Grasslands National Park

Grasslands National Park is divided into 2 blocks- the West Block and the East Block. The West Block is located 32 km SE of the community of Val Marie. The East Block is located 29 km SW of Wood Mountain in the province of Saskatchewan.

The 2 blocks are located over 160 km from each other. So to visit both would entail a 2 hour drive each way on rural highways and gravel roads. While both blocks represent one of the finest intact parcels of North American mixed grass prairie in existence, both blocks are also unique in their own right. I had seen an interview with a Grasslands park staff who had summed up the difference between the 2 blocks simply as: the West Block is about the living and the East Block is about the dead.

Grasslands West Block

The West Block is more developed for visitors. It has a  Visitor Centre, is closer to town and has the Ecotour Scenic Drive . There are more than 12,000 tipi rings that dot the landscape and provide a window into the rich history of the area.  The wildlife is also more prevalent in the West Block. There is a herd of Plains Bison that roam and graze. You will also find the only prairie dog town remaining in Canada. This combined with the Pronghorn, Mule Deer, the Short-horned Lizard and the Burrowing Owls and there is excellent opportunity to view wild life.

Grasslands East Block

The East Block is more remote. The scenery is more stunning. The Rock Creek Badlands are one of the richest resources of dinosaur fossils in Canada. In fact, the remnants of the first dinosaur discovered in Canada were found here. If you are a paleontology  or geology buff, it is here where you can see evidence of the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary (the K-pg Boundary). It is one of the few places in the world where you can a good look at it.

I have seen bison before and prairie dog towns, and if you are interested in camping amongst them, there are better places to do so. I would suggest Theodore Roosevelt National Park, or Custer State Park .

For me the allure was in touching actual dinosaur bones and identifying prehistoric sea life by the fossils left in the formations. That, and pondering the evidence of mass extinction appealed to the science nerd in me and struck me as more interesting. So for the purpose of this review, the focus will be on the East Block.

Site Review

The Rock Creek campground in the East Block of Grasslands National Park has 24 tent/RV sites. All the sites have electric hook-up (all 50 amp). There are no full hookup sites. The site of the campground was a former homestead site- though not recognizable as such now. It was chosen for the campground so as to avoid further development on the native prairie lands.All the sites are open and without any shade.The RV pads are gravel and mostly level. Sites #19, 20, 21 and 22 are pull-thru sites, the rest are back-in.

The sites all come equipped with picnic tables and fire pits. Wood is available by purchasing a permit from the registration office and then you serve yourself.Note: Typically there is a fire ban in effect most of the summer due to the dry prairie conditions so it is unlikely that you would be able to use the fire pit.

There is drinking water and an RV filling station available from late May to September 30.

There is an RV dump station that is easy to access.

Washrooms

The washrooms are vault toilets ONLY. They are outhouses. There is no running water in the bathroom. There are no showers. This is a very primitive bathroom setup. I personally hate vault toilets, however these ones are probably some of the better ones I have seen and the odour was minimal.There are few campground amenities.  A tire horse swing and a couple stick bulls is what passes for a children’s play area.

We had site #22 when we stayed.

Activities at Grasslands East Block

Badlands Parkway

The Badlands Parkway is an 11 km long out and back paved road that meanders along the rim of the Rock Creek Badlands. You can drive the road in your vehicle, you can hike it, or you can bike it. There are stunning views of the geological formations and the scenic skyscape. There are lookout spots with interpretive panels.

Biking:

I chose to bike the Badlands Parkway. To access the parkway from the campground you have to ride up a fairly steep and imposing gravel hill. I chose to drive up and leave my bike on my bike rack until I got to the first lookout spot. There is car parking available.

This is still a challenging ride as it is uphill for most of the 11 km. The ever present Saskatchewan wind at Grasslands adds to the challenge. The return ride is much easier.The Parkway was originally built in 2019 and is well maintained. You will likely find cow poop (and maybe even a cow) on the road. Local farmers have permission for their cattle to graze as part of maintaining a healthy prairie environment . 

There are no amenities such as picnic tables or washrooms along the route.

Hiking:

From Rock Creek Campground in the East Block you can access 4 trails:

Creek to Peak Trail- 1.5 km return

Winds up the hill along a mowed path for a view of the Rock Creek Valley and the Badlands beyond.

Rock Creek Trail -1 km loop

Hike along a mowed path for views of the grasslands and Rock Creek.

Red Buttes Trail- 16km return

View the buttes turned red by oxidized carbonate activity as you navigate through challenging creek bottoms and by cattle fence lines.

Valley of a 1000 Devils- 10 km return

This is the trail the East Block is most known for. You hike through coulees and mixed grass prairie before traversing the basin of Hellfire Creek to access the Badlands.

Note: Plan to hike in the early morning and bring enough water with you to stay hydrated. In the Badlands it can be up to 10 degrees hotter than other areas. Be prepared for extreme heat and sudden weather changes.

Guided Hikes:

The guided hikes and the times that they are offered are listed at the park office. A guided hike is a good choice and can help you gain a deeper understanding of the park. Topics include Grasslands wildlife, Astronomy, and Paleontology. I took the Paleontology hike and it was quite informative. You are hiking amongst the formations and sifting through the remnants of dinosaur bones and the shells of prehistoric sea life.The guides are knowledgable and make the approximately 60 minute hike interesting and educational.

Stargazing

Grasslands National Park is a Dark Sky Preserve. Download a sky gazing chart and sit back on a clear night to see the constellations.

Thing to Know:

1. Access to both blocks of Grasslands National Park is by gravel roads only. These roads may become impassable when wet.
2. Cell service is non-existent in the park except directly outside the Reception Centre (camp office).
3. The climate is hot, dry and windy. Temperatures often reach 40°C during June, July and August.
4. Be prepared for sudden weather changes such as strong winds and electrical storms. Lightening can ignite grass fires. Grass fires can travel quickly. Be prepared to evacuate.
5. The local communities are small and amenities are limited. Fuel up your vehicle when possible. You need to bring everything with you. There are no stores on site or nearby for forgotten items.

IMO:

Grasslands National Park is remote, it is not easy to get to. There are limited amenities- you will need to come self contained. There are no beaches, or boating or flashy attractions and if that is what you are looking for then I would not recommend Grasslands.

However, if you want space and the untouched natural beauty of a land as it has been for centuries. If you don’t mind “roughing it” for the opportunity to enjoy peace and solitude.  If maybe holding a dinosaur bone in your hand, or gazing at a vast sky full of stars on a clear night IS what you are looking for then I would definitely recommend Grasslands National Park as an RV Place to Go!