Fort Pierre National Grassland

Fort Pierre National Grassland encompasses a total area of about 116,000 acres of land that is located in Lyman, Stanley and Jones counties of Central South Dakota. Urban places close to the National Grassland include Scenic, Kadoka, Hot Springs, and Wall. The protected area is accessible using two main rods that include US 83 and SD 1806. 

The grassland is managed by the U.S. Forest Service along with other protected areas that include Nebraska and Samuel R. McKelvie National Forests, Oglala National Grasslands, and Buffalo Gap. The joint office for these protected areas is in Chadron, Nebraska but there is also a local ranger district office that is located in Pierre. The grassland is a fantastic place to visit for several reasons. 

In fact, Hollywood makes use of the areas unique features. For example, a part of the famous movie Dances with Wolves was filmed in Fort Pierre National Grassland. The ground cover in the grassland is mainly comprised of short grass prairie, and several additional geological attractions make the National Grassland a great place to explore. 

Some of the events that visitors to the protected area love to venture into include hunting, camping, fishing, bird watching, hiking, OHV riding, mountain biking, and rock hounding. The facilities in the grassland that are available to these visitors include an OHV recreation area, visitor center, dispersed camping, picnic sites, trails, and stocked ponds. 

The management at Fort Pierre National Grassland welcomes pets and dogs into the protected area although it is expected that visitors will take measures to protect the habitat, wildlife, and the grassland’s other facilities. For example, dog owners are expected to keep their doggies well-behaved at all times, and this includes cleaning up after their dogs. Additionally, dog owners and their pets are expected to stay away from restricted areas of the grassland.