Buffalo Pound Provincial Park: Guide to a Gem of Park in Saskatchewan
One of my favourite places in Saskatchewan that I’ve visited is Buffalo Pound Provincial Park. This incredible park near Moose Jaw is a nature lover’s paradise.
After spending a few days staying in the park and exploring its trails, I was blown away by how quiet the park was in the peak of summer. While the campers filled the campgrounds, we had the trails to ourselves. This is park is one of the many hidden gems in Saskatchewan that should be on every outdoor enthusiast’s radar.
The park features hiking and mountain biking trails, a mini-putt, and is one of the best birding destinations in the province. It makes for a great day trip from Regina or a nature-inspired getaway in Saskatchewan.
Buffalo Pound quickly found a special place in my heart, and dare I say is one of my favourite parks in Canada that I’ve visited. I think it’s reason enough to book a trip to Saskatchewan! So, to inspire you to plan your trip, I’ve created a guide to Buffalo Pound. I’m sharing the best things to do in the park, the coolest place to stay and hope to inspire you to plan your trip.
Disclaimer: This post is created in partnership with Tourism Saskatchewan but as always, all opinions expressed are my own.
About Buffalo Pound Provincial Park
Located in southern Saskatchewan, the park is 20 minutes northeast of Moose Jaw and an hour from Regina. Open year round, it’s an incredible place to visit for locals and visitors alike.
The park’s name has roots in its history, as First Nations used the natural landscape here to hunt and corral bison in what were known as buffalo pounds. Today, you can see a living connection to that history, with a herd of bison kept in a paddock within the park.
Visitors will find a variety of things to do in the park, including over 30 km of trails, water activities on the lake, a beach and a restaurant. You can also choose from camping in the park or staying at the Eco Lodge.
With a diverse landscape, from upland prairies with prickly pear cactus to marshland, the park offers habitat for over 240 bird species. Making it one of the best places for bird watching in Canada!
There’s also a small museum on the lower level of the Visitor Centre. It shares the connection of the bison to the First Nations as well as a bit about the natural history of the park and the wildlife that inhabit it.
You will need to purchase a day permit, which is $11.00 per day.
Things to do in Buffalo Pound Provincial Park
Go Bird Watching
Over 240 bird species have been noted in Buffalo Pound! With everything from raptors to waterfowl and songbirds, it’s one of the best places for bird watching near Regina! During my birding tour with Wild View Tours, we observed over 60.
The park offers one of the most concentrated birding destinations in southern Saskatchewan. Within the relatively small park you’ll find valleys, marsh, open water and prairie landscapes. This makes it a hotspot for a diverse array of bird species, both resident as well as migrants.
And the best part is that you’ll find birds nearly everywhere, from accessible areas like campgrounds to hiking trails. In the bushes and pockets of forest along trails and around campgrounds we spotted songbirds.
My favourite was the boardwalk and the bushes around the entrance to it. It’s where we saw the bulk of our bird species. There was everything from warblers to phoebes and waxwings to white-faced ibis flying overhead.
The area around the dam provides the perfect spot for spotting shorebirds and waterfowl. And the road along the lake is where we spotted a number of eagles, adult and juveniles.
Stay at the Buffalo Pound Eco Lodge
One of the biggest highlights of Buffalo Pound for me was staying at the Eco Lodge! If you’re looking for unique places to stay in Southern Saskatchewan, the Buffalo Pound Eco Lodge is reason enough to visit the park.
Perched on a cliff, overlooking the lake, sits 5 tipi-inspired cabins, each named after a different creature. It’s no surprise that I chose the Raven!
Buffalo Pound Eco Lodge is owned and operated by a local Métis family. They want people to not only have a comfortable place to stay, but also be immersed in nature, so that you can unplug, recharge and reconnect.
Inside each cabin features a melt-worthy queen-sized bed, day bed with a pull out and a private full bathroom. To help reduce water usage, they’ve installed incinerator toilets in each cabin. It was my first time using one, but wow, I was impressed with this sustainable feature.
The cabins sleep 4 comfortably. In front of each cabin is your own private outdoor kitchen, with fridge, sink, a barbeque and fire pit. And the best part, each has lake views!
For those travelling with a dog or with mobility issues, the Eco Lodge has both a pet friendly cabin and one that’s accessible with a ramp.
The Eco Lodge is not only a great place to stay, but they have canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards to use on the lake. All included with your stay.
