America’s national grasslands are certainly not as popular as our national parks. But it can work to your advantage when traveling with pets! In fact, national grasslands are the perfect place to explore with your dogs.
![Woman with two dogs overlooking Pawnee National Grassland in Colorado](https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/National-Grasslands.png)
A field of grass, really? What am I supposed to do there? And, more importantly, how will I entertain the dogs? These were my thoughts as I scoured the map for fun stops on our road trip through the Midwest.
I was looking for places that were dog friendly and had room to explore during our impromptu trip. But campgrounds in state and national parks were already full. So I booked a campsite at Pawnee National Grassland. And when we arrived, the dogs and I realized we had stumbled upon a gem!
READ MORE ⇒ Camping With Dogs – Beginner’s Guide
![A pitbull dog in a cozy campsite and enjoying a view of the meadows](https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Camping_With_Dogs_GoPetFriendly_alt3.jpg)
History of the American National Grasslands
The prairies were originally home to indigenous tribes and vast herds of bison, elk, and other wildlife. In the 1860s, European settlers arrived and viewed these vast prairies as prime locations for hunting and farming. Farmers, however, were unaccustomed to managing the arid prairie soils, especially during drought years.
Without native grasses to hold back the thin topsoil, the dry, sandy soil was simply blown away. This sparked the Dust Bowl period of the 1930s, when 20,000-foot-high walls of dust and sand tore through the Midwest.
Eventually, the government stepped in during the Great Depression to buy the land from farmers. This helped financially struggling families and benefited the land as efforts began to restore the original ecosystem.
National grasslands are now managed by the United States Forest Service. And it’s good news for those of us who travel with dogs, because the Forest Service tends to be very animal-friendly! They strive to maintain the natural ecosystem, while making the land accessible to everyone.
READ MORE ⇒ Complete list of pet-friendly national park campgrounds
![](https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/National_Grasslands_1-e1534475330921.jpg)
National Grasslands to Visit with Dogs
There are 20 national grasslands totaling nearly 4 million acres across the United States. Most are located west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains, in an area commonly referred to as “the Great Plains.”
![Map of the United States showing where the Great Plains are located](https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2023-10-23-at-1.00.36-PM.png)
Visit the National Grasslands website for more details on each of the meadows listed below and contact information for the Forest Service ranger district that manages each location.
California — Butte Valley National Grassland – California’s only national grassland, Butte Valley’s 18,425 acres are located in the southern Cascade Range of Northern California.
Colorado- Comanche National Grassland – Located in Baca, Las Animas and Otero counties in southeastern Colorado, the preserve covers more than 440,000 acres.
Colorado — Pawnee National Grassland – Covers 193,060 acres in northern Colorado (35 miles east of Fort Collins).
Idaho — National Curlew Grasslands – Beginning in a broad valley near Snowville, Utah, this 47,000-acre prairie spreads in a checkerboard pattern of public and private lands in northern Idaho.
Kansas — Cimarron National Grassland – Located in Morton and Stevens counties in southwest Kansas, this prairie covers 108,175 acres.
Nebraska — Oglala National Grasslands – Located in northwest Nebraska, north of Crawford, this 94,000-acre preserve is also home to Toadstool Geological Park.
New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas — Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands – Covering 230,000 acres, these grasslands are intermixed with private lands in six counties in New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma.
North Dakota — Little Missouri National Grassland – Located in western North Dakota, Little Missouri is America’s largest national grassland at 1,033,271 acres. Actually, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is entirely encompassed within its borders.
READ MORE ⇒ Tips for Visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park with Pets
![Theodore Roosevelt National Park – Medora, North Dakota](https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/DSC00102.jpg)
North Dakota — Sheyenne National Grassland – The only national grassland in the Tallgrass Prairie Region of the United States, Sheyenne covers 70,180 acres in southeastern North Dakota. It provides habitat for North Dakota’s greater prairie chickens as well as several other sensitive species, such as the Dakota Skipper and Regal Fritillary.
North Dakota and South Dakota — Cedar River And Grand River National Grasslands – Together, these two prairies cover more than 160,000 acres in southwest North Dakota and northwest South Dakota.
Oklahoma and Texas — Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands – Covers more than 31,000 acres in western Oklahoma and the eastern Texas Panhandle.
