Big Valley

Big Valley, Saskatchewan (Photo by Branimir Gjetvaj, http://branimirphoto.ca/)

The Big Valley property is a biodiversity hot spot in the Qu'Appelle River Valley.

Located just north of Craven at the south end of Last Mountain Lake, this 223-hectare (552-acre) property joins the provincial Valeport Wildlife Management Area to offer 1,106 hectares (2,734 acres) of diverse natural habitat for numerous animal and plant species. Protecting this landscape is an important part of conserving Saskatchewan's natural heritage.

Habitat loss, the primary threat to biodiversity, coupled with habitat fragmentation and degradation, is regarded as the most significant threat to prairie grassland biodiversity. The protection of the Big Valley Property is a key part of the Nature Conservancy of Canada's larger conservation plan for natural areas in the Qu'Appelle River Valley.

Map with driving directions

(Click here to enlarge)

Driving Directions from Regina: Take Highway 11 from Regina through the QU'Appelle Valley past Lumsden. Once you are coming out of the valley on the other side, turn north (right) onto the second grid road. Drive north on that road for 3.2 kilometres, then turn east (right) onto another grid road. Follow this road for 1.6 kilometres and then turn north (left). Follow this road for 2.4 kilometres and this is where the property boundary begins.

(Disclaimer: All visitors to NCC properties do so at their own risk.)