Collar / Bennett - Cottonwood

The Collar/Bennett-Cottonwood area encompasses 19,697 acres of rolling terrain within the Dakota Prairie Grasslands of North Dakota. Teepee Butte rises to 2,740 feet, anchoring the landscape's modest relief. Water moves through this country via Bennett Creek and Cottonwood Creek, which drain the Lower Bennett Creek headwaters. These creeks carve through the hills, their presence shaping the distribution of vegetation and wildlife across the roadless area.

Five distinct plant communities create a mosaic across the terrain. On upland slopes and ridges, Western Mixed-Grass and Short-grass Prairie dominate, where Western Wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) and Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) form the foundation, interspersed with Silver Sagebrush (Artemisia cana) and Scarlet Globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea). Higher elevations support Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) woodland. In the draws and along creek bottoms, Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) create a denser canopy, while Plains Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) lines the riparian corridors. Western Snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) and Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) fill understory niches. Badlands Sparse Vegetation occurs on the steepest, most exposed slopes where soil development is minimal.

The area supports a specialized fauna adapted to prairie and riparian conditions. American Bison (Bison bison) move across the grasslands, their grazing maintaining the structure of the mixed-grass prairie. Black-tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) create colonies that alter soil and vegetation structure, benefiting other species. The federally endangered Whooping Crane (Grus americana) uses the wetland margins and grasslands during migration. Shorebirds including the federally threatened Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) and Rufa Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) depend on exposed mudflats and sparse vegetation near water. The federally endangered Northern Long-Eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) hunts insects over the grasslands and draws at dusk. Pollinator populations—including the proposed endangered Suckley's cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus suckleyi) and proposed threatened Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)—move between flowering plants across the prairie, with Narrow-leaved Purple Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) serving as a key nectar source. The federally threatened Dakota Skipper (Hesperia dacotae) and proposed threatened Western regal fritillary (Argynnis idalia occidentalis) depend on native prairie plants for larval development.

Walking through this landscape, a visitor moves between distinct sensory worlds. Crossing the open grasslands of the uplands, the horizon expands and wind becomes the dominant sound. Descending into a draw, the air cools and thickens as Green Ash and Chokecherry close overhead, and the sound of running water from Bennett Creek or Cottonwood Creek grows louder. Along the creek bottoms, Plains Cottonwood shade the banks, and the understory becomes a tangle of Western Snowberry. Climbing back to the ridges, the forest opens again into Ponderosa Pine and Little Bluestem woodland, where the view extends across rolling terrain to Teepee Butte. The transition from dense riparian forest to open prairie to sparse woodland happens repeatedly across the area, each shift bringing different species into view and different ecological relationships into focus.

This region was historically a crossroads and hunting ground for numerous Indigenous nations. The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara, primary inhabitants of the Missouri River basin and its tributaries, referred to the Little Missouri country as the "Land of the Beginning" due to its abundant resources. The Lakota, specifically the Hunkpapa and Sans Arcs bands, expanded into this territory in the 18th and 19th centuries and called the region Makhóšiča—"bad land"—reflecting the difficulty of traversing the rugged terrain during seasonal migrations. The Sioux valued the Little Missouri as the "Thick Timber River" for its wood and shelter in an otherwise open prairie. The Blackfeet, Gros Ventre, Chippewa, Cree, and Rocky Boy also historically spent time or traversed these prairies and badlands. The Cheyenne used the Little Missouri region before being pushed further west and south. This area served as a critical hunting ground for bison, elk, bighorn sheep, and mule deer. Indigenous groups used the high bluffs and buttes for ritual eagle trapping and gathered lithic materials, such as Knife River flint, for tool and weapon making. The Little Missouri Badlands functioned as a "buffer zone" or battleground as tribes competed for access to hunting grounds.

In the 19th century, the region became a site of military conflict and exploration. General Alfred Sully led military expeditions through the broader area in 1864, including the Battle of the Badlands, where Sioux forces engaged U.S. military columns. George Armstrong Custer traversed the region during multiple expeditions in 1873, 1874, and 1876 during the Indian Wars. Following the displacement of bison in the 1880s, the landscape shifted to livestock ranching. The area became part of the "open range" cattle industry, with grazing as the primary land use. Theodore Roosevelt's time as a rancher in the 1880s connected him to this landscape. Historical settlers mined coal from shallow outcroppings three to fifteen feet deep for personal fuel. Limited logging of native juniper and cottonwood occurred historically. The rugged badlands terrain proved largely unsuitable for large-scale agricultural cultivation and was primarily used for grazing.

