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Canada🇨🇦 | national parksGrasslands National ParkPrairie dog town, bison herd, dark-sky prairie, Killdeer Badlands | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Grasslands
👀 For curious travelersnational park ranked #21
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

I crouched beside a prairie dog mound at the Black-tailed Prairie Dog Town, and the whole colony went quiet, then one sentinel chirped and heads popped up again. Grasslands National Park sits in southern Saskatchewan, Canada, near the U.S. border. Its two blocks hold open prairie, badlands and bison, but trails are unmarked, shade is scarce and towns are tiny. You get big sky and silence. A first day could mean the Ecotour Scenic Drive, then a short evening walk.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #21 national park in CanadaWhy visitors keep coming back

Grasslands National Park suits self-guided travelers because you choose your own line across the land. There are few fixed paths, so you navigate by ridge and coulee, and nobody herds you along. The 70 Mile Butte climb gives a payoff in views within minutes. Backcountry camping is allowed almost anywhere in the West Block, which means a night under a huge sky without booking a pitch. Add dark-sky stargazing, and a tour is hardly needed.

💡 HighlightsKey sights and experiences for travelers

  1. Black-tailed Prairie Dog Town: Canada's only wild colony of these animals lives in the West Block, and a roadside boardwalk lets you watch the barking, tail-flicking sentries.
  2. 70 Mile Butte: a short, steep climb to a panorama of badland ridges and yellow-green prairie.
  3. Ecotour Scenic Drive: a gravel loop in the West Block passing viewpoints, bison range and prairie dog colonies.
  4. Plains bison herd: reintroduced in the West Block, they roam freely, so seeing them takes patience and distance.
  5. Killdeer Badlands: eroded clay hills in the East Block, striped in grays and tans, where fossils have been found.
  6. Frenchman River Valley: a green ribbon of cottonwoods and grasses, good for birds such as the sage grouse and burrowing owl.
  7. Night sky: the park is a designated dark-sky preserve, and the Milky Way
… read more 👉
  1. Black-tailed Prairie Dog Town: Canada's only wild colony of these animals lives in the West Block, and a roadside boardwalk lets you watch the barking, tail-flicking sentries.
  2. 70 Mile Butte: a short, steep climb to a panorama of badland ridges and yellow-green prairie.
  3. Ecotour Scenic Drive: a gravel loop in the West Block passing viewpoints, bison range and prairie dog colonies.
  4. Plains bison herd: reintroduced in the West Block, they roam freely, so seeing them takes patience and distance.
  5. Killdeer Badlands: eroded clay hills in the East Block, striped in grays and tans, where fossils have been found.
  6. Frenchman River Valley: a green ribbon of cottonwoods and grasses, good for birds such as the sage grouse and burrowing owl.
  7. Night sky: the park is a designated dark-sky preserve, and the Milky Way is clear from any campsite.
Start with the Prairie Dog Town, because the animals are most active in the cooler hours and it sets your eye for spotting wildlife.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

  • Summer (June to August): Daytime highs run 24 to 30°C (75 to 86°F), with long light and the clearest skies for stargazing in this Dark Sky Preserve. Thunderstorms and wasps are common, and shade is scarce. Camping fills on weekends.
  • Shoulder months (May, September): Highs of 14 to 22°C (57 to 72°F), fewer people, and golden grass in September.
  • Winter (November to March): Highs around -10 to -2°C (14 to 28°F), wind, closed services, and few visitors.
Book summer campsites early, and aim for midweek.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: below average for travelingFEBFebruary: below average for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: below average for traveling
canada-national-park-grasslands-national-park
© Google | Tom Dawson

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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base

Grasslands National Park has no hotels, but its camping is the best base: Frenchman Valley and Rock Creek campgrounds (about US$16 to 23 a night) offer primitive sites, plus oTENTiks (roughly US$100 to 120) at both. Backcountry camping is allowed with a permit and is the real draw for backpackers. The nearest town to the West Block is Val Marie (basic motels, a small hotel and a municipal campground, about US$60 to 110 a night), which also has the visitor center. For the East Block, Wood Mountain and Killdeer offer limited lodging. Bigger options, like Swift Current, sit around 2.5 hours north.
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👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Travel costs and budget guide for Grasslands

