It was a busy summer season for Buffalo Pound Provincial Park, with an increase in visitors and campers compared to last year.
The park issued more than 14,000 entry permits this season, up 0.27 per cent. More than 5,000 campsites were booked, an increase of five per cent from last year.
Fall camping is now in full swing, and there is still time to plan a last-minute trip to Buffalo Pound.
“We’ve got our camping program. We’ve closed a couple of campgrounds, but for the most part we’re open and operating until Sept. 30 in electrical, non-electrical and full-service campsites,” said park manager Dave Bjarnason.
Sask Parks is also offering a 15 per cent discount on electrical campsites for the rest of September.
The outdoor pool, store and concession have closed for the season.
A highlight this past season was the park’s interpretive program, which included Prairie Days.
“The highlight of that program was Prairie Days, which featured live performances and various activities tied to the historical roots of the area,” Bjarnason said.
This was also the first year the park introduced GPS bison tracking, allowing visitors to locate the herds that roam the area.
Bjarnason said there were some hiccups at the beginning, but overall staff were pleased with how the program worked.
“It was good, and we learned a lot and have shared the feedback with the provider of the technology. We’re hoping to see even more improvements in how that program assists people visiting the park, especially when it comes to interacting with the bison,” he said.
Even with summer winding down, there is still plenty to do at Buffalo Pound.
While the water will be turned off after Sept. 30, the Elmview, Lakeside and Lower Chalet campgrounds will remain open until Thanksgiving weekend. The boat launch will also stay open until after Thanksgiving.
For those looking for a break from camp food, the Trailhead Café is open on reduced hours: Thursdays and Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Visitors can also enjoy hiking trails, fishing, GPS bison spotting, disc golf, geocaching and more this fall.
“Fall is one of the most beautiful times to be in the valley and at Buffalo Pound. The colours and wildlife are in full movement, with lots of birds migrating through the area. We certainly encourage anyone to come out and spend the day or a weekend camping in one of our campsites,” Bjarnason said.
More information about Buffalo Pound Provincial Park is available at www.saskparks.com.