A trip to Roche Percee

Recently, we ventured to La Roche Percee Provincial Historic Site and snapped some great pictures. The site is located in the Souris River Valley, approximately 20 kilometres southeast of the City of Estevan.

Here’s some background on the area:

The site consists of a large sandstone outcrop that has been sculpted into unusual shapes by the forces of erosion and inscribed with carvings that date from precontact to present times.

The heritage value of La Roche Percee lies in its status as an important landmark and record of the region’s changing historical landscape. The rock was once nearly covered with precontact carvings of animal, human and geometric forms thought to have been created by Siouan speakers. Historical accounts state that the Nakota (Assiniboin) regarded the site as sacred, never passing the rock without leaving offerings. Erosion and later carvings have taken a toll, leaving only a few carved pits and some red ochre staining as evidence for First Nations use of the site.

As you can see from the pictures, there are some great paths that allow you to explore the area fully for as long as you’d like. Be sure to add Roche Percee to your bucket list!

If you’re interested in exploring the area by horseback, you can take part in the annual historic three-day Roche Percee Trail Ride, featuring. Read more about the ride in this Grainews article.

Check out this old blog post from Roche Percee further describing the area.