
Conservation rooted in cultural knowledge
Buffalo Pound’s approach to conservation honours both the natural world and the cultures that have long been part of it. By protecting the bison herd and preserving diverse habitats, the park echoes the Indigenous view that humans are part of - rather than separate from - ecological systems.
Interpretive efforts centre Indigenous voices and perspectives, helping visitors understand not just what happened here, but why it matters today.
Buffalo Pound Provincial Park is more than a scenic escape - it’s a vibrant link between past and present, culture and conservation. Here, visitors don’t just explore trails; they walk through stories. With each step, paddle, or gaze across the prairie, they become part of a larger journey - one rooted in ancient knowledge and guiding future stewardship.
A new way to stay: Buffalo Pound Eco Lodge
Since June 2025, visitors can immerse themselves even more deeply in the natural beauty and cultural spirit of the park with a stay at the brand-new Buffalo Pound Eco Lodge. Nestled in the heart of nature, this walk-in retreat features five thoughtfully designed tipi-style cabins, just 120 steps from the parking lot – close enough for convenience, yet far enough to ensure peace and seclusion.
Each cabin blends rustic charm with modern comfort and sustainability in mind: guests enjoy cozy interiors, stunning views, and private outdoor kitchens equipped with a sink, fridge, and firepit.
More than just a place to stay, the lodge offers a rich program of self-guided activities that honour Métis traditions and the healing power of the land. Every booking includes:
A Medicine Walk, inviting guests to connect with nature on a deeper level
A Bannock Making Kit, celebrating Métis culinary heritage
A Smudge Kit, fostering mindfulness and cultural reflection
Included in every stay are canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and even mini golf for up to four people, making it easy to enjoy the lake and its surroundings. Hiking, biking, campfires, stargazing, and outdoor games round out the experience, offering something for every season and traveller.
Thoughtfully designed and grounded in a spirit of respect, Buffalo Pound Eco Lodge extends the park experience into a meaningful overnight stay.
Further information can be found with Tourism Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Parks.
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