I miss the smell of sagebrush, how it fills the air after the rain. I discovered Curlew National Grassland almost accidentally one summer when trying to visit as many National Grasslands as I could.
Then, I didn't really understand what they were. I knew they weren't parks like National Parks. They weren't really organized like National Monuments. They were often vast and seemingly featureless.
Regular towns and ranches existed within their overall borders, but the lines and designation over which land was which were much more complex. To find your way around, you need a land use map, and even then, you need to be on the ground using common sense.
They're most similar to National Forests and are under the same umbrella - US Forestry Service within the Department of Agriculture.
There is a single National Grasslands visitors center in the United States. It's in Wall, South Dakota and more or less close to Buffalo Gap National Grassland.
Some have established campgrounds. All (or most) allow camping and exploring in huge swaths of designated land. Much of it is leased to farms and ranches for grazing. And sometimes you're asked to keep off that land.
I've visited almost all of the National Grasslands in the West. I don't believe I've been to Butte Valley NG in California and Caddo NG in Texas. Someday though.
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'Elflocks'
Camera: Mamiya RB67
Film: Rollei Crossbird
Process: DIY ECN-2
June 2020
Nicola 2018 81
Tags: Delicacy Propagation Malapropagation Vintage Nicolab Nicola
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