Buffalo Lake and area.
One of the largest lakes in central Alberta, Buffalo Lake provides year round recreational opportunities. Four major campgrounds reside on the south and east sides of the lake. Rochon Sands Provincial Park, The Narrows Recreation Area, Buffalo Lake Recreation Area and Ol’ MacDonald’s Resort offer plenty of opportunity to get out and relax on the beach, swim in the water or take a cruise in the boat. Fishing is also available in the lake year round with the main catch being Northern Pike and Burbot.
Labelled on David Thompson's map dating back to 1814 for its resemblance to the profile of a buffalo with its legs to the north and its head to the east, Buffalo Lake spans a large 1,440km2 with much of the lake bordering the County of Stettler. Once a favourite Cree and Blackfoot camping area in 1858, the Buffalo Lake settlement on the southwest side of the lake was one of the earliest settlements in Central Alberta.
From autumn 1872 to spring 1877, the Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement on the east side was occupied seasonally from members initially from the Red RiverResistance and later from the St. Albert and Lac St. Anne settlements. The primary source for food and trading was the buffalo who favoured the area with the trembling aspen and fescue grassland habitat.
Although accurate estimates of population are lacking, it is believed to have ranged from 400-500 people during the initial period to as many as 2,000 inhabitants at its peak in 1875-1876.With the decline of the bison and the robe trade in 1878, the decrease of the use of the Hivernant (wintering) site also occurred. Settlers soon began to disperse due to the lack of provisions and began to follow the buffalo to more southern areas.
Artifacts have been found in the area to confirm the history of the Hivernant and provide a basis for understanding the life ways and cultural practices of the Métis people during these times. Numerous depressions, fireplaces and mounds, and other remains reflect as many as 89 cabins were once homes.
The area is still protected as an archaeological Métis heritage site. Buffalo Lake is now known as one of Alberta’s best kept secrets. Lying in the Red Deer River basin, its knob and kettle landscape make the area home to many species of water fowl and wildlife including pelicans, geese, heron, moose, deer, and elk. The surrounding forest with walking and hiking trails through much of the area, allow for any nature lover to remove themselves from the everyday and take in what our surroundings behold.
Labelled on David Thompson's map dating back to 1814 for its resemblance to the profile of a buffalo with its legs to the north and its head to the east, Buffalo Lake spans a large 1,440km2 with much of the lake bordering the County of Stettler. Once a favourite Cree and Blackfoot camping area in 1858, the Buffalo Lake settlement on the southwest side of the lake was one of the earliest settlements in Central Alberta.
From autumn 1872 to spring 1877, the Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement on the east side was occupied seasonally from members initially from the Red RiverResistance and later from the St. Albert and Lac St. Anne settlements. The primary source for food and trading was the buffalo who favoured the area with the trembling aspen and fescue grassland habitat.
Although accurate estimates of population are lacking, it is believed to have ranged from 400-500 people during the initial period to as many as 2,000 inhabitants at its peak in 1875-1876.With the decline of the bison and the robe trade in 1878, the decrease of the use of the Hivernant (wintering) site also occurred. Settlers soon began to disperse due to the lack of provisions and began to follow the buffalo to more southern areas.
Artifacts have been found in the area to confirm the history of the Hivernant and provide a basis for understanding the life ways and cultural practices of the Métis people during these times. Numerous depressions, fireplaces and mounds, and other remains reflect as many as 89 cabins were once homes.
The area is still protected as an archaeological Métis heritage site. Buffalo Lake is now known as one of Alberta’s best kept secrets. Lying in the Red Deer River basin, its knob and kettle landscape make the area home to many species of water fowl and wildlife including pelicans, geese, heron, moose, deer, and elk. The surrounding forest with walking and hiking trails through much of the area, allow for any nature lover to remove themselves from the everyday and take in what our surroundings behold.