Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Grasslands National Park covers the northern edge of North America's mixed-grass prairie in southwestern Saskatchewan, close to the Montana border. It is a place of wide horizons, wind, big skies and the only black-tailed prairie dog towns in Canada. The park is made up of two separate areas, the West Block near the village of Val Marie and the East Block near Wood Mountain, and it is among the least crowded national parks in the country.
Most people picture mountains and lakes when they think of a Canadian national park. Grasslands offers something different: a quiet, open landscape of coulees, buttes, sage and native grass that once covered much of the Prairies before farming transformed them.
The park was established in 1981 and protects rare shortgrass and mixed-grass prairie. It is also a wildlife refuge for prairie dogs, bison, pronghorn, burrowing owls and greater sage-grouse.
The West Block is the more developed half of the park, and almost everything here is reached from Val Marie, a small village that sits near the Frenchman River.
Begin at the main visitor centre in Val Marie, where staff can tell you which roads are dry, where the bison were last seen and what guided programs are running. Allow half an hour to pick up maps and ask about conditions.
Val Marie is the village that serves as the gateway to the park's West Block. Photo: Ron Miksha, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
The short but steep trail up 70 Mile Butte is usually recommended as the most scenic lookout in the West Block. The trailhead is about five minutes from Val Marie, so it works well for a first stop.
The short but steep trail up 70 Mile Butte ends at one of the best lookouts in the West Block. Photo: Cephas, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The West Block is the only place in Canada where you can see black-tailed prairie dogs, which live in permanent, highly social towns. Stop at the marked viewing areas and watch quietly from a distance.
The West Block holds the only black-tailed prairie dog colonies in Canada. Photo: KAM291523, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Plains bison were reintroduced to the West Block in 2006 and the herd now ranges across a large section of the park. The dirt Backcountry Loop makes a scenic afternoon drive, though the animals often stay well away from the road.
Plains bison were reintroduced to the West Block in 2006 from Elk Island National Park. Photo: Cephas, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Frenchman River is shallow but meandering, and it shapes much of the West Block's scenery. Cottonwoods line parts of the valley and the Frenchman Valley Campground sits along it.
The Frenchman River runs through the West Block and carved much of its valley. Photo: Caitlin Mroz, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
The East Block is wilder and more remote.
This paved, one-lane road gives an unexpectedly un-Canadian driving experience, with sharp curves and open views of eroded hills. It is well interpreted and also suits cyclists staying at the East Block campground.
The Badlands Parkway is a paved, one-lane scenic drive in the East Block. Photo: Peter George, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The badlands of Rock Creek were carved by glacial meltwater, and the layered cliffs show the boundary between the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods. This region is also where George Mercer Dawson found western Canada's first dinosaur remains in the 1870s.
The interpretive centre in McGowan House stands at the Rock Creek Campground and explains the area's history and wildlife. A small Parks Canada gift shop operates at the campground office.
The Rock Creek Campground is the base for visiting the East Block. Photo: DimiTalen, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Night lighting is managed under a dark-sky agreement, which keeps the park dark for nocturnal wildlife and for visitors. On a clear night the Milky Way is easy to see from either campground.
There are no private businesses inside the park, so plan your meals around Val Marie and the larger towns nearby. Prairie cooking is hearty and rooted in farm and ranch traditions.
Pack a cooler and a camp stove, because open campfires are usually banned in July and August. Stock up on groceries and fuel in a town before you drive out to the East Block, where services are scarcer.
Popular dishes to try in Grasslands National Park
Lodging is outside the park, but camping inside it is easy to arrange.
Frenchman Valley Campground is the main West Block option, with serviced sites, teepee camping and a cook shelter. Rock Creek Campground serves the East Block and puts you right at the badlands, which makes it ideal for sunrise walks.
Swift Current, about an hour north of the West Block, is the best base for people who want a wider choice of hotels and restaurants. Reserve campsites and cabins well ahead for summer weekends.
Where to stay in Grasslands National Park
Grasslands has a semi-arid climate and is one of the hottest and sunniest places in Canada. Summer days often pass 35 degrees, and there is almost no shade.
July and August bring heat, dust, thunderstorms and frequent fire bans, but also the fullest program of guided walks and evening talks from Parks Canada. Winter is long, cold and windswept, so many services close and dirt roads can be difficult.
You will almost certainly need a car, because no regular tour service reaches the park from Saskatchewan's larger cities. The West Block is about 350 kilometres from Regina, with access points off Highways 4 and 18 near Val Marie, and about one hour south of Swift Current.
The West Block is fully drivable on a decent gravel road, with short trails next to parking areas. Dirt roads in and around the park become impassable after heavy rain, so ask staff before you set out.
Start at the Val Marie visitor centre, climb 70 Mile Butte, then visit the prairie dog towns and drive the Backcountry Loop in the afternoon.
Drive to the East Block for the Badlands Parkway and a short walk in the Rock Creek badlands.
WISERMAP PLACEGrasslands National Park: photos, reviews & things to doSee traveler photos and reviews, or share your own →
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Lake Louise, Alberta
Invermere, British Columbia
Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia