Rita Blanca National Grassland

Rita Blanca National Grassland is a large protected area spanning Texas and Oklahoma, featuring shortgrass prairies with varied terrain and elevations. The Forest Service manages the land for multiple uses, including grazing areas and recreational trails for visitors.

The Department of Interior purchased this land in the 1930s to restore areas damaged by the Dust Bowl drought. This acquisition was part of broader efforts to stabilize the prairie after the environmental crisis.

Spanish sheepherders gave the area its name, Rita Blanca, meaning Little White River, a reference to local water sources that still marks several places in the region today.

The best way to explore is on foot using the marked trails or by car on the open roads across the land. Visitors should remember this is an active grazing area, so respect for livestock and the landscape is important.

The grassland supports numerous plant species and animals like pronghorns, prairie dogs, and raptors that depend on open prairie habitats. This diversity makes it an important refuge for wildlife adapted to grassland ecosystems.

Location: Dallam County

Location: Cimarron County

Elevation above the sea: 1,298 m

Operator: United States Forest Service

Website: https://fs.usda.gov/detail/cibola/about-forest/districts/?cid=fsbdev3_065702

GPS coordinates: 36.43400,-102.60000

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:56