Uninterrupted prairie landscapes, dynamic buttes and rolling hills, fossils and archaeological sites—welcome to Grasslands National Park – in our opinion, one of the most underrated national parks and park reserves in Canada!
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Located in Southern Saskatchewan, National Park Grasslands is the only national park that protects and showcases the Prairie Grasslands Natural Region in Canada. It’s also part of Treaty 4 Territory and is home to several indigenous peoples.
Curious about the Grasslands National Park experience? We have recently spent 5 days exploring (almost) every corner of this park and have compiled our top tips and advice about the park below. Let’s get to it!
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About Grasslands National Park
Grasslands National Park covers more than 900 sq kms of native mixed-grass prairie, one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Over 30 species of prairie wildlife call this national park home, from plains bison and prairie dogs to rattlesnakes and lizards.
Not only is Grasslands National Park the site where the first evidence of dinosaur remains was found in Canada, but it also has some of the richest deposits of dinosaur fossils in the whole country.
Each visit invites you to trace back Saskatchewan’s natural history and incredible historical significance, with sights like the mass extinction boundary, hearth sites, bison drive lanes, and over 20,000 tipi rings.
How to get to Grasslands National Park
Grasslands National Park is located in southern Saskatchewan on the border with Montana. It is accessible only by gravel road.
Several entrances lead to the park. To reach West Block, you can enter the park through the town of Val Marie on either Highway 4 or Highway 18. East Block Park access is near Wood Mountain via Highway 18.
Best Time to Visit Grasslands National Park
Grasslands National Park experiences a semi-arid climate characterized by hot, dry summers and cold, windy winters.
While the park is accessible year-round, the experience in Grasslands National Park varies with the seasons. While summer and fall are the most popular times to visit due to milder weather and better conditions for hiking and wildlife viewing, winter offers a more remote and peaceful experience, though some areas may be challenging to access due to snow and cold temperatures.
NOTE: Park services (e.g. park visitor centres, clearing of roads, campsites, trail maintenance, etc.) are unavailable from mid-October until May.
May showers aside, Spring (March to May) is a pleasant time to visit the park. Migratory wildlife is on the move and flowers start to bloom by late May, offering more unique landscapes.
Summer (June-August) is hot, often reaching 40 °C (104 °F). There is little to no shade available throughout the park, so plan and pack accordingly. Late afternoon showers, thunder and lightning are also common during summer months.
Fall (October-November) transitions to cooler temperatures, from mid-10s (50 °F) to just below 0 °C (32 °F). Winter (November-February) gets cold, though snowfall is minimal and hiking trails as well as the Ecotour Scenic Drive in West Block remain open.
Grassland National Park: East Block & West Block
Grasslands National Park is divided into two main areas: the more remote East Block and the busier West Block. Each has its draws, offering different perspectives of the park’s geological landscape.
East Block is located about an hour’s drive south of Assiniboia, a small town in southern Saskatchewan. The area is known for dynamic landscapes, with areas of grasslands and badlands punctuated by impressive buttes.
West Block is more known for wildlife spotting. Since it’s more accessible and located close to the town of Val Marie, this area sees 5x more visitors than the East Block. Bison, prairie dogs, coyotes, antelopes, deer, and raptors were just some of the animals we saw in this part of the park.
Wildlife in Grasslands National Park
The park is home to 30 species of prairie wildlife. Be on the lookout for herds of Plains Bison, prairie dog colonies, coyote, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, short-horned lizards, black-footed ferrets, burrowing owls, and more!
Park Facilities Grasslands National Park
Rock Creek Campground, located inside the East Block, offers campsites and oTentik glamping tents equipped with BBQs, firepits, chairs, and electricity. The campsite also has a small shaded picnic area, drop toilets, and drinking water. The on-site Parks Canada visitor centre offers advice on the best hikes and activities in the area.
Frenchman Valley Campground in West Block is smaller but offers similar amenities: campsites, oTentiks, a shaded picnic area, toilets, and drinking water stations.
Things to Do in Grasslands National Park
Explore the park by driving through scenic routes, going on hiking trails, cycling, and even horseback riding. At night, camping is a great way to experience the natural dark sky, as Grasslands National Park is a Dark Sky Preserve. They protect the integrity of the natural night sky and provide visitors with lots of opportunities to see it, free from light pollution.
East Block
Take the Badlands Parkway Drive. This scenic 11km paved road takes you through an escarpment, with a number of recommended stops offering panoramic views of the grasslands and badlands.
Spot Castle Butte, a sandstone and clay-based relic from the Ice Age. This imposing structure was once a sacred site for Indigenous people and a landmark for early Canadian settlers and the North West Mounted Police.
Hike the Valley of 1,000 Devils Trail. This hike is a 10km return and takes about 3-4 hours. It’s long and challenging, especially in the summer months when the temperature in the badlands can be 10 degrees hotter! But it’s worth it to get to the basin of Hellfire Creek and then the badlands. Walk amidst clay buttes, steep-sided drainages, and other natural formations. The hike is best done early in the morning or early evening.
