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The 116,000-acre Fort Pierre (pronounced "peer") National Grassland is located in the transition zone between tall grass and mid-grass prairie in central South Dakota. It was named for a French fur trading post established here in 1826.
Due to the rich blend of native prairie and private agricultural lands, this national grassland is one of the few public land parcels that supports a significant population of the greater prairie chicken.
An average of 18 inches of annual precipitation allow the grassland's rolling clay hills to produce productive mixed prairie grasses. Western wheat grass and green needle grass dominate the flats and ridges, with big and little bluestem, side-oats grama and porcupine grass covering the slopes. Blue grama and buffalo grass are common grasses, too.
The Forest Service issues permits to graze cattle to the Central South Dakota cooperative Grazing District. Cattle are on the grassland for about a six-month spring-to-fall season, although some winter grazing is permitted.
The grassland's fertile mixed-grass prairie can produce tall, dense nesting cover for gamebirds.
Greater prairie chicken, a species of grouse whose range across the continent is less than 10 percent of what it once was, are common here. So are a similar species, the sharp-tailed grouse. These birds nest on the prairie and feed on private cropland, which provide food that is especially important in winter.
Prairie dog towns cover about 400 acres, providing habitat for many species of wildlife besides the rodents that created them.
Many of the grassland reservoirs that are habitat for waterfowl support large-mouthed bass and panfish.
There are no developed campground with water or restrooms on the grassland.
Many small reservoirs dot the area and some visitors camp around them.
In the summer months it is quite possible to have temperatures in the 90 to 100 degree F range, so drinking water is recommended.
Thunderstorms that produce occasional rains will also occur throughout the Great Plains. After rain, the gumbo clay soil will ball up on tires and make travel difficult to impossible.
There are no established walking, hiking or biking trails on the grassland, however, there are plenty of two track vehicle trails for mountain bikes.
Visits can hike and bike anywhere on the grassland. In winter months, if conditions are right, some snowmobiling occurs.
Outdoor Activities |
