Buffalo Gap National Grassland
Managed by United States Forest Service
30,212 acres21.5 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0–Not graded
Outdoors in Conata Township
More than half of Conata Township’s land is conserved: 83%
83% of Conata Township’s land is conserved, about 47,280 acres. The biggest trail networks: Buffalo Gap National Grassland (21.5 mi), Badlands Wilderness (6.8 mi), Badlands National Park (4.1 mi). 7,866 acres are parks and preserves, 1,123,651 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
83%
47,280 acres · of 89.4 sq mi of land
Trails
42 mi
0.5 per sq mi of land
Park land
7,866 ac
1,123,651 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
14%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
2,566 ft
Hurley Butte
Lakes & rivers
2
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Buffalo Gap National Grassland, with 21.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Badlands Wilderness
Managed by National Park Service
6,887 acres6.8 mi of trail
Dogs usually limited
Directionsto the parking lot
Badlands National Park
Managed by National Park Service
14,659 acres4.1 mi of trail
Dogs usually limited
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Who protects it
47,280 conserved acres
83% of Conata Township’s land. Who manages Conata Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
U.S. Forest Service30,200 ac
National Park Service14,581 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits4,270 ac
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service370 ac
National Grassland · 30,200 acNational Park · 14,581 acConservation Easement · 4,640 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 2,499 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 3 of 9 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Gap National Grassland National Grassland | U.S. Forest Service | 30,200 | Open |
| Badlands National Park National Park | National Park Service | 14,581 | Open |
Things to do
10 places to go in Conata Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Scenic views in Conata Township
Ancient Hunters OverlookIn Badlands National Park
DirectionsConata Basin OverlookIn Badlands National Park
DirectionsHay Butte OverlookIn Badlands National Park
DirectionsHomestead OverlookIn Badlands Wilderness
DirectionsPinnacles OverlookIn Badlands National Park
DirectionsYellow Mounds OverlookIn Badlands National Park
DirectionsPlus 1 scenic view without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Peaks in Conata Township
Hurley Butte2,566 ft elevation
DirectionsKelier Butte2,536 ft elevation · In Buffalo Gap National Grassland
DirectionsCampgrounds in Conata Township
Buffalo Gap National GrasslandIn Buffalo Gap National Grassland
DirectionsTrails & water
2 lakes & rivers
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
When to get out
The best walking months in Conata Township: April and September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.3 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.7 | 15.4 | 15.1 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 8.9 |
| High (°F) | 35 | 39 | 50 | 59 | 69 | 80 | 89 | 88 | 78 | 62 | 48 | 37 |
| Rain (in) | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
January is the driest month (0.4 in) and July the warmest (highs of 89 °F). 3.4 inches fall in May, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 89 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Conata Township →
Next door
Conata Township and its neighbors
Conata Township has the most mapped trails of the 5 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Conata Township42 miImlay Township28 miFlat Butte Township6.8 miFairview Township4.4 miCastle Butte Township2.8 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conata Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Imlay Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Castle Butte Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Fairview Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Flat Butte Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Conata Township
Where can I hike in Conata Township?
The longest trail networks: Buffalo Gap National Grassland, 21.5 miles; Badlands Wilderness, 6.8 miles; Badlands National Park, 4.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Conata Township’s trails?
Buffalo Gap National Grassland and Badlands Wilderness don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Conata Township?
158,568 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Conata Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 38,313 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Conata Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →