Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Head-Smashed-In is one of the oldest, largest and best preserved Buffalo jumps in North America. The site has has an archaeological record that goes back 6,000 years. This World Heritage Site is open year round and offers an Interpretive Centre and walking trails. Blackfoot Guides interpret the plains buffalo culture. Visit: www.headsmashedin.ca
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Terry M
    Hamilton, Canada4,638 contributions
    NOT A SIMPLE THING TO ORGANIZE
    The simple ingenuity of native tribes to lead bison over a cliff to their deaths is rather stunning. You start at the top floor with the chance to go outside to see the jump area [and the Calderwood jump site in the distance]. I shared the space with a couple of prairie dogs, happy to be photographed. The exhibit is itself creative, allowing a good perspective on what transpired in the course of a bison hunt, including a short film. It was only the start of things when the bison had jumped. Some had to be killed. The skinning of the buffalo was documented. The importance of pemmican for the winter diet was discussed. Native life is outlined as you descend through the exhibit. The place has been a World Heritage Site since 1981.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written June 5, 2023
  • FT L
    Vancouver Island, Canada14 contributions
    Excellent museum for the whole family
    Well worth seeing. Loved the animated sequences on the top level—beautifully illustrated and narrated. Excellent design of space. The live drumming and dancing by a Blackfoot group twice a week outdoors in front of the museum during the summer should not be missed. There was Indigenous catering provided during those periods—buffalo burgers and stew.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written July 15, 2023
  • Pat M
    Baltimore, Maryland306 contributions
    Wonderful Experience
    We had never heard of this site until a coworker mentioned it when she heard we were vacation Alberta. It is a must-see if you are in the area. The history and educational movies and exhibits are excellent. The architecture of the facility is amazing as it is a multi-level building whose structure fits neatly into the hillside. It was well worth the short ride off the highway.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written September 29, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Mike T
Kamloops, Canada2 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Family
Awesome experience. A well put together presentation of sight and sound giving an excellent synopsis. Trails out doors for sights and sounds. Well worth the visit.
Written October 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pat M
Baltimore, MD306 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Couples
We had never heard of this site until a coworker mentioned it when she heard we were vacation Alberta. It is a must-see if you are in the area. The history and educational movies and exhibits are excellent. The architecture of the facility is amazing as it is a multi-level building whose structure fits neatly into the hillside. It was well worth the short ride off the highway.
Written September 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Annie D
Canada5 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Friends
I am not one for interpretation centres or museums, but this was the so well done that I found myself completely immersed in the experience. I even researched more when I got home. This is a must do!

And be sure to watch the 9 minute movie "The Land of Napi's People".

Bravo to all who care for this facility. Well done.
Written September 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

FT L
Vancouver Island, Canada14 contributions
Jul. 2023 • Couples
Well worth seeing. Loved the animated sequences on the top level—beautifully illustrated and narrated. Excellent design of space.

The live drumming and dancing by a Blackfoot group twice a week outdoors in front of the museum during the summer should not be missed. There was Indigenous catering provided during those periods—buffalo burgers and stew.
Written July 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Terry M
Hamilton, Canada4,638 contributions
Jun. 2023 • Solo
The simple ingenuity of native tribes to lead bison over a cliff to their deaths is rather stunning. You start at the top floor with the chance to go outside to see the jump area [and the Calderwood jump site in the distance]. I shared the space with a couple of prairie dogs, happy to be photographed. The exhibit is itself creative, allowing a good perspective on what transpired in the course of a bison hunt, including a short film. It was only the start of things when the bison had jumped. Some had to be killed. The skinning of the buffalo was documented. The importance of pemmican for the winter diet was discussed. Native life is outlined as you descend through the exhibit. The place has been a World Heritage Site since 1981.
Written June 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gardiner W
Vancouver, Canada402 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
A fascinating look at how ancient native Canadians (their descendants who still live in the area are of the Blackfoot tribes) managed to survive in what were pretty tough conditions. The site shows how the native community worked together to organize a buffalo hunt (the ancient prairies had millions of them) by stampeding them over a cliff to their death (sounds a bit gory but life was tough back in those days). Excellent short film showing the re enactment of the hunt. Interesting displays showing life going back thousands of years. A UNESCO heritage set.
Written June 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Eddie T
Calgary, Canada109 contributions
Oct. 2022
This is an important site that helps understand the traditional way of life of the Blackfoot people who have inhabited the area for millennia. The interpretive centre is large and modern, several floors high each of which contains displays explaining the importance of buffalo jumps in the ancient tradition, and the very top floor is an outdoor walk that overlooks the real site where buffaloes were hunted. This point offers also an excellent panoramic view of the surroundings.

Head-smashed-in-buffalo jump has been designated a world heritage site by UNESCO, which should be a good reason to visit in itself. But UNESCO designation aside, this site should be in the to-do list for any visitor in the area.
Written November 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrea G
Vancouver, Canada227 contributions
Aug. 2022
We were looking for something fun to do while in Lethbridge and decided to go to this site which is a short drive away.

It's really cool as you come up on it, as it's embedded in the hillside. The museum itself is very educational. It's worth watching the movie first to get an overview of the history they are covering.

Definitely walk outside on the trail to get a sense of the view and expanse of the land.
Written September 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Laurie M
19 contributions
Aug. 2022 • Family
We have been a time or two to this UNESCO world Heritage site before but not for many years and it is an amazing venue. I wish it did different things every summer like dancing or theatre, guest speakers, concerts so they would attract more locals more frequently but for global travelers it is a MUST SEE. A beautiful venue that Honours the past and the First Nation culture with artifacts, films, a walk to the actual jump site,gift shop and more.
Written August 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lemon910
Calgary, Canada349 contributions
Jul. 2022
Important venue to visit on anAlberta tour. Loved the stories. Easy to absorb yourself in the the museum’s displays, films, books, activities on multiple levels. Walking the site is a must, as is talking with resource people. We were warmly welcomed by Little Leaf when we arrived, which set the tone for an amazing impactful visit. Highly recommended. Educational.
Written August 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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HEAD-SMASHED-IN BUFFALO JUMP WORLD HERITAGE SITE - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site


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