Thunder Basin National Grassland

Black Hills South Dakota
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Thunder Basin National Grassland

Protected as a National Grassland, northeastern Wyoming’s Thunder Basin is home to a number of distinct habitats, providing a plethora of recreational activities.

  • The 572,000 acres of Thunder Basin National Grassland is unique among the recreation areas around the Black Hills.
  • Visitors enjoy hiking, hunting, fishing, biking, camping and more. 
  • Abundant flora and fauna can be found throughout Thunder Basin National Grassland. 
  • Located off of WY-59 and US-16, between I-90 and I-25

Overview

With 572,000 acres of prairies and grasslands, Thunder Basin National Grassland offers a unique set of recreational and sightseeing opportunities. Thunder Basin National grassland is located in northeastern Wyoming in the Powder River Basin, nestled between the Black Hills and the Big Horn Mountains. The plethora of different habitats present here (Ponderosa forests, scoria outcrops, sagebrush fields, grasslands and wetlands) provide home for loons, ducks, geese, pelicans, herons, grebes, vultures, hawks, turkey, grouse, cranes and much more.

Activities

The semi-arid environment of Thunder Basin National Grassland provides great opportunities to hike, hunt, fish, camp, bike and watch wildlife in a unique setting. Birders especially love the Thunder Basin National Grassland area, as it contains over 200 different species.

Despite the multitude of activities offered in the grasslands, there are no developed campsites. Although camping is allowed, you must be careful to camp only in public grounds, as the area is complicated with intermingled public and private lands.

Location

Thunder Basin National Grassland is located in northeastern Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, between Gillette (along I-90) and Douglas (along I-25). Thunder Basin can also be accessed from the east via US-16.

Seasons and Fees

Thunder Basin National Grassland is open year-round. There are no fees for using this public land, although hunters and fishermen must purchase Wyoming state licenses.

Contact Information