The Lac du Bois area was used by ranchers back in the 1870s, but it was homesteaded starting in 1896 and quarter sections were claimed by homesteaders between 1910 and 1920.   Between Wheeler Flats and Lac du Bois, about 150 people lived in the area and there were two schools built.   With drought and harsh conditions, the homesteads were mostly abandoned by the mid-192o’s.

The buildings are disappearing.   Two of them on the edge of the grasslands were “harvested” for winter bonfires.   The Scott Homestead was still visible 20 years ago, but only a few boards can now be seen.

The buildings still have heritage value so we need to do our best to protect them.   A few buildings can still be seen, hidden away from vehicle access – the Wawn Homestead, the Dumont Homestead, and the Harris Homestead, among a handful of others.

One of the lasting features to be seen in the open grasslands are piles of rocks.   These cairns will the work of the homesteaders.   Rocks were collected from the quarter sections and used as field boundaries.    Fields were shaped according to the terrain and arability of the land.    By following the cairn markers we can see the shapes of the fields.    These 100 year old cairns have been somewhat tumbled, but can still be found, using a detailed map.   The small black circles are cairns:

The Stony Lake Route is distinct at the south end, but now that vehicle closures are in place on the Nature Conservancy of Canada lands, the grasslands are reclaiming the old double track.   It is open grassland so any route can be taken.  The cairns can be found fairly easily.

This is a special area with environmental and heritage values so come on foot, bring only your camera,  and leave not trace of your visit.