Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump

Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump Head-Smashed-In - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - has been used continuously by aboriginal peoples of the plains, for more than 6,000 years.
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Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is an archaeological site known around the world as a remarkable testimony of the life of the Plains People through the millennia. The Jump bears witness to a method of hunting practiced by native people of the North American plains for nearly 6,000 years. Due to their excellent understanding of the regional topography and bison behaviour, native people hunted bison by

stampeding them over a precipice. They then carved up the carcasses and dragged the pieces to be butchered and processed in the butchering camp set up on the flats beyond the cliffs. In 1981, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump as a World Heritage Site placing it among other world heritage monuments such as the Egyptian pyramids, Stonehenge and the Galapagos Islands. For more information on UNESCO, go to www.unesco.org.

Stones and Bones April 25 - 26Jump into the fun!
03/27/2026

Stones and Bones April 25 - 26
Jump into the fun!

Hands on history at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. Bring your curiosities and leave with new discoveries

03/27/2026

🦬 Now Hiring for Spring & Summer 2026! 🦬

Head‑Smashed‑In Buffalo Jump is hiring for a Visitor Services Associate

Work at a UNESCO World Heritage Site and help share the history and living culture of this extraordinary place.

Apply by May 4, 2026.

Learn more and apply through the link below!

Employment Opportunities at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

VISITOR ADVISORYHead‑Smashed‑In Buffalo Jump will be closed on Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1 due to unfore...
01/31/2026

VISITOR ADVISORY

Head‑Smashed‑In Buffalo Jump will be closed on Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1 due to unforeseen circumstances.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. We look forward to welcoming visitors again when we reopen.

Thank you for your support.
🦬

Where the foothills of the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains sits one of the world’s largest, oldest, and best-preserved buffalo jumps.

01/14/2026

We were pleasantly surprised to get a shout-out in the newly released Season 2 episode of ThePitt Max!

Learn more and plan your visit: www.headsmashedin.ca

Global Connections: Hunting Traditions Across MillenniaWe’re excited to host a special presentation: “Parallels to Head-...
12/18/2025

Global Connections: Hunting Traditions Across Millennia

We’re excited to host a special presentation: “Parallels to Head-Smashed-In: Indigenous Hunting in Jordan and Syria”
January 16, 2026
3:00 PM
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre

Yorke M. Rowan (University of Chicago) will share insights into ancient “desert kites”—massive hunting structures in the Middle East—and explore their surprising similarities to the buffalo jumps of the Northern Plains.

Details here: www.headsmashedin.ca

Don’t miss this chance to see how hunting traditions connect cultures across continents and thousands of years!

CANADA STRONG PASS From December 12, 2025 -January 15, 2026, discover Alberta’s remarkable stories at a discount! As par...
12/12/2025

CANADA STRONG PASS

From December 12, 2025 -January 15, 2026, discover Alberta’s remarkable stories at a discount! As part of the Canada Strong Pass, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is offering the following discounts:

Free admission for children aged 17 and under.

50% off admission for visitors aged 18 to 24.

The Canada Strong Pass is not a physical pass that you need to purchase, sign up for, or collect. Your discount is applied automatically at point of purchase. Visitors may be asked to show ID to confirm their age for discounted admission. Learn more at https://www.alberta.ca/canada-strong-pass-alberta-participation

The Canada Strong Pass is funded in part by the Government of Canada.
For details see: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/canada-pass/about.html

10/14/2025

WINTER HOURS NOW IN EFFECT AT HSIBJ

We’re now operating on our winter schedule from October 14, 2025 to May 12, 2026.

Winter Season Hours:
• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday: Closed
• Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Holiday Notes:
• Open on Family Day: Monday, February 16
• Closed on: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Easter Sunday

We look forward to welcoming you during our winter season. Stay warm and see you soon.

Send a message to learn more

We’re happy to share that power has been fully restored at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, and the site is now open to vis...
10/10/2025

We’re happy to share that power has been fully restored at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, and the site is now open to visitors.

A big thank-you to the Fortis Alberta crews who worked tirelessly over the past two days to find and fix the issue.

We’re open all weekend, including Thanksgiving Monday, from 10am-5pm! 🍂

👉

Where the foothills of the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains sits one of the world’s largest, oldest, and best-preserved buffalo jumps.

⚡Update – SITE CLOSURE due to Power Outage (Thurs, Oct 9)⚡Unfortunately, the power outage affecting Head-Smashed-In Buff...
10/09/2025

⚡Update – SITE CLOSURE due to Power Outage (Thurs, Oct 9)⚡

Unfortunately, the power outage affecting Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump has not yet been resolved, and the Interpretive Centre will remain closed tomorrow (Thursday, Oct 9).

Fortis Alberta crews worked into the evening and will return early tomorrow morning to continue repairs. We’ll reopen as soon as power and site systems are safely restored.

We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding, and apologize for any disruption this has caused.

Please watch Facebook and our website for updates:
👉 www.headsmashedin.ca

Thank you,
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site Team

Where the foothills of the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains sits one of the world’s largest, oldest, and best-preserved buffalo jumps.

Address

Head-Smashed-In Is Located 18 Kms North & West Of Fort Macleod On Highway 785
Fort Macleod, AB
T0L0Z0

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+14035532731

Website

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