The best camping near Grasslands National Park

Grasslands National Park showcases the diverse beauty of the Saskatchewan prairies while offering both easy frontcountry camping experiences perfect for families and remote backcountry camping. The park is one of the few spots in Canada where you can see plains bison roam, and there is an abundance of other wildlife (including the comical black-tailed prairie dog and burrowing owls). Kayak or canoe the Frenchman River, try equestrian camping, learn about First Nations history, or gaze at the night sky at this designated Dark Sky Preserve.

• Best for solitude: East Block Backcountry Camping puts you in remote locales.
• Best for RVs: Ross Creek Campground has pretty sites and hookups.
• Best for classic park views: Watch sunsets over the river at Frenchman Valley Campground.

1. Park campsites are only open from May to October.
2. For frontcountry camping and especially for tipi and oTENTik stays, book as far in advance as possible, preferably when the Parks Canada online booking system opens in mid-January. However, this isn’t one of Canada’s most popular parks, so you may still snag a spot later in the year or on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. For backcountry campers, there are no designated spots—you just set up camp out of view of roads and trails. This means there’s less urgency in booking and you can simply register and pay at the visitor centre upon arrival.

Grasslands National Park is stunning and open year-round, but comfort-wise, the best time to visit is in early summer or early fall, when it isn’t baking hot with little shade on the prairie. Early summer is when the prairies are in bloom, and fall hiking is especially pleasant.

• Bring supplies into the park, as options for buying groceries etc are very limited. The town of Val Marie by the West Block of Grasslands National Park entrance has a grocery store, a couple of restaurants, and a bookstore cafe. 
• Stay vigilant for rattlesnakes on the many hiking trails throughout the park, and leave your headphones off so that you can heed that warning rattle!
• You probably won’t even get cell reception in many areas of Grasslands. Be sure to pick up maps, and follow Parks Canada rules as regards to hiking and interacting with wildlife in the park. GPS can be rented at visitor centres.