During the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s, the federal government reacquired millions of acres of "submarginal" land in this region under the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act of 1937 to stabilize the economy and restore overgrazed lands. These lands were initially managed by the Soil Conservation Service before being transferred to the U.S. Forest Service in 1954. The lands eventually formed the basis of the National Grasslands system. In 1998, the Dakota Prairie Grasslands was officially created as a separate administrative unit of the U.S. Forest Service by the Chief of the Forest Service, separating from the Custer National Forest, which had been headquartered in Billings, Montana. The unit encompasses approximately 1.27 million acres across North Dakota and South Dakota, with its Supervisor's Office located in Bismarck, North Dakota.

This roadless area is protected under the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The Collar/Bennett-Cottonwood area comprises 19,697 acres within the Dakota Prairie Grasslands and is managed by the McKenzie Ranger District in McKenzie County, North Dakota.

Vital Resources Protected

Cottonwood and Ash Riparian Draws as Structural Refugia for Federally Endangered Bats

The green ash and cottonwood galleries within this area's draws provide the complex canopy structure and insect-rich understory that northern long-eared bats (federally endangered) require for foraging and roosting. These woody draws are not easily replaced—cottonwood seedling recruitment has already declined across the Little Missouri drainage, meaning the mature trees here represent decades of accumulated structural complexity. Road construction through or adjacent to these draws would fragment the continuous canopy corridor these bats depend on for safe passage between foraging and roosting sites, isolating populations and reducing access to the insect prey base that concentrates in intact riparian vegetation.

Unfragmented Grassland Mosaic for Grassland-Dependent Threatened Species

The 19,697 acres of contiguous mixed-grass and short-grass prairie, interspersed with sagebrush shrubland, support populations of Dakota skipper (federally threatened), piping plover (federally threatened), and whooping crane (federally endangered)—species that require large, unbroken tracts to complete breeding and migration cycles. These grassland birds are sensitive to edge effects and fragmentation; roads create hard boundaries that disrupt the visual continuity and acoustic environment these species use to locate mates and nesting habitat. The area's hilly terrain and draw complexity create the landscape heterogeneity these species need, but only if that heterogeneity remains connected and undisturbed.

Headwater Integrity for Cold-Water Aquatic Connectivity

Bennett Creek and Cottonwood Creek originate in this roadless area's lower elevation draws and flow through intact riparian buffers before entering the broader drainage network. The absence of roads means these headwaters remain shaded by native vegetation, maintaining cooler water temperatures and stable streambanks that support spawning substrate for native fish species. Road construction in headwater zones causes immediate canopy loss and chronic erosion from cut slopes and drainage patterns, raising water temperatures and increasing fine sediment that smothers spawning gravels—impacts that cascade downstream and are difficult to reverse once the riparian buffer is compromised.

Sagebrush Shrubland and Badlands Sparse Vegetation as Pollinator and Insect Habitat

The silver sagebrush shrubland and badlands sparse vegetation support native bees, including Suckley's cuckoo bumble bee (proposed federally endangered), and monarch butterflies (proposed federally threatened), which depend on the native forbs and flowering plants that establish in undisturbed soil. Road construction introduces compacted surfaces, drainage disruption, and invasive species colonization along disturbed corridors—conditions that favor non-native plants over the native wildflowers these pollinators require. Once invasive species establish in road corridors, they spread into adjacent habitat, fundamentally altering the plant community structure that took decades to develop.

Threats from Road Construction

Sedimentation and Stream Temperature Increase from Canopy Removal and Cut-Slope Erosion

Road construction requires removal of riparian vegetation and creation of cut slopes in the draws where cottonwood and ash grow. This canopy loss exposes Bennett Creek and Cottonwood Creek to direct sunlight, raising water temperatures—a direct threat to cold-water dependent species and to the aquatic insects that northern long-eared bats forage on. Simultaneously, exposed cut slopes erode continuously, delivering fine sediment into the headwater streams. This sediment fills the spaces between spawning gravels, suffocating fish eggs and reducing habitat quality for aquatic macroinvertebrates. The combination of warming and sedimentation is particularly damaging in headwater systems, where recovery is slow because the streams are small and the riparian buffer, once removed, takes decades to re-establish.

Habitat Fragmentation and Edge-Effect Expansion Across Grassland-Dependent Species

Road construction divides the contiguous grassland-sagebrush mosaic into isolated patches, creating hard edges where grassland meets disturbed ground. Piping plovers, Dakota skippers, and whooping cranes require visual continuity and acoustic isolation from human activity to establish territories and breed successfully. Roads introduce noise, dust, and vehicle movement that disrupt breeding behavior and increase predation risk along edges. The fragmentation also prevents the natural movement of American bison (near threatened, IUCN) and other large herbivores that maintain grassland structure through grazing. Once fragmented, grassland patches become too small to support viable populations of area-sensitive species, and recovery requires not just road removal but decades of re-establishment of connectivity and natural disturbance regimes.

