Welcome to Prairie Wind & Silver Sage — Friends of Grasslands, located in Val Marie, Saskatchewan. Val Marie is a village of about 120 people located a few kilometers from the Canada/U.S. border in southwest Saskatchewan. It is the gateway to Grasslands National Park.
The Park Visitor Centre is located on Highway 4 at Centre Street.
The village offers comfortable accommodations, good food, a friendly grocery store with many specialty items including a wine/beer/spirits vendor, a delightful summer season ecomuseum with an espresso bar, gift shop — including one of Saskatchewan’s last independent bookstores — and an art gallery.
For information on Val Marie and area:
GETTING TO VAL MARIE
Val Marie is located in the southernmost part of the province of Saskatchewan, 120 km off the Trans-Canada Highway, straight south of Swift Current, and is the gateway to Grasslands National Park. To get here, it is best to drive.
Driving From the US
The nearest border crossing to Val Marie is the Port of Monchy – Morgan, Montana, approximately 30 km south of Val Marie on Highway 4. Hours vary with the season. More information is available from the Canada Border Services Agency here.
Driving from Regina
Leave Regina going west on Trans-Canada highway 1 until you reach Swift Current, about 2 hours 20 minutes driving time.
Just east of Swift Current, follow signs for Cadillac/Val Marie/Grasslands National Park, onto Saskatchewan Highway 4 south. Driving time from Swift Current to Val Marie is 1hour 20 minutes.
On the way from Regina, you will travel through varied and often quite beautiful prairie landscape, passing two international bird sanctuaries. Between Cadillac and Val Marie you will cross a continental divide that separates the Saskatchewan and Missouri River systems, and you will marvel at the space and the beauty of the landscape. The highways are rarely busy.
Driving from Saskatoon
Leave Saskatoon going west on Saskatchewan Highway 7 until you reach Rosetown, about 1 hour 15 minutes driving time. Just after Rosetown, turn south onto Saskatchewan Highway 4.
At Swift Current, follow signs for Highway 4 south to Cadillac/Val Marie/Grasslands National Park, continuing on Highway 4 south. Driving time from Rosetown to Val Marie is 3 hours.
On the way from Saskatoon you will travel through open expanses of farmland. Between Cadillac and Val Marie you will cross a continental divide that separates the Saskatchewan and Missouri River systems, and you will marvel at the space and the beauty of the landscape. Highway 7 can be more heavily trafficked; Highway 4 is rarely busy.