Upper Hay
Introduction
Upper Hay—the northernmost of the 11 SRD management areas—is located along Highway 35 leading to the Northwest Territories. It shares its border with British Columbia to the west, the Northwest Territories to the north and Wood Buffalo National Park to the east. The region contains approximately 23 per cent of Alberta's entire green zone and is about 83 000 square kilometres in size.
The area's topography is predominantly flat with gently rolling sections. It is complemented by three distinct mountain ranges: Cameron Hills in the northwest, the Caribou Mountains in the northeast and the Buffalo Hills in the southeast. This part of the province consists exclusively of the Boreal Forest Natural Region.
Upper Hay includes the towns of High Level, Rainbow Lake, Zama City and Fort Vermilion . There are a total of 15 communities, 10 of which are First Nations communities.
Where to find us
The area head office is in High Level, although the management area is administered out of Peace River. Fishing and hunting permits and Christmas tree licences can be purchased at SRD offices in most major towns in the area. See map for locations of area offices.
The local economy
The resource-based economy in Upper Hay makes it one of the fastest growing areas of the province. The area's abundant natural resources are balanced between the agriculture, forestry and oil and gas sectors.
Area wildlife
Upper Hay supports the largest woodland caribou population in the province, as well as a nomadic herd of about 300 woods/plains hybrid bison. They inhabit the forest near the boundary of Wood Buffalo National Park .
Fishing is another major draw in the area with lake trout and northern grayling being among the most notable attractions.
For the naturalist, an abundance of wetlands support a variety of wildlife and one of the largest populations of breeding bald eagles in the province.
Tourism and recreation
The mighty Peace River meanders its way through the region, as do the Upper Hay River and the Chinchaga River . The region is home to a variety of parks, wildland areas and natural and recreation areas such as Buffalo River Recreation Area, Hay-Zama Lakes Wildland Park , and Watt Mountain Natural Area.
Other
There are 13 lookout towers located in the area to provide timely wildfire detection during the fire season.
The Peace River drops more than seven metres at the Vermilion Chutes or Falls near the settlements of Fox Lake and John D'Or Prairie. Early explorers had to portage around the chutes.
Dinosaur fossils have been found over the years east of High Level, and near the Peace River . Gravel excavations have exposed the remains of early woolly mastodons. The Peace River occasionally washes up old fossils.
The remains of petrified forests have also been discovered along parts of the Peace River.
