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Park · Val Marie, Saskatchewan
Killdeer Badlands
Badlands of the East Block of Grasslands National Park, with striped clay hills, buttes and layers where dinosaur fossils have been found.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Killdeer Badlands
The East Block of Grasslands National Park is about a 2-hour drive from the West Block, near Wood Mountain and Killdeer. There, the prairie breaks into badlands — clay and sandstone hills in bands of gray, yellow and pink, carved by erosion.
The exposed layers date from the end of the Cretaceous period, and dinosaur fossils, such as remains of triceratops, have been found there. You can also see the layers from the transition between the Cretaceous and the following period, when the dinosaurs disappeared.
A scenic road, the Badlands Parkway, runs along the edge of the plateau with viewpoints over the badlands, and trails descend into the ravines. The block has few services and receives fewer visitors, with camping and a visitor centre at Rock Creek.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Half a day to a full day.
Best time
From May to September. Avoid the trails after rain: the clay becomes very slippery.
How to get there
Along Highways 18 and gravel roads, about 85 km in a straight line from Val Marie, roughly a 2-hour drive, passing through Mankota.
Tip
Drive the Badlands Parkway late in the afternoon, when the light brings out the colors of the hills.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Killdeer Badlands
Are there dinosaur fossils in Grasslands?
Yes, in the East Block, in the Killdeer badlands.
How far apart are the two blocks of Grasslands National Park?
About a 2-hour drive.
What is the Badlands Parkway?
A scenic road with viewpoints over the East Block badlands.