In the Land of the Dinosaurs: Badlands & Valley of 1,000 Devils hike in Grasslands National Park
In the east block of Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan, I get incredibly close to long-extinct dinosaurs, hike through the Valley of 1000 Devils , and drive through the infamous Badlands at sunset. The journey continues at night – with a view of the clearest Milky Way stretching across the sky.
Here you will find my tips and GPS data for one of the most famous hikes in this Canadian national park.
The Dinosaurs' Nightmare
On the guided tour “70 Million Years in 60 Minutes”, I embark on a journey through time with Parks Canada ranger Jeneva Allingham.
“Imagine,” she says, “this used to be a steaming, swampy forest.”
Herds of herbivorous dinosaurs roamed the land, pursued by predators like the Tyrannosaurus with its massive skull full of jagged teeth.
For over 150 million years, these animals dominated the Earth before their demise came about 66 million years ago. A bolide—an asteroid, comet, or other celestial body—struck Earth, triggering a mass extinction. Approximately two-thirds of all plants and animals disappeared, including the dinosaurs. After the collision, material hurled into the atmosphere by the impact rained down. What remained was a thin layer of white clay, the so-called K-Pg boundary (Cretaceous–Paleogene). It contains iridium from space —an indication that the catastrophe was of extraterrestrial origin.
In Grasslands National Park, this layer lies partly directly at the surface. Therefore, the region is one of the few places in the world where fossils and Earth's history are so directly visible.
Here you can find out what to expect from the West Block of the Grassland National Park.
Click on the first image to start the photo gallery:
For millions of years, the clay, which looks like popcorn, had concealed the dinosaur skeletons. On a guided tour with Parks Canada, visitors take a great journey through time. Dinosaurs lived here 66 million years ago.
Valley of 1000 Devils
The "Valley of 1000 Devils" hike looks like a scene from "Jurassic Park." Pointed, sometimes reddish-hued clay hills stretch across the landscape. It was here that Canada's first dinosaur fossils were discovered in 1874.
The heat is trapped between the hills. Not a breath of wind stirs as I walk through Hellfire Creek. Intimidating names for a landscape that is exactly that.
Key Facts about the hike
♡ Factor: ♡♡♡♡♡
Length: 12 km
Duration: 4 hours
Elevation gain/loss : 122 meters
Difficulty: medium
Highlight: the coolly shaped, colorful hills and the solitude.
👉 You can find the GPS data for the hike on Outdooractive .
Equipment: sturdy footwear, sun protection, sufficient water
Safety : There's hardly any breeze between the hills and it can get very hot. Rattlesnakes are present in the area – wear ankle-high shoes.
The region is considered one of the so-called Badlands – difficult terrain for travel and habitation. Extreme temperature fluctuations and erosion have shaped this rugged landscape. At the same time, thousands of stone circles, hearths, and pottery fragments show that indigenous communities lived here as early as 3,000 years ago and were able to cope with these conditions.
Badland Parkway in the evening light
During the drive along the approximately eleven-kilometer-long panoramic road "Badland Parkway," the landscape softens.
The light of the setting sun bathes the rocks and valleys in a warm orange glow. Above, a sky stretches seemingly endlessly. A scene that inspires stillness.
I'm glad I don't have to grow any grain here, but can just look around.
Click on the first image to start the photo gallery:
Inhale – exhale… … the views across the hills of the Badland in the Eastern Bloc are simply breathtaking. A visit is especially worthwhile at sunset.
Starry Night in the Dark Sky Preserve
When I return to my oTentik tent in the dark, it is situated under the Milky Way.
A silvery streak stretches across the sky.
There is hardly anywhere in Canada with less light pollution than here. The east block of Grasslands National Park is protected as a Dark Sky Preserve.
The stars are densely packed in the sky, undisturbed, without any stray light. In the distance, I hear a coyote howling. Then a shooting star. Not a destructive bolide like 66 million years ago, but a brief streak of light that disappears before you can really grasp it.
I sit in front of the tent and look up. And I think about how close everything is here: Earth's history, time, silence.
Info
General information about accommodations and activities can be found on the Tourism Saskatchewan website .
Grasslands National Park has two main entrances : the more easily accessible West Block and the East Block, which is reached by adventurers via a gravel road . The two blocks are not connected by road and each offers unique landscapes and experiences.
The visitor centre in the West Block in Val Marie and in the East Block at Rock Creek Campground is open from 9am to 5pm between May and October.
Arrival
Grasslands National Park is located approximately 350 kilometers west of the provincial capital Regina and 650 kilometers east of Calgary. The drive from Calgary to the western part of the park takes about eight hours.
IMPORTANT!
There are no gas stations, grocery stores, or car repair shops in the park. Therefore, it is essential to fill up your tank and stock up on sufficient food supplies, especially before visiting the East Block.
Sleep
The Rock Creek Campground in the eastern part of the block has eight otentik tents and 24 tent or campsite sites with electricity.
Both campsites have drinking water, but no showers.
Best time to travel
Although the park is accessible all year round, the best time to visit is between May and October when the two campsites are open.
equipment
Travelers should bring binoculars, a sun hat, refillable water bottles with a capacity of at least 3 liters, and a headlamp with red light for stargazing.
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