These are directions to get to the visitor centers where you can get all the information you need. Most people take Highway 4 south from Swift Current. M&M visited in early spring and were blown away by the abundance of spring flowers along the path. The Grasslands National Park has many native plants that are harder to find in other parts of the province.
It will take you roughly an hour to an hour and a half to walk to the top and back. All photography was provided by them as well! Reviews (306) 298-2257.
Grasslands National Park located in the south of Saskatchewn is one of the most unique and interesting geological locations in the province. Be prepared! Created by erosion from glacier meltwater, what has been left behind are stunning vistas, bison herds and the Frenchman River Valley. Depending on how many days you have you can explore both sections of the park but if you only have a weekend I suggest picking one of the two and exploring just that section. Make sure you are carrying adequate water, are carrying a compass (that you know how to use) and pick up maps from the visitor centres. Legal. Currently, it is not well marked but upgrades are coming so in the future it should be easier to find. Map of the East Block of Grasslands National Park; Map of the Frenchman Valley ; Map of the East and West Blocks of Grasslands National Park. Hiking in the Grasslands National Park will be like no other hike in the province. About this site: About Parks Canada.
For front country hiking there are numerous hikes to explore with varying difficulty. The 70 Mile Butte is the highest point in the park, giving you the opportunity to stand on top of the world. (Make sure if you are exploring near dusk to bring a flashlight for the descent). The Grasslands National Park is a Light Preserve, which means that they limit as much artificial light as possible within the park. If you want to star gaze this might be one the best places in Saskatchewan to do so. The East Block is about an hour south of Assiniboia you can find more information at the McGowan House at the Rock Creek Campground. See something cool? Saskatchewan is known for its massive skies, so plan your visit to coincide … Overview of Grassland National Park Grasslands National Park Location. Some areas are off limits to visitors to protect the fragile species, ensure that you respect these rules. From the vantage point there is nothing obstructing your view. Drive for 8.5km then turn south, you will then take your first right (head west) which will take you towards the McGowan Visitor Center. It is recommended to visit either early in the morning or near dusk to see the sunrise/set over the valley. Date modified : 2020-03-12.
Make sure you are carrying adequate water, are carrying a compass (that you know how to use) and pick up maps from the visitor centres. Hiking in the Grasslands National Park will be like no other hike in the province. The best time to visit is in May and June when the grasslands are in full bloom with flowers. Both have similar landscapes but offer different excursions depending on what you would like to visit. Frontcountry and backcountry hikes available. Did you visit here? The visitor centre is located south of where the two highways meet on Highway 4, just off of Centre St. 2) East Block - the visitor centre is located at the McGowan Vistor Center. Stay on park property. There is a parking lot at the trailhead and a bathroom. The national park is roughly 3.5 hours drive from Regina or 4 hours drive from Saskatoon. Menu & Reservations Make Reservations . Let us know! Grasslands National Park is a prairie wilderness environment with few services. Mandate and Charter; Our Minister; Message from the Chief Executive Officer; Seek landowner permission prior to accessing private land. There are also many endangered animals in the park, make sure to follow all park rules on how to interact with these animals. To get there get on Highway 2. There are options for both front country and back country hiking in the park. Please Respect Our Neighbours and their Lands.
The ratings are from easy to difficult but don't be too discouraged. Navigating the park can be a bit of a challenge. The hiking and camping is the park are quite different than other areas as there are not trees for shelter. It is only 2km and offers a shorter excursion if you are looking for it. Use the tabs or the previous and next buttons to change the displayed slide. Those who want to do backcountry are free to explore the park anyway they choose, however remember to respect those areas that are fragile. The prairies of Grasslands National Park form a unique habitat for birds, bison, pronghorns, greater sage-grouses, burrowing owls, coyotes, ferruginous hawks, swift foxes, elk, wolverines, prairie rattlesnakes, black-footed ferrets and greater short-horned lizards. National Grasslands Hot Topics Carousel. Any resonably healthy adult can conquer all these trails. Tell the community about your Saskatchewan hike or outdoor adventure. You need plan accordingly to visit here as in the summer it can get extremely hot and dry. Get directions, reviews and information for Grasslands National Park in Abbey, SK. Recently, the park was explored by M&M from Muenster, SK and here is what they had to say about the 70 Mile Butte Hike. This is the first grid road past the Highway 18 turnoff. Another option is to take the Eagle Butte hike from the same location. Have your own recommendation? … Be careful if it has recently rained as the soil turns very muddy and can make treking difficult. Grasslands National Park is located in southern Saskatchewan, Canada, next to the US border into Montana.
You can find a list of the hikes here. The West Block is about an hour south from Swift Current and the main reception centre is in the town of Val Marie. Once you pass Killdeer drive south for another for 3.5km, you will then turn west (right) on a grid road towards Lonesome Butte. The Grasslands National Park has many native plants that are harder to find in other parts of the province. 1) West Block - the visitor centre is in the Town of Val Marie, that is located where Highway 18 and 4 meet. In Saskatchewan’s Grasslands National Park, hikers will find rugged routes and temperate trails.It's wise to bring a compass and map and—most importantly—know how to use both with ease. Grasslands National Park is open year-round. Grasslands National Park Abbey SK S0N. The Grasslands National Park is split between the West Block and the East Block. Just another excuse to come back! There are two blocks to the park the West Block and the East Block. Order Online Tickets Tickets See Availability Directions {{::location.tagLine.value.text}} Sponsored Topics. This guide covers Grasslands National Park hiking plus an overview of the park. Our carousel is a rotating set of images, rotation stops on keyboard focus on carousel tab controls or hovering the mouse pointer over images.