Little Missouri National Grassland

Overview

The Little Missouri National Grassland (LMNG) is located in western North Dakota and covers 1,033,271 acres, making it the largest grassland in the country. Its predominant features are colorful and beautiful badlands and rugged terrain extensively eroded by wind and water. It is a mixed-grass prairie, meaning it has both long and short grass. Within the national grassland's boundaries, significant portions are state- and privately owned land, much of which is leased to cattle ranchers for grazing. Overall, it is located in parts of McKenzie, Billings, Slope, and Golden Valley counties, in descending order of land area.

Scenic Sites on the Grassland

• Badlands & Buttes: Dramatic, colorful formations with sedimentary layers, including the Dakota Badlands.
• Little Missouri River: A central feature for boating, fishing, and scenic riverbank views.
• Maah Daah Hey Trail: A long-distance trail that winds through the badlands of North Dakota for a cumulative 144 miles. It offers views of rolling prairies, clay buttes, canyons, gullies, and steep, rocky terrain.

Wildlife Viewing on the Grassland

The region is known for its grassland and prairie birds, including many target species like Long-billed Curlews, sparrows (Grasshopper, Chipping, Field, Lark, Vesper, Savannah, Spotted Towhee), Short-eared Owls, and Burrowing Owls. Visit the Animals page for more details.

Fishing on the Grassland

The Little Missouri offers some of the most scenic fishing and ice fishing locations, including: 

• Sather Lake: The Sather Lake Campground and Recreation Area offers excellent fishing for crappie, trout, and bass. The lake is open year-round, including for ice fishing in designated areas. It features a fishing pier and a boat launch.
• Little Missouri River: This river flows through the grasslands, supporting native species such as channel catfish and sauger. While the quality of sport fishing can be unpredictable due to cloudy, silty water, it is an option for experienced anglers. 

Grassland Management

The USDA Forest Service administers the Dakota Prairie Grasslands from the Supervisor's Office in Bismarck, North Dakota. The McKenzie Ranger District Office manages the LMNG to the north of the Ice Caves, and the Medora Ranger District Office oversees the LMNG to the south.