Buffalo Gap National Grassland
Managed by United States Forest Service
14,604 acres12.4 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
–Not graded
Outdoors in Crooked Creek Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Crooked Creek Township
The biggest trail networks: Buffalo Gap National Grassland (12.4 mi), Badlands National Park (0.8 mi). 43% of Crooked Creek Township’s land is conserved, about 19,446 acres. 3,009 acres are parks and preserves, 501,460 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
43%
19,446 acres · of 71.1 sq mi of land
Trails
35 mi
0.5 per sq mi of land
Park land
3,009 ac
501,460 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
under 1%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
3
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 12.4 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Badlands National Park
Managed by National Park Service
3,199 acres0.8 mi of trail
Dogs usually limited
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Badlands Wilderness
Managed by National Park Service
218 acres
Dogs usually limited
No trailhead mapped yet
Who protects it
19,446 conserved acres
43% of Crooked Creek Township’s land. Who manages Crooked Creek Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
U.S. Forest Service14,578 ac
National Park Service3,187 ac
State land board1,595 ac
State fish & wildlife67 ac
Bureau of Land Management19 ac
National Grassland · 14,578 acNational Park · 3,187 acState Resource Management Area · 1,595 acState Conservation Area · 67 acNational Public Lands · 19 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Gap National Grassland National Grassland | U.S. Forest Service | 14,578 | Open |
| Badlands National Park National Park | National Park Service | 3,187 | Open |
| Sd Public Land State Resource Management Area | State land board | 1,595 | Open |
| New Wall Dam State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 67 | Restricted |
| South Dakota Field Office National Public Lands | Bureau of Land Management | 19 | Open |
Trails & water
3 lakes & rivers
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
When to get out
September is the best month for walking in Crooked Creek Township
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) | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.7 | 15.5 | 15.2 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 8.9 |
| High (°F) | 35 | 38 | 49 | 58 | 68 | 79 | 87 | 87 | 77 | 62 | 47 | 37 |
| Rain (in) | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
January is the driest month (0.4 in) and July the warmest (highs of 87 °F). 3.4 inches fall in May, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 87 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Crooked Creek Township →
Next door
Crooked Creek Township and its neighbors
Crooked Creek Township has the most mapped trails of the 6 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Crooked Creek Township35 miImlay Township28 miWasta Township9.6 miScenic Township5.7 miFairview Township4.4 miOwanka Township4.0 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crooked Creek Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Wasta 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 | ||||
| Imlay Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Scenic Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Owanka 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 Crooked Creek Township
Where can I hike in Crooked Creek Township?
The longest trail networks: Buffalo Gap National Grassland, 12.4 miles; Badlands National Park, 0.8 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Crooked Creek Township’s trails?
Buffalo Gap National Grassland and Badlands National Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Crooked Creek Township?
90,878 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Crooked Creek Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 19,315 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Crooked Creek 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 →