While I’m not sure what my expectations were for Saskatchewan’s Grasslands National Park, I never thought we would be digging up 66 million year old dinosaur bones.
But there we were, in the middle of the Badlands, brushing dirt away to reveal more and more of a triceratops’ femur.
I was living my Jurassic Park dream — and it’s more accessible (and affordable!) than you may think. We were on a tour operated by Parks Canada, part of the Fossil Fever event held in Grasslands National Park every August.
The price? Just over $100. For dinosaur fans (or anyone with a passing interest), this is absolutely bucket list worthy. It’s one of the most memorable tours I’ve ever been on.
In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know about Fossil Fever, the tour experience and more about Grasslands National Park. Let’s dig in! [Sorry – I couldn’t resist]
We visited Grasslands National Park in partnership with Tourism Saskatchewan.
There are some affiliate links in this post. If you make a purchase/booking via one of these links, we may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.
Fossil Fever at Grasslands National Park
Grasslands National Park is located in southern Saskatchewan and is one of the richest fossil sites on the continent. It also protects the endangered mixed-grass prairie ecosystem – think wide open spaces and rolling hills.
The park is separated into two sections – the West Block and the East Block. 66 million years ago, this area was a coastal forest with a warm, wet climate. Huge dinosaurs (including the T-rex) roamed the land.
Fast forward to today and the park’s East Block features dramatic badlands landscape with steep ravines and hoodoos. The first recorded find of dinosaur remains in Western Canada was recorded in the East Block Badlands in 1874.
Since then, many other prehistoric discoveries had been made as rock erosion continues.
Every August, Parks Canada runs a five day Fossil Fever event in the East Block, a celebration of this fossil hotspot. The highlight of the event is the daily dig tour, which includes a ‘hands on’ experience with paleontologists from the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.
And when they say ‘hands on,’ they mean it! We really did have the chance to dig for fossils ourselves. We originally thought we may spend the day watching the paleontologists – this is not that kind of tour at all! I’ve never been more happy to be wrong.
The Fossil Fever tour experience
Our Fossil Fever tour began at 9am at the Rock Creek Campground Reception in the East Block. We were introduced to our Parks Canada guide and provided an overview of the day ahead.
The drive to the dig site was around an hour or so in a small van. We first followed established dirt roads before travelling on rougher routes.
Fields of tall grasses soon transitioned to the Badlands scenery that the East Block is so well known for – waves of eroded rock, flat topped buttes, steep slopes and gullies.
The dig site
After arriving at our parking area, we then hiked 20 minutes into the dig site itself. The location is not signed or shared publicly to avoid vandalism and theft (I’ve limited the number of photos in this post for this reason).
The hike is not difficult but since it isn’t an official trail (and certainly is not well used), it has some uneven areas and sections with loose rock and sand. I certainly could not have navigated it myself!
At the dig site, we met the team of paleontologists and they explained their work, the history of the area and the type of fossils we may be able to find (and where). A short tour of the surrounding area was offered to see some partially exposed fossils.
And then it was time to look ourselves! We could dig in the existing pit with the paleontologists or look around the wider site for bones and shells.
While JR and I decided to stay in the pit area, some of our group went elsewhere to explore. Their finds included million year old fish scales, turtle shell and crocodile bone. Other members in the group helped the paleontologists make casts of already found bones.
After brushing close to the existing exposed bones and finding some smaller fragments, JR uncovered a large new find. We worked to reveal it together and the largest fossil was identified as probably being the femur of a triceratops (amazing!)
The Cretaceous-Paleogene (K–Pg) extinction line
After a couple of hours at the dig, we broke for lunch. Parks Canada provides all Fossil Fever tour participants with a packed lunch – ours included a sandwich, some chips, fruit and a drink.
Afterwards, some of the paleontologists led a short hike to see more partially exposed dinosaur bones and an exposed section of rock that displays the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K–Pg) boundary line.
The 66 million year old K-pg line marks the mass extinction event that wiped out 76% of species on Earth, including all non-avian dinosaurs. It was jaw dropping to see this – I had no idea there was such a visible physical marker of this impactful event.
Back at the dig, JR and I continued to uncover more of the triceratops femur. After an hour or so, enough was exposed to make a cast. The paleontologists advised us that it would be transported to the university, along with the others found at the dig.
