The lake was made by deepening and contouring the sides of an old coal mining pit (hence the name). A 33 cubic yard dragline did the initial cut and the finish work was done with power scrapers and heavy landscape equipment. Grasses and native vegetation were planted to prevent erosion and rock built terracing where the slopes were too great for this alone. Many thousands of seedling trees were planted and many volunteer plants have started to grow in the reclaimed area.
The lake is walk-in only and there is a gravelled and fenced parking lot near the east end. No power boats are allowed, canoes and inflatables must be hand carried and launched.
There are various rest areas, nesting boxes and viewpoints and a mining legacy monument including the bucket of the dragline which dug the lake.

The approximately 320 acre area around the lake is under the supervision of the Stony Plain Fish and Game Association partnered with Transalta Utilities, Parkland County, Alberta Public Lands, Alberta Fish and Wildlife and Fording Coal. There is public access for a put and take trout fishery, nature observation, hiking and cross country skiing.

The East Pit Lake area is now bordered on the North and West by the Wabamun Whitewood Conservation Properties, owned by the Alberta Fish and Game Association Wildlife Trust Fund.

-Fall and Winter - looking E S E.

Winter looking North and South

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