Buffalo Lake in Alberta

Stettler Alberta Parks, Trails and Lakes

Buffalo Lake in Alberta Canada is a fantastic 4 season recreation lake.

Buffalo Lake is a large lake in central Alberta near the town of Stettler with a water surface of 93.5 km². A great family-friendly destination all year round. Keep your eyes out for wildlife as Elk, Deer, and Moose frequent the area and it's also fantastic for bird watching. Interestingly, it is home to an 8-meter-long pike in the Rochon Sands marina! 

Visiting Buffalo Lake

Buffalo Lake is home to a number of recreation areas, including Boss Hill, Rochon Sands, White Sands, Scenic Sands, Buffalo Sands, Pelican Point, The Narrows, and Rochon Sands Provincial Park. All of these are family-friendly and offer some great chances for outdoor adventures!

Buffalo Lake Campground

Buffalo Lake Campground is located in the Buffalo Lake Provincial Recreation Area on the northeast side of the lake. It contains 30 campsites located on well groomed grass and the beautiful surrounding boreal forest. Amenities include a sandy beach, swimming area, picnic tables, camp kitchen, fire pits, water, dry toilets, refuse containers and a boat launch.

Rochon Sands Provincial Park

Rochon Sands Provincial Park is a great summer destination area on the south shores of Buffalo Lake. Located near the summer village of Rochon Sands. Take a short trip into the village and grab an ice cream on those hot summer days! The park offers the chance to enjoy the large sandy beach, with easy access to swimming areas. As well as fantastic opportunities for canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, powerboating, fishing, birding, and wildlife watching. Additionally, bring the kids to enjoy the playground near the beach and the huge campground open seasonally with 69 tent and RV sites available to rent.

Fishing Buffalo Lake Alberta

The lake lies in the Red Deer River basin and has a water surface of 93.5 km² and a drainage area of 1,440 km². The lake is one of very few lakes that pumps water from another natural source; receiving water from the Red Deer River when water levels reach a certain minimum level. The water is slightly saline which makes for clearer waters in comparison to some other central Alberta lakes. You will find Northern Pike, Burbot and White Suckers can be caught on Buffalo Lake. As of 2023, an annual ice fishing tournament takes place in February with some fantastic prizes! Check out The Big Jack Classic for more information about the derby. Fishing is very productive on Buffalo Lake, producing considerable numbers of northern pike and burbot.

Accessing the Lake

There are a number of boat launches surrounding the lake, however the most popular during the summer and winter months is located at Rochon Sands Provincial Park. This is a public launch with lots of parking. Additionally, the boat launch at the Rochon Sands Marina is also a great option and home to the 8-meter-long Northern Pike. 

The Narrows on Buffalo Lake

The narrow channel connecting two portions of Buffalo Lake on the west side is fantastic for fishing. You will find The Narrows Provincial Recreation Area down that way with a first come first serve campground boasting 61 RV and tent sites available during the camping season. 

Pelican Point Park Beach

It's amazing how many beautiful beaches are publically available on Buffalo Lake. Pelican Point Park beach is no exception and is located on the north shore of Buffalo Lake, the head part of the Buffalo. This is a family-friendly beach with a lot of clean soft sand and shallow waters with gradual drop-off in the designated swimming area. The water of Buffalo Lake is usually clear, but green algae can develop in the later summer months of July and August. The beach has day-use access, a playground, a grassy picnic area, as well as a marked swimming area, and a campground for overnight stays.

Enjoy your time on Buffalo Lake

Whether heading up for a day or an extended holiday, Buffalo Lake is sure to keep you busy. With plenty of history in the surrounding towns, and so many activities and things to see and do around the lake, there really is something for everyone here on Buffalo Lake in central Alberta! 

Alberta's Buffalo Lake

Camrose Alberta and region parks, trails and lakes