Oregon — Crooked River National Grassland – Located in a triangle between Madras, Prineville and Terrebonne, Oregon, this 173,629-acre prairie is popular for hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, climbing and OHV riding.
South Dakota — Buffalo Gap National Grassland – This national grassland is divided into two areas in southern South Dakota. One area is in the Black Hills, near Hot Springs. The other is near Badlands National Park.
South Dakota — Fort Pierre National Grassland – Covers 116,000 acres south of Fort Pierre, South Dakota and north of Interstate 90.
Texas — Caddo and Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) National Grasslands are located in two areas, one in the northeast and one in the northwest of Dallas-Fort Worth. They are popular destinations for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, mountain biking, wildlife viewing and photography.
Wyoming — Thunder Basin National Grassland – Includes 547,499 acres in northeastern Wyoming in the Powder River Basin between the Big Horn Mountains and the Black Hills.
READ MORE ⇒ Tips for Planning a Pet-Friendly Road Trip
![Brindle dog sleeping on a map of the United States](https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Myles-with-Map.jpeg)
What to expect
You and your dog can experience these national grasslands through a variety of activities: hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, sightseeing and much more. And keep in mind that these lands are much more than just a field of grass! Many contain rivers, lakes, canyons and badlands.
If you and your dog love to explore, the national grasslands are perfect as a stop to stretch your legs or to spend several days enjoying them.
Cool Whip, Hercules and I explored two prairies in particular: Pawnee and Buffalo Gap. We camped and hiked along the buttes and badlands, and relaxed with some of the best sunsets and sunrises we’ve seen in a long time.
READ MORE ⇒ The Ultimate Pet-Friendly American Road Trip
![Woman with two dogs overlooking Pawnee National Grassland in Colorado](https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/National_Grasslands_3-e1534475611389.jpg)
Pawnee National Grassland – Colorado
Leaving the sidewalk onto a few long dirt roads, driving into Pawnee National Grassland feels like you’re heading into the middle of nowhere. After passing the cattle guards (and possibly waiting for a herd of cows to pass by), follow the signs to Pawnee Buttes Trailhead. At the top of a hill, the hillocks that rise out of this otherwise fluid landscape suddenly appear. It’s almost a surprise, even when you’re expecting them.
![White dog on a pet-friendly trail in the Pawnee National Grassland](https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/National_Grasslands_2-e1534475522396.jpg)
At the trailhead you will find restrooms, picnic tables, and a sign with general information about the trail and landscape. Take your dog on a relatively easy 4-mile round-trip hike to see Pawnee Buttes up close. Or, for a shorter hike, simply walk to the viewpoint, which is about a mile round trip.
If you plan to stay overnight, there are several spots along the way at the trailhead suitable for dispersed camping. Or opt for camping. It is about 45 minutes from the Crow Valley Recreation Area on the eastern side of the preserve.
![](https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/National_Grasslands_4-e1534475668931.jpg)
![A cow with a tent in the background in the national grassland](https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/National_Grasslands_7-e1534475759435.jpg)
Buffalo Gap National Grassland – South Dakota
Buffalo Gap National Grassland crosses the southwest corner of South Dakota in an elongated S shape. The northern portion surrounds Badlands National Park and is just minutes from the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall, South Dakota.
Be sure to stop at the visitor center before heading out to the meadows. They can provide you with maps and suggestions to get the most out of your visit.
It’s also a great place to camp if you’re visiting Badlands National Park but want more freedom for your dog. The views combined with the peace and quiet make this an exceptional campsite.
![](https://www.gopetfriendly.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/National_Grasslands_5-e1534475703586.jpg)
National grasslands are wonderful places to visit with your dogs, especially when you follow the rules and keep your dog under control at all times. It’s not just about the safety of other visitors and local wildlife, but also that of you and your dog.
Tall grass can hide cliffs and small cacti that you don’t want to fall on. Additionally, some areas of the grasslands are used for livestock grazing, so you never know when you’ll wake up to find a cow has stopped by for morning coffee.
Keep an eye on your four-legged friends and enjoy your visit!
The post office Exploring America’s National Grasslands with Dogs appeared first on GoPetFriendly.com.