Buffalo Tours, Group Visits and Trails at Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch, Golden BC
Leo Downey gives one buffalo tour every morning from May 15 to September 30 at 10:15 a.m. Mountain Time, on his working bison ranch 10 minutes north of Golden, BC. The tour takes about an hour and 20 minutes and ends with a native fire-making demonstration. Adults are $30, kids under 6 are free, and you don’t need a reservation.
The tour at a glance
- When: every morning, May 15 to September 30, at 10:15 a.m. Mountain Time
- How long: about an hour and 20 minutes
- Price: $30 adults; kids under 6 free. Cash preferred, credit cards accepted
- Reservations: not needed. If you’re making a special trip on a certain date, email Leo first, as on rare occasions he has to close for a day
- Where to meet: park at the big barn, then walk down the driveway to the deck of Leo’s two-storey cabin
- Winter and ranch guests: tours are available year-round for people staying on the ranch; in winter Leo gives a shortened version
What happens on the tour
Meet Chester Jr., Leo’s chief bull, and his herd. Leo tells you about the buffalo, their history and behaviour, and stories gathered from years of living with them, and you can ask any questions. Then you go find the herd. They come close, so you can take pictures. You’ll also see Leo’s collection of buffalo artifacts and curiosities from the land.
Native fire-making demonstration
The tour ends with Leo demonstrating the art of fire making with the bow drill, a traditional native method. He learned the technique from an elder in California and loves passing the knowledge and skill on to anyone eager to learn.
Leo has extensive knowledge of how to survive in the wild, and teaches how to do it while staying in balance with the animals, plants and elements.
School and group trips
The ranch is an ideal place for school and other groups to spend a fun, informative day experiencing life in the Canadian Rockies. Hosted by Leo, groups learn about buffalo and other wildlife, the history of the area, surviving on the land and running a ranch.
Extra activities can include exploring the ranch, trekking down to the Blaeberry River and lunch around the fire in the sheltered, open-air round house.
Walking trails
The ranch trails are spectacular in every season. The main trail starts at the edge of the meadow and leads through a variety of landscapes to the Blaeberry River. Time it right and you can watch salmon swim up the river, and even up the ranch’s creek, to spawn, along with the animals the run draws in. In winter the ranch becomes a winter wonderland, perfect for snowshoeing.
Guests in the cabin by the creek have a trail right from the back door into the forest, which meets the river trail.
Stay and explore
Many guests plan to use the ranch as a base camp for exploring, then find the family is happy relaxing right here. The ranch has meadows, wetlands and forest with 360-degree mountain views, year-round creeks and ponds, and frontage on the Blaeberry River, which is fed by the Mummery Glacier. Elk, moose, wolves, bears, fox, mountain goats, osprey and bald eagles all pass through.