Grasslands National Park – Saskatchewan – Out and About

Grasslands National Park is divided into 2 sections, the West Block and the East Block. They are separated by a distance of about 100 miles.  The West Block is centered about the Frenchman River Valley and the East Block is centered on the Kildeer Badlands. We only visited the West Block.

Val Marie

Val Marie is just across the US/Canadian border in southwest Saskatchewan and is the closest town to the West Block of Grasslands National Park. With a population of only about 100 people it has its small town charm and quaintness along with a few services as needed by the visiting tourists.

Welcome to Val Marie

The Grasslands National Park Visitor’s Center is in town

The Convent Country Inn – a local bed and breakfast

Palais Royale Movie Theatre with HD projection – movie every Saturday night

The Post Office

The rink – Val Marie is the birthplace of Bryan Trottier – professional hockey player

Val Maire Hotel

Grace United Church

Prairie Wind and Silver Sage – old schoolhouse – now an ecomuseum – gift shop, art exhibits, and cafe

The town even has a small campground which is quite cute and pleasant.

Entrance to campground

Campground sites

Road in campground

The town has a self serve gas station and a few old grain elevators which can be toured.

The Val Marie gas station – self serve

The old grain elevator

Down by the grain elevator

The old fire truck

Broken Hills Trail

The Broken Hills Trail starts within about a 1/2 mile walk from the campground and is an 11 kilometer loop which takes you on an upward ascent to the Red Chairs and back down again.  The hike has wonderful vista views and plenty of opportunity to take in the surrounding scenery.  These are 2 red Adirondack chairs which Parks Canada has placed throughout its national parks to encourage people to find them and photograph them and share their experiences on social media with #sharethechairs.  Our goal was to hike to the Red Chairs!

Badgers at the trailhead

Broken Hills trailhead

Heading off through the prairies

Peak in the distance is our goal – red chairs should be there

Heading towards our goal – the red chairs

Tipi ring found along the way

No red chairs – just a selfie

Red chairs…red chairs…where are the red chairs

We keep looking for red chairs – maybe in the distance

At the top of the hill

We made it…but no red chairs

Uh oh…red chairs found

Off the edge of the cliff – they must have blown off #brokenredchairs

Let’s just enjoy the view

Heading down the hill – yay

The views go on and on

Back Country Loop

There are 2 recommended auto routes in the West Block of Grasslands National Park. The first one we went on was the Back Country Loop which is about a 50 mile journey through the back (eastern most) area of the West Block of Grasslands National Park and out into private ranch land. The drive takes you past the Larson Dog Town which is home to the only existing black tailed prairie dogs in Canada.   The drive continues to the Borderlands Lookout view point to the Red Chairs (yes, more of them) where you have a view into Montana. We found the red chairs but there was only one of them!! The search will continue!

Roping a calf

A viewing area

Cattle in the road

Pronghorn bound across the road and into the field

The Red Chairs at the Borderlands Viewpoint

The Borderlands view point – looking into Montana

Lisa on her red chair

Norm on his red chair

The Borderlands – Saskatchewan and Montana

EcoTour Loop

The other tour is on the west side of the park and is about a 50 mile loop taking you through the grasslands and into bison country.

One of the view points with an interpretive sign

Bison are only allowed to go 60 km/h…wink, wink

Old buildings near 70 Mile Butte

70 Mile Butte on a cloudy day

Heading in to 70 Mile Butte

70 Mile Butte trailhead

Surrounding prairie vistas

Prairie Dogs

The black tailed prairie dogs live in Grasslands National Park and their dog town has the prairie dogs everywhere.

Prairie dog town

Peaking out of his hole

At attention

Coyote searching for dinner

On the prowl

Plains Bison

The Plains Bison were reintroduced to Grasslands National Park in 2005 after a 120 year absence. They came from Elk Island National Park in Alberta and are very prevalent around the park. As we entered the park from the north they were all around. You can’t miss them.

Tongue out

Marching through the prairies

At the watering hole

Loner

Walking in pairs

Herd moving towards the watering hole

Hanging at the parking area

Heading towards our rig