Sheyenne National Grassland

The Sheyenne National Grassland in the Sheyenne River valley of southeastern North Dakota is unique among all U.S. national grasslands: it is the only national grassland in the nation dominated by tallgrass prairie, a landscape now reduced to only a tiny fraction of its original range. Its rolling hills, native tallgrass, wildflowers and oak-wooded valleys make it a hidden gem of the northern plains.

Covering about 70,000 acres along the Sheyenne River in Ransom and Richland counties, the grassland protects rare tallgrass prairie and its wildlife — including one of the largest greater prairie-chicken populations in North Dakota, regal fritillary butterflies and rare plants — alongside miles of hiking, equestrian and snowmobile trails, the Sheyenne River, and the North Country National Scenic Trail. A rare tallgrass sanctuary, Sheyenne National Grassland is a treasured natural icon of North Dakota.

The Sheyenne National Grassland offers hiking, horseback riding and (in winter) snowmobiling on miles of trails — including a long stretch of the North Country National Scenic Trail through the tallgrass prairie and oak woodland — wildlife watching and birding (especially for the prairie-chicken leks in spring), and fishing and paddling on the Sheyenne River. Spring prairie-chicken watching and hiking the tallgrass prairie are the signature draws. The combination of rare tallgrass prairie, diverse wildlife, the North Country Trail and the quiet Sheyenne River makes the grassland a rewarding, off-the-beaten-path destination.

Spring (April through early June) is the prime time — the prairie-chicken leks (booming grounds) are active in early spring (a spectacular wildlife event), the wildflowers bloom across the tallgrass, and the trails are green and fresh. Summer brings lush grass and butterflies (the regal fritillary is a summer highlight), and fall brings subtle prairie color. Winter offers snowmobiling and quiet. Spring for prairie chickens and wildflowers, and summer for butterflies, are the highlights — plan a dawn prairie-chicken watching trip in early spring for an unforgettable experience.

The Sheyenne River valley is the homeland of the Dakota Sioux and other Native peoples who knew the tallgrass prairie for millennia before Euro-American settlement plowed most of it away. The lands that became the Sheyenne National Grassland were acquired by the federal government during the Dust Bowl era (1930s) — marginal farmlands restored to native grass as part of the national grassland program. The grassland’s tallgrass is a rare remnant. Sheyenne National Grassland preserves this rare tallgrass remnant and its heritage, a treasured icon of North Dakota.

The Sheyenne National Grassland lies in the Sheyenne River valley in the glaciated terrain of southeastern North Dakota, carved by the Sheyenne River through glacial deposits left by the Ice Age glaciers. The rolling hills, sandy soils and gentle valley of the Sheyenne created the conditions for the tallgrass prairie — sandier soils favor the tall grasses over the mixed-grass prairie of the drier west. The glacial deposits, the sandy river valley soils and the wetter, more humid southeastern climate created this patch of tallgrass prairie in North Dakota.

Sheyenne National Grassland shelters one of the state’s largest greater prairie-chicken populations (their booming leks in spring are a spectacular spectacle), regal fritillary butterflies (a grassland specialist of conservation concern), white-tailed deer, coyotes, and diverse grassland and wetland birds including upland sandpipers, bobolinks, meadowlarks and waterfowl. The rare tallgrass supports rare wildlife. The prairie-chicken leks in spring and the regal fritillary in summer are among the most distinctive wildlife experiences in North Dakota, in the rare tallgrass setting.

The Sheyenne National Grassland protects a nationally significant remnant of tallgrass prairie — now covering only a tiny fraction of its original extent in North America — with native big bluestem, Indian grass and switchgrass supporting a rich community of grassland wildlife and rare plants and insects (including the regal fritillary). The U.S. Forest Service manages the grassland with prescribed fire and grazing to maintain the native tallgrass. Protecting the tallgrass, the native plants and the rare wildlife sustains both the ecology and the unique value of this national grassland.

Sheyenne National Grassland holds a quiet but nationally significant place — the only tallgrass-dominated national grassland in the United States, a rare remnant of the sea of tallgrass that once covered much of the eastern Great Plains, restored from degraded Dust Bowl farmland. Its prairie chickens, wildflowers and rare butterflies embody the wild tallgrass heritage of the northern plains. Sheyenne National Grassland is a cherished and nationally unique natural icon of North Dakota.

Sheyenne National Grassland is in the Sheyenne River valley of southeastern North Dakota, primarily in Ransom and Richland counties, accessible via State Highways 27 and 46 and local roads from the towns of Lisbon, Enderlin and surrounding communities. The grassland is managed by the U.S. Forest Service (Dakota Prairie Grasslands); most land is open to dispersed recreation at no charge. The North Country National Scenic Trail crosses the grassland. Trailheads and access points are marked. Check the U.S. Forest Service for access, trail conditions and prairie-chicken lek locations before visiting.

The U.S. Forest Service protects Sheyenne National Grassland and its rare tallgrass prairie. Visitors help by staying on trails and established routes to protect the native grass and wildflowers, not disturbing prairie-chicken leks (observe from a distance), preventing the spread of invasive plants, and packing out everything. The tallgrass, the rare wildlife and the native plants are sensitive and nationally significant. Protecting the tallgrass, the prairie-chicken leks and the rare insects sustains both the ecology and the unique value of this rare national treasure.

The grassland is remote and often unmarked — carry a map and GPS (cell service is limited), water and sun protection (the open prairie has little shade in summer and the heat can be intense). Watch for ticks in the tall grass (check thoroughly after visits) and be alert to sudden thunderstorms on the open prairie (seek shelter). Dirt and grass roads can be muddy and impassable when wet. Respect the remoteness, the summer heat, the ticks and the mud when wet.

The grassland is managed by the U.S. Forest Service; most lands are open to dispersed recreation at no charge. Stay on designated trails and routes to protect the native grass. Prairie-chicken leks are sensitive — observe from a distance and follow any Forest Service guidelines. Horses are welcome on designated trails. Hunting and fishing require appropriate North Dakota licenses and follow state and federal rules. Pack out all trash; practice Leave No Trace. Respect private land interspersed with the grassland. Check the U.S. Forest Service for access, rules and conditions.

The towns of Lisbon (the county seat) and Enderlin, Fort Ransom State Park to the northwest (in the Sheyenne River valley), the Sheyenne River State Forest, and the rolling prairie of southeastern North Dakota lie near the grassland. The Sheyenne River valley and the southeastern North Dakota prairie define the region. Sheyenne National Grassland anchors the wild tallgrass country of southeastern North Dakota, easily combined with Fort Ransom State Park, the Sheyenne River and the region’s prairie communities.

Plan a pre-dawn trip to a greater prairie-chicken lek in early spring (April) — contact the U.S. Forest Service for lek locations and arrive before dawn to hear and watch the booming males in one of North Dakota’s most spectacular wildlife events. Hike a stretch of the North Country National Scenic Trail through the tallgrass for wildflowers and grassland birds. Come in summer to look for the regal fritillary butterfly in the native grass. Carry water, check for ticks in the tall grass, and respect the remote, unmarked prairie setting.