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     to the Dakota Prairie Grasslands, where pristine vistas inspire the imagination; where the rugged unspoiled beauty of the landscape invites exploration; and where the sights and sounds of the wide, rolling prairie stimulates the senses.

     Established as a unit on October 1, 1998, the Dakota Prairie Grasslands Supervisor's Office, located in Bismarck, ND, oversees the Little Missouri National Grasslands (1,028,000 acres), the Sheyenne National Grasslands (70,200 acres), the Cedar River National Grasslands (6,700 acres), and the Grand River National Grasslands (155,000 acres).

     The National Grasslands are publicly owned lands administered by the Forest Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. These large blocks of land in North and South Dakota are the home of four Ranger District Offices; the Grand River Ranger District Office on the Grand River and Cedar River National Grasslands; the Sheyenne Ranger District Office on the Sheyenne National Grasslands; and the McKenzie Ranger District Office and the Medora Ranger District Office on the Little Missouri National Grasslands.

     Stretching over 1,259,000 acres, the National Grasslands offer visitors the opportunity to view elk, antelope, whitetail and mule deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, sharptail grouse, pheasants, wild turkeys, eagles, falcons, and the busy prairie dogs. Recreational opportunities offer hiking, camping, horseback riding, photography, canoeing, fishing, hunting, and backpacking.

     The National Grasslands are not solid blocks of National Forest System lands; rather, they are intermingled with other federal, state, and privately owned lands. This mixed ownership pattern contributes to the uniqueness of the National Grasslands.

     Each of the National Grasslands has a flavor all its own. The tallgrass prairie on the rolling hills of the Sheyenne National Grasslands are a significant contrast to the stark badlands found in the Little Missouri National Grasslands. The resources are as varied also; paleontological and archeological digs, oil and gas production, cattle grazing, and recreation.

     The National Grasslands are a treasure of natural science, revealing its secrets to scientists and others who come here to study and conduct research. Plants and animals, rocks and minerals, precious water resources and even the air have been studied in this unique outdoor laboratory.

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