Buffalo Gap National Grassland Mauvaises Terres Loop

This unmarked loop threads through Buffalo Gap National Grassland’s roughest section, where French trappers first called these eroded hills ‘mauvaises terres’ — bad lands. The route follows old ranch roads and two-track cattle paths across mixed-grass prairie punctuated by sharp-walled canyons and fossil-rich formations. Mile 22 brings you to Sheep Mountain Table, a flat-topped butte offering panoramic views of the White River valley and distant Black Hills on clear days.

Difficult navigation requiring GPS and paper maps — many intersections are unmarked and cattle trails can lead you miles off course. Stock 4WD handles most sections, but deep sand pockets and steep canyon descents demand careful line choice. Spring brings mud and impassable creek crossings; late summer through fall offers the most reliable conditions. No services for 60+ miles in any direction. The payoff is absolute solitude in one of America’s most underrated grassland ecosystems, where pronghorn and prairie dogs still rule the range.