National Parks are super famous, but that’s not always the best for a dog-friendly trip! National Grasslands are actually hidden gems for exploring with your furry friend.
At first, I wasn’t sure what to do in a giant field of grass. How fun is that, right? Plus, keeping the dogs entertained seemed like a challenge. This was when I was planning a road trip through the Midwest and looking for places to stop along the way.
I wanted to find dog-friendly spots with lots of room to roam, but all the national and state park campgrounds were booked up. So, I took a chance and booked a campsite at Pawnee National Grassland. Let me tell you, it turned out to be amazing for both me and the dogs!
History Of America’s National Grasslands
The grasslands used to be home to native tribes and many animals like bison and elk. Then, in the 1860s, European settlers arrived and started hunting and farming there. However, farming was tough because the soil was dry and sandy, especially during droughts. Without the native grasses, the soil blew away, causing a big problem known as the Dust Bowl in the 1930s.
During the Great Depression, the government bought land from the farmers to help them out. This also helped the land because efforts began to bring back the original plants and animals.
The national grasslands are now managed by the United States Forest Service. The service does a good job of protecting the land and letting people and their pets enjoy it.
National Grasslands To Visit With Dogs
There are 20 national grasslands in the United States, covering about 4 million acres of land. They’re mostly found west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains, in a region called “The Great Plains.”
California — Butte Valley National Grassland – This grassland is in the southern Cascade Range in northern California. It covers 18,425 acres.
Colorado—Comanche National Grassland—This grassland spans over 440,000 acres in Baca, Las Animas, and Otero counties in southeastern Colorado.
Colorado — Pawnee National Grassland – This grassland is in northern Colorado, about 35 miles east of Fort Collins. It covers 193,060 acres.
Idaho — Curlew National Grasslands – This grassland starts in a wide valley near Snowville, Utah, and spreads across 47,000 acres in a checkerboard pattern of public and private land north into Idaho.
Kansas—Cimarron National Grassland—This grassland is in southwestern Kansas and covers 108,175 acres within Morton and Stevens Counties.
Nebraska — Oglala National Grasslands – Located north of Crawford in northwestern Nebraska, this preserve spans 94,000 acres and includes Toadstool Geologic Park.
New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas—Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands—These grasslands cover 230,000 acres and are spread across six counties in New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. They include both public and private land.
North Dakota — Little Missouri National Grassland – This grassland in western North Dakota is the largest in the United States, spanning 1,033,271 acres. It includes Theodore Roosevelt National Park within its borders.
North Dakota—Sheyenne National Grassland—This grassland covers 70,180 acres in southeastern North Dakota and is the only national grassland in the tallgrass prairie region of the United States. Sheyenne provides habitat for various species, such as greater prairie chickens, Dakota skipper, and Regal Fritillary.
North Dakota & South Dakota — Cedar River and Grand River National Grasslands – These two grasslands together span over 160,000 acres in southwestern North Dakota and northwestern South Dakota.
Oklahoma & Texas — Black Kettle and McClellan Creek National Grasslands – These grasslands cover more than 31,000 acres in western Oklahoma and the eastern part of the Texas panhandle.
Oregon—Crooked River National Grassland—Located in Oregon between Madras, Prineville, and Terrebonne, this 173,629-acre grassland is a popular spot for various outdoor activities, such as hunting, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, and off-highway vehicle (OHV) riding.
South Dakota—Buffalo Gap National Grassland is divided into two areas in southern South Dakota, one near the Black Hills and the other near Badlands National Park.
South Dakota — Fort Pierre National Grassland – This grassland extends over 116,000 acres south of Fort Pierre, South Dakota, and north of Interstate 90.
Texas — Caddo and Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) National Grasslands – These grasslands are in two areas, one to the northeast and one to the northwest of Dallas-Fort Worth. They are popular for activities like hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and photography.
Wyoming — Thunder Basin National Grassland – This grassland covers 547,499 acres in northeastern Wyoming, located in the Powder River Basin between the Big Horn Mountains and the Black Hills.
You and your dog can enjoy many activities in these national grasslands, such as hiking, biking, camping, fishing, and sightseeing. Remember, these places aren’t just open fields! Many have rivers, lakes, canyons, and badlands.
If you and your dog love to explore, these grasslands are great for a quick stop to stretch your legs or for spending a few days.
My dog Cool Whip, Hercules, and I checked out two grasslands: Pawnee and Buffalo Gap. We camped, hiked along hills and rocky areas, and enjoyed beautiful sunsets and sunrises.