Invasive Species Colonization and Displacement of Native Forbs Along Road Corridors

Road construction creates disturbed soil, compacted surfaces, and altered drainage patterns—conditions that invasive species exploit before native plants can recover. Leafy spurge, already documented as a major threat in the Little Missouri Badlands, spreads rapidly along road edges and into adjacent sagebrush and grassland. Once established, leafy spurge outcompetes native forbs that Suckley's cuckoo bumble bees and monarch butterflies depend on for nectar and pollen. The road corridor becomes a permanent vector for invasive spread; native plant communities adjacent to roads experience chronic pressure from seed dispersal and altered soil conditions. Unlike sedimentation or temperature changes, which may stabilize over time, invasive species require active, long-term management to control—and prevention through roadlessness is far more effective than post-disturbance restoration.

Fragmentation of Bat Foraging and Roosting Connectivity Through Woody Draw Network

Northern long-eared bats move between roosting sites in cliff faces and canyon walls (present in the Teepee Butte area) and foraging habitat in the riparian draws. Roads through or adjacent to these draws break the continuous canopy corridor these bats use for safe, sheltered flight. Bats are reluctant to cross open areas, so fragmented draws become isolated habitat patches. Additionally, road construction in draws introduces light, noise, and vehicle activity that degrade the acoustic and visual environment bats use to navigate and hunt. The loss of connectivity between roosting and foraging habitat reduces the effective population size of the local bat population, making it more vulnerable to disease (white-nose syndrome) and environmental stochasticity. Recovery of bat connectivity requires not just road closure but active restoration of canopy structure—a process that takes decades in a region where cottonwood recruitment is already declining.

Dakota Prairie Grasslands, North Dakota

The Collar / Bennett - Cottonwood roadless area spans nearly 20,000 acres of mixed-grass prairie, badlands, and riparian forest in the Little Missouri National Grassland. Three maintained trails—Bennett (3.0 miles), Cottonwood (7.0 miles), and a 5-mile section of the Maah Daah Hey Trail (7001)—form a 15-mile loop rated strenuous, with 1,794 feet of elevation gain. All trails are non-motorized and open year-round. Bennett Campground, located 7.5 miles north of Grassy Butte on Highway 85, then 4 miles west on gravel roads, serves as the primary access point. The Bennett Trail (marked with a deer skull) is moderate difficulty and crosses Bennett Creek on a hardened low-water crossing. The Cottonwood Trail (marked with a leaf) is also moderate and crosses two large badlands drainages with extended climbs and descents. The Maah Daah Hey section (marked with a turtle) winds through creek canyons, buttes, and open grassy plains. Trails are marked with specific icons on posts and feature numerous livestock gates. Spring and summer mud can be sticky; late summer vegetation may obscure the trail if recently unmaintained. Water from seasonal wells must be treated or filtered due to livestock use.

Birding in the roadless area is exceptional. The mixed-grass prairie and badlands support grassland specialists including Long-billed Curlews, Short-eared Owls, Burrowing Owls, Sharp-tailed Grouse, and Lark Buntings. Eight sparrow species are documented, including Baird's Sparrow and Grasshopper Sparrow. Raptors include Golden Eagles, Ferruginous Hawks, Northern Harriers, American Kestrels, and Prairie Falcons. The Plains Cottonwood riparian forest and Green Ash draws host Black-billed Magpies, Western Meadowlarks, and various flycatchers. The area is documented habitat for Whooping Cranes and Monarch butterflies. Breeding season (spring and early summer) offers the most species diversity; the region lies on the Central Flyway and hosts significant migration in spring and fall. Winter brings Common Redpolls, Dark-eyed Juncos, Bald Eagles, and Snow Buntings. The Bennett and Cottonwood trails provide direct access to riparian and prairie habitats; Teepee Butte (2,740 ft) is a prominent vantage point for observing raptors and high-elevation prairie species.

Wildlife viewing opportunities include mule and whitetail deer, elk, antelope, bighorn sheep, coyotes, and prairie dogs. The area offers panoramic vistas of North Dakota Badlands formations in sandstone, siltstone, and clay. The roadless condition preserves the quiet, undisturbed character essential to these recreation experiences. Motorized use is prohibited on all trails. The Maah Daah Hey Trail system hosts organized events including the annual Maah Daah Hey Trail Run (typically July, with distances from 5K to 100-mile ultra) and the MDH100 mountain bike race, both of which depend on the trail's non-motorized, backcountry setting.