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Mountain Bike Trails – Buffalo Pound Park Saskatchewan

Buffalo Pound Park

Buffalo Pound Provincial Park, Saskatchewan Photo by Russ Heinl / AllCanadaPhotos.com
Buffalo Pound Provincial Park, Saskatchewan Photo by Russ Heinl / AllCanadaPhotos.com

Riders scoff at mountain biking on the Saskatchewan prairies because its terrain is known for being flat. But riding in the valleys are more challenging than riders think because of the small but constant changes in elevation. Buffalo Pound Provincial Park, just outside Moose Jaw, has some of the toughest trail riding in the country, and it’s a hidden paradise for mountain bikers.
There are about 60 km of trails that would challenge the most experienced riders and the cross-country trails and steep descents are fast and exhilarating. The best thing about the park is the atmosphere. Everyone you meet will stop to say hello and local mountain bikers will show you the best trails if you’re new to the area. Volunteers maintain the trails, led by Joe Jackson and the Moose Jaw Pavers Cycling Club. Brian Fish and Tyler Large, local Moose Jaw people who live to mountain bike, built the trails about 20 years ago. Park officials don’t promote mountain biking, but it’s becoming popular because riders are spreading the word.
Even riders from Alberta, who have great mountain biking, are impressed by the smooth trails. “I think the trails flow better and there’s more up and down more frequently,” said Jackson, after riding to the top of a steep climb.
“In the mountains, you’re either going up or down and it’s on loose rock or lots of roots, but here you can actually get some speed and it’s a lot of fun. “It’s very challenging because the hills are not just a slow grind, they’re a test of maximum exertion just to get up them. They might not be the longest but they’re steep and they’re hard.”
Buffalo Pound also hosts two mountain bike races each year. In June, the second XTERRA triathlon took place, organized by Jackson in conjunction with the Regina Multisport Club. Jackson said hosting the race was a real coup for the park.
“We had to convince them this was going to be the real deal,” he said. “I had done XTERRA in Canmore and down in the U.S., in Idaho, and I knew we had a venue here every bit as good as or better than what they had there.” An annual eight-hour endurance mountain bike ride called XC8 brings riders to the park every September. A Canada Cup event was also held at the park in 2000 and 2002 that brought in national level racers.
Kris Abrahanson, vice-president of the XC8 race, said Buffalo Pound has the potential to become a vibrant trail centre. “Right now there’s 60 km of trails and one degree or another of maintenance. If the investment was made, you could have 75 km of amazing, well-maintained trails that would attract people from far and wide to come mountain biking.”
He said the best thing about the park was the elevation change, which makes it a great experience for bikers of all levels. “There’s lots of camping there so people can stay over the night before and after the race and it creates a festival-like atmosphere.”When we started the race, it was one of a kind and now there’s been a huge growth in endurance mountain bike racing and more events have sprung up.”There’s a lot of tight, single track and they’re narrow and go around trees, but because they’re smooth, you can have a lot of fun with it.”
The best time to visit Buffalo Pound is from late April through June and then late August through October. In July, the vegetation grows so quickly that the volunteers can’t maintain the trails properly. Part of the reason cyclists love riding in the Buffalo Pound Park is because the sun is almost always shining. It’s easy to find your way around because there are visible signs at every trail heads and new maps were created this year by volunteer Bob Myrchak.
Doug Kermode, from Regina, said he visits the park a lot. “Given what we have, it’s the best in the area. I like the hills and a little bit of geographical relief.”
Donna Schire, also from Regina, enjoyed relaxing in the sunshine after a hard ride. “In the summer, we come here once or twice a week. We like the size of the hills and the quality of the long trails. The park setting is really lovely.”

Where to stay: The best way to ensure you get the most out of your mountain biking is to camp at Buffalo Pound itself. Service centres with hot showers are at Maple Vale, Trails End, Shady Lane campgrounds and near the swimming pool. The city of Moose Jaw is 32 km away and has a variety of hotels, motels and bed and breakfast accommodations. Staying in the city will extend your trip because you can explore the historic downtown, famous for its tunnels and the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa. There is also plenty of accommodations along the Trans-Canada Highway.For more information visit www.tourismmoosejaw.ca

Where to eat: The Lakeside Store at Buffalo Pound offers convenience goods, ice-cream and snacks. There is also a concession stand near the swimming pool. Moose Jaw has plenty of Restaurants including Kerganos, Boston Pizza, Deja Vu Cafe, the National Cafe, Nit’s Thai Food, Hopkin’s Dining Parlour and the Yvette Moore Art Gallery.Riding and other activities at the park: For mountain biking, Buffalo Pound is definitely the place to go in Saskatchewan. Trail maps are available as you drive into the park.
Buffalo Pound also offers swimming, mini golf, hiking, fishing, boating, the 2.9 km Bison View Interpretive Trail and other nature trails.