Hike the Red Buttes Trail (Difficult). This challenging 16km return takes 5-7 hours to complete. Pass by buttes turned red by oxidation and navigate through creek bottoms and cattle fence lines.
Other East Block hikes:
- Rock Creek Trail (Easy) – A 30-minute 1 km loop to a bird’s eye view of Rock Creek
- Creek to Peak Trail (Moderate) – A 30-minute 1.5 km return that goes up the hill for a view of Rock Creek Valley

Where to Stay in East Block
Rock Creek Campground
The campground on East Block is remote and peaceful and has a great view of the Saskatchewan sky any time of day. Camping options include:
- Backcountry camping (wild camping with no facilities or amenities)
- Equestrian camping (for those travelling on horseback)
- 24 Tent or RV Electric Campsites
- 8 oTENTik Glamping Units
There are picnic tables, fire pits, a kitchen shelter, dishwashing stations, a vault toilet, and an RV sanitation dump. From May to September, there’s easy access to potable water (for small drinking jugs only) and RV filling stations. Overflow sites are also available if all remaining areas are full.
West Block
Do the Ecotour Scenic Drive, a 20km self-guided driving tour through the Frenchman River Valley. Search for plains bison, prairie dog towns, spot a short-horned lizard or two, and many other prairie wildlife!
Hike the 70 Mile Butte Trail – this one’s a must-do! The Seventy Mile Butte Trail leads to beautiful, uninterrupted 360-degree views of the Frenchman Valley.
Other West Block Trails:
- Eagle Butte Trail (Easy) – A 1-hour 2 km loop with wildflowers and bird-watching spots
- Riverwalk Trail (Easy) – A 1-hour 3 km loop through a grassy trail, great for checking out local flora and fauna and spotting deer and birds
- Two Trees Trail (Moderate) – A 1 to 2-hour 4 km loop through the prairie grasslands
- Three Sisters Trail (Moderate) – A 2 to 3-hour 8km return that goes from the grasslands to the Saskatchewan Natural History Monument
Where to Stay in West Block
Frenchman Valley Campground
West Block’s Frenchman Valley Campground has views of the Frenchman River, sprawling hills, tipi rings, and roaming bison. Choose from:
- Backcountry camping
- Equestrian camping
- 20 Tent or RV Electric Campsites
- 4 oTENTik Units
Like Rock Creek Campground, there are picnic tables, fire pits, a kitchen shelter, an RV Sanitation dump, and vault toilets. Drinking water is available from late May to September, but there’s no RV water filling station. Overflow sites are available when all designated areas are full.
Convent Inn
For a cozy, comfortable, and unique stay while exploring Grasslands National Park, check out Convent Inn in the town of Val Marie, just outside of the West Block park entrance. It ranked as one of the Top 4 Most Unique Places to Stay in Canada. Built in 1939, it used to be a high school and was vacant for 18 years before being renovated into an inn in 1996.
The Inn offers private bedrooms with shared bathrooms. Breakfast is served daily and comes with plenty of local advice and fascinating stories from the host and owner, Adam.
Special Activities in Grasslands National Park
During the summer season, Grasslands National Park offers a number of special activities, guided hikes, and experiences. These are usually prescheduled and can be booked in advance.
- Guided Hikes – take place on specific days every week and give you a chance to Explore East and/or West Block with an experienced Park’s Canada guide.
- Fireside Chat – These free sessions with park interpreters invite you to stories and conversations by the campfire. While fireside chats are scheduled to take place every weekend, they do get cancelled when fire bans are in effect.
- Burrowing Owl Experience (Day with a Specialist) – A one-of-a-kind birding experience with a team of experts takes place a few times per season and need to be booked in advance. Plan ahead if you are interested as burrowing owls are very hard to spot without a guide.
- Beyond the Big Dipper – An awesome event that takes place over a weekend in the summer. Hosted by Royal Astronomical Society astronomers, the event offfers an opportunity to witness the Dark Sky Preserve, with telescopes, insightful presentations, and then a walk under the stars.
- Fossil Fever – A 5-day event for dinosaur enthusiasts where participants get to join paleontologists on a dig!
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The Bottom Line
Grasslands National Park offers a unique and unforgettable prairie experience, distinct from other natural areas like Prince Albert National Park and Cypress Hills, the other popular National Parks in Saskatchewan.
Come prepared and plan to stay a while! The long drive down is worth it for stunning views of the prairie grasslands, the Rock Creek badlands, thousand-year-old dinosaur fossils and dig sites, historical artifacts, and much more!
Disclaimer: Our visit to Grasslands National Park was arranged courtesy of Tourism Saskatchewan. All opinions expressed in this article are our own.
Thanks for sharing this detailed guide on visiting Grasslands National Park! It highlights the unique beauty and wildlife of the area, making it sound like a hidden gem in Canada. I love the idea of experiencing the dark sky at night and the various hiking trails, especially the Valley of 1,000 Devils Trail. It’s great to see such comprehensive information about accommodations and activities too!