Not long afterwards, it was time for the tour to wrap up. It was sad to leave such an extraordinary place but we felt we had done so much.
Dinosaur bones aside, it was so special to explore such a remote area of the park. No signs of human civilisation could be seen from the dig site – it was just our small group, the stark Badlands landscape and millions and millions of years of history.
Need to know information
- In 2025, the Fossil Fever event runs from 12th to 16th August.
- Due to a limited number of places, registration for the Fossil Fever tour is required. Our tour, for example, was seven people total.
- Registration usually opens at the end of January – call 1-877-345-2257 to book a spot. We were able to join a tour with only two days notice but we were very lucky!
- Minimum age is 6 years old
- In 2025, the price of the tour was $109/per person
- Plan for a reasonably long day – our tour ran from 9am to 4.45pm.
- Participants must be reasonably mobile due to the 20 minute access hike
- There are no facilities in the dig area
- A packed lunch is provided – please let Parks Canada know in advance if you have any dietary needs. If you have complex requirements, consider bringing your own
- There is no shade in the dig site area. Bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. Wearing long sleeves can provide extra protection against the sun (and dirt).
- Knee pads were available to borrow – consider bringing your own if you have them.
- Please do not share the dig site location after your tour. Fossils have unfortunately been stolen from Grasslands National Park before. It is illegal to remove fossils from national parks.
Other things to do in Grasslands NP
I’d recommend spending at least one more day in the East Block of Grasslands National Park and then an additional day in the West Block too. The drive between the blocks takes around two hours, so keep that in mind when planning your trip.
In the East Block, the Badlands Parkway is a must visit. This 11km paved road provides panoramic views of steep ravines and canyons with a backdrop of rolling hills.
There are six viewpoints located along the route. Look out for wildlife too – we spotted a pronghorn antelope grazing by the side of the road.
The Ecotour Senic Drive stretches 20km through the West Block, showcasing the sweeping prairie scenery. Free roaming bison can often be seen from the road. We also saw badgers, rattlesnake, coyote and hundreds of super cute prairie dogs.
There are eight sightseeing stops on the route, some leading to hiking trails and historical sites.
Thinking of hiking, there are 13 designated hiking trails in the park. Most are located in the West Block and range from easy flat paths (3km or less) to challenging all day adventures (11-17km).
My favourite trails included the Top Downtown Trail, the Two Trees Trail (both West Block) and the Rock Creek Trail (East Block). All are short (4km or less).
For more tips and suggestions for things to do in Grasslands National Park, head to our dedicated guide.
Where to stay in Grasslands National Park
If you like camping, you’ll love staying overnight in Grasslands National Park. There is one frontcountry (vehicle accessible) campground in the East Block area – Rock Creek Campground.
Surrounded by rolling hills, this 24 site campground is located on a slight rise. I loved the wide open views! There are no trees so I’d recommend bringing a shelter or tarp for shade. We found the spacing of the sites to be pretty good in terms of privacy.
All of the campsites are suitable for RVs, vans and tents and have a fire pit, picnic table and electricity. There are outhouses only – no showers or flush toilets.
Potable water is available but RV campers should fill up their water tanks in advance as only jugs should be used.
As well as the sites, there are 8 oTENTiks. A blend of a tent and A frame cabin, oTENTiks sleep up to six people. Bring your own bedding!
Reservations for both campsites and oTENTiks open in January each year. Book via the Parks Canada website.
Not into camping? One of the nearest places to stay is the Rockglen Motel (45 minutes drive). There are more options in Assiniboia, including the Canalta Hotel. That is about 1 hour 15 minutes from the Rock Creek Campground Reception where the Fossil Fever tour starts.
Other posts you may enjoy:
Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan: What to Do & Why You Need to Go
Burgess Shale Fossil Hunting in Walcott Quarry, Yoho National Park
15+ Fun Things to Do in Calgary For Adults
Quetico Provincial Park, Ontario: Complete Canoe Paddling Guid
Highway 17 Road Trip: 10 of the Best Ontario Parks
Lake O’Hara Hiking and Camping Guide, Yoho National Park
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One half of the Canadian/British couple behind Off Track Travel, Gemma is happiest when hiking on the trail or planning the next big travel adventure. JR and Gemma are currently based in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada. Consider buying us a coffee if you have find any of our guides helpful!