Kiowa National Grassland

Kiowa National Grassland encompasses a total area of about 137,000 acres of land that is in the northeastern section of New Mexico as well as in the northwest Texas Panhandle which also spreads into Oklahoma. The closest major city to the grassland is Clayton New Mexico, but there are several other close-by cities and towns including Kerrick and Texline in Texas, as well as Seneca, Clayton, and Mills in New Mexico. 

The grassland is accessible using several roads including NM 40, NM 39, US 87, and US 56/412. The National Grassland is managed by the U.S. Forest Service together with other protected areas like the Black Kettle, McClellan Creek, Cibola National Forest, and Rita Blanca National Grasslands. 

These protected areas have a common administrative office that is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico but there is also a local ranger district office that is located in Clayton. Several unique attractions make Kiowa National Grassland a special place to visit. These include a section of the Canadian River as well as the fact that the grassland is a wildlife ‘island’ offering refuge to a lot of native and imported animal species like the Barbary sheep that are native to Africa. 

Other widespread animals in the area include the Rocky Mountain mule deer that was introduced to the areas in the 1940s and 1950s and have since flourished in the grassland. Other attractions in the grassland include prehistoric cultural attractions as well as paleontological, and historic sites. Besides these fantastic lures, the grassland is also a favorite place for visitors to enjoy recreational activities like hunting, camping, and canoeing.

You may also enjoy rafting, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and bird watching. Amenities in the grassland include picnic areas, campground, trails, and dispersed camping. Visitors to Kiowa National Grassland can also bring their dogs into the protected area, but there are some restrictions regarding areas of the grassland that can be accessed when with pets and dogs.