Unveiling the Darkest Skies in Canada: Discovering the Wonders of Grasslands National Park

Strategic Insights -

Set amidst the rolling hills and endless plains of southwest Saskatchewan, Grasslands National Park is a remote and awe-inspiring destination that has been designated a Dark-Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. With its nearly zero light pollution and unrestricted views of the night sky, this 730-square-kilometer park offers an unparalleled stargazing experience that will leave visitors feeling both trivial and inextricably connected to the universe.

Key Takeaways:

  • Grasslands National Park is considered the darkest Dark-Sky Preserve in Canada, with a light pollution score of 1 on the Bortle scale.
  • The park restricts light use and ensures that any necessary lights cast reddish hues in a downward direction to avoid disrupting nocturnal wildlife.
  • The park is home to over 30 at-risk species of flora and fauna, including the endangered mixed-grass ecosystem, which is Canada's most threatened and least protected ecosystem.
  • Bison graze the blue grama grasses, while prairie rattlesnakes, northern scorpions, and other unique wildlife call the park home.
  • The park's rich Indigenous history is evident through thousands of undisturbed pre-contact sites, artifacts, and over 20,000 tipi rings.
  • Travelers can explore the park's diverse landscapes by day, including the prairie grasslands and the rugged hoodoos and badlands.
  • By evening, elevated areas offer breathtaking views of the night sky, with the Milky Way stretching across the horizon.
  • Visitors can spot constellations, meteor showers, the aurora borealis, and even colourful airglow with the naked eye.
  • The park is a beginner-friendly destination for stargazing, with opportunities to observe deep-sky objects listed in the Messier Catalogue.

Statistics:

  • 730 square kilometers: the area of Grasslands National Park
  • 1: the light pollution score of the park on the Bortle scale
  • 30: the number of at-risk species of flora and fauna in the park
  • 400-500: the estimated number of bison in the park
  • 20,000: the number of tipi rings in the park
  • 10,000 years: the age of the park's first inhabitants, the A'aninin
  • 2009: the year the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada designated Grasslands a Dark-Sky Preserve

Sources:

  • Jenn Smith Nelson, travel writer, Saskatchewan-based
  • Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
  • Canadian Space Agency
  • Nicholas Ypelaar, interpretation co-ordinator at Grasslands National Park
  • Tourism Saskatchewan