Park maps

This map shows the entire area of the West Block of Grasslands National Park indicated by a dark green line. There is a faint topography layer in the background. The Frenchman River winds from the top left to the bottom right of the map. In the top right there is a legend and a North arrow pointing up. In the bottom left there is a scale above a small “Locator Map” which shows a broader view of the access roads and surrounding area for both the West and East Block than this map focusses on. At the top left of the main map we see the Village of Val Marie and an icon indicating this is the location of the Park Visitor Centre. Highway 4 goes North from there and Highway 18 goes straight South and East from Val Marie. 5 kms South of Val Marie we see a gravel road named 70 Mile. It travels 5 kms East to hit the edge of the Park Boundary. Here we see two short trail loops called Eagle Butte and 70 Mile Butte. There is also a vault toilet icon at this location. If we go back to Highway 18/4 South and continue south there is another gravel road called Rosefield Grid. This gravel road travels along the west and south end of the core of “Front Country” area of the West Block and meets up with the southern end of Ecotour Scenic Drive. At the north end just off Highway 18 there is an access point that heads East into the Park called Two Trees. Here we find another couple short trails Two Trees and Riverwalk and another vault toilet location. About midway along the Rosefield grid south of the park there is a third access point called Three Sisters. Here is a short trail by the same name. There are also a few private residences along this gravel road as it is all located outside of the Park Boundary. Starting back at the Village of Val Marie if we head East on Highway 18 about 16 kms we see a gravel road that heads straight South while Highway 18 turns North. This gravel road is the main access point for the West Block and the Ecotour Scenic Drive. 5kms South we reach the Park Boundary and enter the West Block. This is now highlighted in purple on the map indicating we are along the Ecotour Scenic Drive for the next 20 kms within the “Front Country” of the West Block. The 1st stop along Ecotour Scenic Drive is indicated at the gate entrance on the West side. Farther south 1 km or so we see Stop 2 on the West side of the road. There is also a short trail loop called Top Dogtown Trail here. Stop #3 is indicated another km south on the East side. At this location we have two trailheads. Timbergulch Trail heads East in a 15 km loop. Bearpaw Sea Trail heads West in roughly a straight line and is 10 kms one way or 20 kms there and back. It connects up with 70 Mile Butte Trail at it’s far West end. Another 1km of driving south along Ecotour Scenic Drive we will find Stop #4 on the East side of the road. This is the last stop along the upland area. After this stop there is a big hill that drops us down into the Valley Bottom. Roughly another 4 kms of driving south through the Valley we reach Stop #5 on the West side of the Ecotour Scenic Drive. After this the gravel road starting to turn SE and in about 1.5 kms you cross a bridge over the Frenchman River. There is a small steep hill to get up and then you will turn East and see the Belza Day Use Site. There is a vault toilet here and some picnic tables with a view of the Valley. This is also the location of the Equestrian Campground. Leaving from this site there is a 15 km loop trail called Broken Hills that heads out to the West. The gravel road turns south for roughly 1 km. There is an “Authorized Vehicles Only” road that continues south but Ecotour Drive turns East for 1 km then north again and in less than a km you reach the Frenchman Valley Campground on the West side of the road. The road continues North before veering East again. Roughly 1 km from the campground we find Ecotour Stop# 6 and a short hiking loop called Larson Trail. Ecotour Scenic Drive turns south again from here and within 2 km you reach Stop #7 on the East side of the road. Roughly 4 kms after that you reach the end of Ecotour Scenic Drive, the edge of the Bison Fence and begin leaving the “Front Country” area of the West Block. After this part you are on drive through only road areas where stopping, hiking and camping are not permitted. Shortly after we reach a Y where the Rosefield Grid heads to the West leaving Park lands and the Back Country Loop indicated in brown to show it is a dirt road begins to head South East. In roughly 6 kms the Back Country Loop meets a Y that begins the ‘loop’ portion of the road. It is recommended to do the loop starting to the North and looping back around to the south at the end. When you head North you will be exiting park owned lands in about 8kms. The road continues and starts to head East. You are driving through non park land and will pass by a private residence. Once you see signage that turns you south you enter back into Park owned lands. This area is referred to as Otter Basin and you may hike and camp in this area. Roughly 9 kms south you will reach the trail head for the Otter Basin Route. This is an unmarked hiking route that is 15 kms and heads West in a loop. Continuing south of the Back Country Loop dirt road in about 2 kms you will exit the area that hiking and camping is permitted and again enter a drive through only section of the Park. About 6 kms south you’ll reach the Borderlands Lookout Viewpoint. Hiking and camping are permitted in this area. After this the dirt road turns back to the West and in a couple kms you’ll find the Molestead Back Country Launch. After this point the road again enters a ‘drive through only’ area. You will pass by two private residences along more than 15 kms before arriving back at the Y at which the Back Country Loop began. You can follow this road back North West, along the Ecotour Scenic Drive and back to Highway 18 north of the West Block.

This map shows the entire area of the East Block of Grasslands National Park indicated by a dark green line. There is a faint topography layer in the background. In the top left there is a small “Locator Map” which shows a broader view of the access roads and surrounding area for both the West and East Block than this map focusses on. In the top middle there is a legend and below it a scale. On the right hand side we see Highway 18 indicated in red starting from the top of the page and heading south in a relatively straight line. Mid page we see a gravel road head West from there labelled as “Park access”. The highway 18 turns East slightly south of that point and meets up with Highway 2 that heads straight south to the USA border Port of West Poplar crossing. Highway 18 continues East. Back at the Park Access gravel road, about 7kms West from Highway 18 you hit a 4 way stop and turn south along another gravel road for about 7kms again. You’ll then turn West and reach the edge of the Park Boundary in about 2 kms. The gravel road turns North West and shortly after entering the park you will encounter a paved road that heads south called the Badlands Parkway. It is an 11 km paved road that meanders south and west along the rim of the valley overlooking the Badlands features of Rock Creek. If you continue on the gravel road you will reach the Rock Creek Campground. Here there is a reception office and equestrian campground as well. This is also the hub for a variety of trails. The short Creek to Peak Trail starts at the Campground and heads South East up to the Badlands Parkway. Rock Creek Trail is a short loop on the West side of Rock Creek which runs North to South West through the Park lands. On the North West side of Rock Creek Loop Trail we see the start of the Valley of 1000 Devils Trail which heads South West in a lollipop shape into the Badlands area. The Red Buttes Route heads North West from Rock Creek Trail through a 4 corner gate. The Park owned lands in the East Block are in small chunks with private land dispersed in between. We see most of the land to the West of this area is all accessed by “authorized vehicles only” dirt trails. There is no public access to these areas in the West and North parts of the map.