Grasslands National Park costs roughly US$84 to 121 a day for a backpacker who camps and self-caters, including the car most visitors need.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Entrance feeUS$5 to 6Per adult per day; the annual Discovery Pass is a better value for longer stays.
Accommodation (high season)US$16 to 25Primitive campsites; backcountry needs a small permit.
Local transportUS$45 to 60Rental car and fuel, as there is no public transit; gravel roads are the norm.
Food and suppliesUS$18 to 30Stock up in Swift Current; Val Marie has limited groceries.
Total Daily BudgetUS$84 to 121Midpoint is about US$100 for one person.


source: parks.canada.ca
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsExploring Grasslands: trails, terrain, and views

Grasslands National Park has few built trails, and most of it is open for cross-country walking, so route-finding with a map and GPS is part of the fun.
  • 70 Mile Butte Trail: a 2 km loop, 1 to 2 hours, moderate for its steep final section; features a lookout over the badlands.
  • Valley of 1,000 Devils: a rugged cross-country route in the East Block, several hours, strenuous, among hoodoos and eroded formations.
  • Backcountry routes: self-guided ridgelines and coulees in the West Block, one to multiple days, moderate to hard, with rattlesnake, pronghorn and sharp-tailed grouse.
Terrain is open, with exposed … read more 👉
Grasslands National Park has few built trails, and most of it is open for cross-country walking, so route-finding with a map and GPS is part of the fun.
  • 70 Mile Butte Trail: a 2 km loop, 1 to 2 hours, moderate for its steep final section; features a lookout over the badlands.
  • Valley of 1,000 Devils: a rugged cross-country route in the East Block, several hours, strenuous, among hoodoos and eroded formations.
  • Backcountry routes: self-guided ridgelines and coulees in the West Block, one to multiple days, moderate to hard, with rattlesnake, pronghorn and sharp-tailed grouse.
Terrain is open, with exposed sun, wind and no reliable water, so carry plenty. Public transport does not reach the park, so you need a car. Crowds are light even in summer, and visitors pay a daily national park entry fee.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetySafety Tips and Common Scams in Grasslands

Grasslands is straightforward, but exposure is the main issue. There are no marked trails in much of the park, so carry a map, GPS and more water than you expect (3 to 4 liters a day). Summer heat and sudden thunderstorms are common, and lightning on open ground is serious. Prairie rattlesnakes live here, so watch your footing and give them space. Bison roam freely, so keep at least 100 meters away. Gumbo clay turns slick after rain, and cell coverage is patchy.
Check Country Safety

FAQFrequently asked questions about Grasslands

Plan on 2 to 3 days at Grasslands National Park, which gives you time for both the Frenchman Valley in the West Block and the Ecotour scenic drive. Add a day if you want a backcountry overnight on the open prairie. The East Block is a separate 2-hour drive from Val Marie, so seeing both takes at least 4 days.
Reaching Grasslands National Park without a car is very hard, because no public transit serves Val Marie or the park gates. The nearest cities, Swift Current (about 2.5 hours north) and Regina (about 4.5 hours), have rental cars. Some local outfitters in Val Marie offer guided tours, so ask ahead if you cannot drive.
Yes, Grasslands National Park charges an entry fee of roughly US$5 to 6 per adult per day, or you can use a Parks Canada Discovery Pass (about US$50 to 55 per year). Backcountry camping needs a separate permit, around US$8 to 10 per person per night, from the Val Marie visitor center. Frontcountry campsites cost about US$16 to 23 and are reserved through Parks Canada.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Canadian national parks near Grasslands

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We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

Grasslands National Park suits independent hikers and stargazers who like quiet and map-reading more than signed trails. If you need services, skip it. I would bring extra water, a good map and a headlamp.

✈️ When did I visit Canada?
As part of my 1.5 year travel around the world trip, I visited Canada in 2016.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Canada, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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