Trail Overview

An excellent and scenic trail through the Grassland area north of the Badlands NP. The road starts next to the Minuteman Missile and goes up to Hwy 240 in Wall. It's an easy dirt road until you get closer to Highway 240. The last part of the trail is very steep and has up to 18" deep washouts. You'll need 4x4 and high clearance to go up. This trail is the perfect addition to the "Grasslands to Badlands"-Trail if you want to visit the little town Wall or are just not ready yet to hit I-90. The scenic change from Badlands to the Buffalo Gap is breathtaking. The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world's richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The park's 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.

Photos of Buffalo Gap Nat Grassland North

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Difficulty

Only the section close to Hwy 240 is a 5, the rest of the trail is 2-3.

Technical Rating

Jorge Solas

Jun 05, 2026

Open

Went after some heavy rainfall, extremely muddy in certain section’s. The climb at the end is doable as long a you get the right line.

Jon Minnich

May 29, 2026

Open

Was really fun got to see a lot of prairie dogs and cows

Nathan Clarke

May 15, 2026

Open

Trail is pretty solid, very easy except for the west entrance. Deep ruts that you need to navigate carefully on a steep surface, but with high clearance you can get through. One fence you need to open and close.

Anthony

Apr 25, 2026

Open

Trail was fine but the recent raining made the surface clay pretty slick and stick to tires. We skipped the beginning hill near Wall (Hwy 240) due to traction and slipping concerns (it's a very steep decline w/ DEEP ruts in the center and the clay was pretty wet/slippery). Instead we started near the Delta-09 missile silo and then turned back after getting to the hill. The washout at the river (near the hill) was fine and I was able to get through it without issues in a stock height FX4 Ford Ranger. Other than the trail's beginning, the trail was fine and easy.

Ty Brown

Mar 25, 2026

Open

Large wash out toward the begining of the trail. Be prepared to turn around, DO NOT go around if you don't have the clearance to make it

William Stokes

Nov 27, 2025

Open

I only did the blue part down then up but when I got there your trail took me into the house on the hill the start of the trail was about 100 foot from where the line was.

Andrew

Nov 08, 2025

Open

Dirt trail in open fields. Was sprinkling off and on the day we went and started getting Muddy at the end. Tires 100% caked did not make it up the steep Hill climb only halfway no traction . Ruts were pretty deep too . I came back by the top and took some current pics of the ruts the next day 2\10 trail when dry cause bumpy. Hill climb at the end is not super steep and stock keep could do it dry with right tire placement

Jim Petersen

Sep 11, 2025

Open

The end or beginning has been moved depending on how you run it. It is no longer a 5 rated trail. It is a 3 at best. I tried following onx route and it kept taking you off trail. This trail needs to be deleted and redone. Also, there are numerous gates to go through, make sure you close them behind you.

Blake Carson

Jul 26, 2025

Open

trail is open on the North Side however the entrance has moved slightly south than what it shows on ONx

Travis McDowell

Jul 07, 2025

Open

North side of the trail that leads to Glenn St is now a gravel road leading to new homes. Can’t access trail from Glenn St anymore.

Jeff Strazzinski

Jun 23, 2025

Open

Jack Porter

May 11, 2025

Open

Definitely not a blue trail in the dry, but maybe right after 8” of rain. Could do this in RWD the whole time. The trail is mostly a flat road through a field with a 15 degree ascent right at the end. Be prepared to use your brakes for a few rough patches.

Greg & Tiffany Reimels

Sep 22, 2024

Open

Glad we had OnX offroad, because the trail seems to disappear at times. Traveled while dry, and we very mild trail. There was a small climb to get back to 240, but our stock Gladiator did it find in 2WD.

Dana Gilbertsen

Sep 01, 2024

Open