Take a Medicine Walk
My visit to Buffalo Pound was on a birding tour with Wild View Tours. As part of the tour, we did a Medicine Walk with Edan, the daughter of the owner of Buffalo Pound Eco Lodge.
With a degree in Ecology paired with her Métis knowledge, I loved how she blended the two when she shared about the various flowers and plants that lined the trail.
I learned so much about how there are so many plants that have the ability to help with countless health issues. She shared about how rose hips are a good source of vitamin C and Hawthorn is used for heart issues, and so many more.
But most importantly, I learned about how vital having the right intention is to working with and using these plants.
If you’ve never been on a Medicine Walk, I highly recommend you take one. Not only will you learn so much, but will walk away with a better respect for not only the plants but the knowledge.
Walk the Boardwalk
I’m a sucker for a boardwalk trail. There’s something magical about them to me and the boardwalk in Buffalo Pound Provincial Park stole my heart for a number of reasons.
The boardwalk is less than one kilometer (one way) and is located in the Nicolle Flats Interpretation Area, in the southeast area of the park.
After a short walk from the parking lot, the boardwalk leads you through part of the large marsh. During my visit in the beginning of August, the reeds were towering over our heads, which gave it an enchanted feeling.
However, it meant you couldn’t see the marsh through the reeds. But at the end of the boardwalk there’s a bench. We stood atop it to get a better look at just how massive the marsh is.
But another reason I think everyone should walk the boardwalk is because of the bird activity. Though I mentioned previously that the park is great for birding, this small section was buzzing with birds during my visit.
I’ve never seen so many marsh wrens at one time, all flittering along the rail, in and out of the reeds. Plus, we watched ibis, ducks and other birds fly overhead. And I spotted my very first Virginia rail standing right on the boardwalk in front of us.
Tip: If you’re looking for a longer hike, the park is home to a number of hiking trails. One of which takes you further through the Nicolle Flats.
Eat at Trailhead Cafe
In the heart of the park is an awesome place to eat, the Trailhead Cafe. This spacious restaurant has plenty of seating inside to dine in or you can get your food to go.
I love the cozy vibe and outdoor themed décor! But the best part is this family owned and operated cafe has a solid menu of dishes to choose from.
A friend and I ordered one of their 8” pizzas and it was the perfect size for a hungry one or you can share one. The rest in our group opted for one of their different sandwich options, which also looked like a healthy sized portion.
The Trailhead Cafe is a great option to stop in if you’re just visiting for the day. Plus, if you’re staying in the park, it means one less meal you have to cook.
I also loved that it’s located near the mountain biking trails and offers a scenic spot to watch cyclists come racing down the hill.
Enjoy Mini-Putt
Who doesn’t love a mini-putt? I know I do, and Buffalo Pound has a newly renovated 18-hole mini golf course called Squirrely Putt & Play.
It’s a fun spot for friends and family to enjoy some healthy competition. Plus, they also do glow in the dark golf every Saturday evening during the summer (July and August).
Afterwards, don’t miss out on a stop at their concession stand for an ice cream or tasty treat to celebrate.
See the Bison
Buffalo Pound Provincial Park has a history that goes back long before it became a provincial park, with First Nations using the area’s landscape to help hunt and corral bison. These traditional buffalo pounds inspired the park’s name, and today, a herd of captive bison lives in a paddock within the park as a nod to this important history.
Within a large paddock among the scenic rolling hills of the park, the bison roam. If you’d like to see the bison, there’s a lookout point in the park that offers a great view looking out over their paddock.
I was so thrilled to not only see the bison herd during my visit but delighted that they also had babies!
Go Mountain Biking
If you love hitting the trails on two wheels then you’ll love the extensive mountain biking trails at Buffalo Pound!
There are over 30 km of well-marked trails within the park that range from beginner to expert. Take a spin along the rolling hills and fly down the steep valleys for an adrenalin pumping experience.
While most trails are short in length, they are interconnected so you can continue riding for as long or short as you’d like.
Plan your trip to Buffalo Pound today
So, whether you’re looking for one of the best parks in Saskatchewan for your next outdoor adventure or a unique place to stay, Buffalo Pound Provincial Park is a winning choice.
Looking for more Saskatchewan travel ideas?
Best Places for Birding near Regina
Best Places for Bird Watching near Saskatoon
Hidden Gems & Unique Things to do in Saskatoon
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