Grasslands National Park

Grasslands National Park preserves one of the last untouched fragments of the North American mixed-grass prairie, a vast, rolling sea of grass, badlands and coulees under enormous skies in southern Saskatchewan. Reintroduced plains bison once again roam here, black-tailed prairie dogs chatter from their towns, and the park’s Dark Sky Preserve status makes for some of the darkest nights on the continent.

Fast facts

• Established: 2001 (agreement 1988)
• Size: about 350 square miles (907 km²) in two blocks in southern Saskatchewan
• Wildlife: reintroduced plains bison, prairie dogs, pronghorn and burrowing owls
• Dark sky: a Dark Sky Preserve with exceptional stargazing
• Gateways: Val Marie (West Block) and Wood Mountain (East Block)
• Managed by: Parks Canada

The landscape

The park protects native mixed-grass prairie rolling to the horizon, broken by the badlands and coulees of the Frenchman and Rock Creek valleys. It is Canada’s only home for the black-tailed prairie dog, whose colonies anchor a whole prairie ecosystem, and it shelters bison, pronghorn, rattlesnakes and rare grassland birds in a landscape most people never imagine still exists intact.

Best time to go

Late spring through early fall is the accessible season, with wildflowers and active wildlife; spring and fall are cooler and more comfortable than the hot, exposed summer. Winter is bitterly cold and windswept, and the dirt roads become impassable when wet any time of year, so time your visit with the weather.

Getting there and around

The park’s two blocks lie near the Montana border, with the West Block reached from Val Marie and the East Block from Wood Mountain. Access is by gravel and dirt roads. A vehicle is essential, ideally with good clearance, and you should never drive the dirt roads when they are wet.

Things to do

Drive the Ecotour scenic route among bison and prairie-dog towns, hike open-prairie and badlands trails like the 70 Mile (110 km) Butte, and simply walk out into the grass for solitude. Wildlife and bird watching, camping under brilliant dark skies, and stargazing are the park’s quiet, profound rewards.

Staying safe

The prairie offers no shade and little water, so carry plenty and guard against heat and lightning on the exposed ground. Give bison a very wide berth, watch for prairie rattlesnakes, and treat the dirt roads with respect. They turn to impassable gumbo when wet, stranding the unprepared.

Know before you go

A Parks Canada pass is required, backcountry camping needs registration, and services are minimal, so come self-sufficient with water and fuel. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current road conditions, closures and requirements with Parks Canada before your trip.

Coordinates

49.1089, -107.1200

Magnetic declination

9.7° E (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

Best seasons

Late spring, Summer, Early fall

Difficulty

Easy to strenuous

Access / trailheads

In southern Saskatchewan near the Montana border, in two blocks (West near Val Marie, East near Wood Mountain). Access is by gravel and dirt roads.

Water

Carry all your water; the prairie has little to no reliable drinking water.

Cell / satellite coverage

Little to no cell service. Carry a map and share your plans.

Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency

Parks Canada dispatch: 1-877-852-3100; life-threatening emergencies: 911.

Permits & regulations

A Parks Canada pass is required; backcountry camping is allowed with registration. Facilities are minimal, so self-sufficiency is essential.

Leave No Trace

Stay on trails and durable ground, keep well back from bison, pack out all waste, and follow Leave No Trace.