Easy Hill

Easy Hill encompasses 7,344 acres of rolling terrain in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands of North Dakota, with elevations ranging from lowland valleys to the 2,743-foot summit of Easy Hill itself. The landscape is drained by Davis Creek and its headwaters, which flow through woody draws and grassland valleys, creating the hydrological backbone of the area. The Easy Hill Overlook and Tracy Mountain provide vantage points across this mosaic of prairie and woodland, revealing the complex interplay of water, soil, and vegetation that defines this region.

The area supports distinct plant communities shaped by moisture and topography. Western Mixed-grass Prairie dominates the upland slopes, where western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), and needle-and-thread (Hesperostipa comata) form the primary cover, interspersed with silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) and plains pricklypear (Opuntia polyacantha). Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) and western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) establish scattered woodlands on drier ridges. In the woody draws and along Davis Creek, green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides) create riparian corridors, with chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) and threadleaf sedge (Carex filifolia) occupying the understory and ground layer. This vegetation gradient reflects the area's transition between shortgrass and mixed-grass prairie systems.

The grasslands and woodlands support wildlife dependent on these distinct habitats. Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) move across the open prairie, while the federally endangered whooping crane (Grus americana) uses the grassland and wetland margins. Sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) rely on native prairie structure for breeding and foraging. Pollinator communities include the proposed threatened western regal fritillary (Argynnis idalia occidentalis) and the proposed endangered Suckley's cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus suckleyi), both dependent on native flowering plants. The federally endangered northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) hunts insects above the grassland and within the juniper woodlands. Davis Creek supports creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus), flathead chub (Platygobio gracilis), and fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), which form the base of an aquatic food web. The loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), near threatened (IUCN), hunts from exposed perches across the grassland, while western kingbirds (Tyrannus verticalis) forage for insects in the open air above both prairie and woodland.

Walking through Easy Hill, the landscape shifts with elevation and moisture. From the grassland summit, the view extends across rolling prairie dominated by low, native grasses and scattered shrubs. Descending into the woody draws, the air cools and darkens as juniper and cottonwood close in, and the sound of Davis Creek becomes audible before the water appears. Along the creek itself, the dense riparian vegetation creates a distinct microclimate—moister, shadier, and structurally different from the open prairie above. Returning to the ridgeline from the creek bottom, the transition is immediate: the understory opens, light floods in, and the vista expands again across the grassland, where the movement of pronghorn and the calls of grassland birds mark the return to the open prairie community.

Human habitation in this region extends back approximately 11,500 years, as evidenced by archaeological sites within the Dakota Prairie Grasslands dating to the Paleoindian, Plains Archaic, and Plains Woodland periods. The area served as a vital crossroads for both sedentary horticultural tribes and nomadic hunter-gatherers. The Mandan and Hidatsa traditionally inhabited earthlodge villages along the Missouri River and its tributaries, including the Little Missouri River, and remain the longest-documented inhabitants of the region. The Lakota Sioux, primarily the Hunkpapa and Yanktonai bands, moved into the western North Dakota plains during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and became the dominant nomadic force by the mid-1800s. The Cheyenne historically used the Little Missouri region for hunting and maintained antelope traps in the area before being pushed further west and south. The Crow also utilized the western edges of the North Dakota badlands for hunting. This territory was frequently contested, with internecine warfare and skirmishes between the Lakota Sioux and the Three Affiliated Tribes and Crow during the nineteenth century. The Lakota referred to the surrounding badlands as Makhóšiča, meaning "bad land." The 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie established the Great Sioux Reservation, which included lands in this region, though these rights were later curtailed by the U.S. government.

In 1864, the region was part of the theater for Sully's Expedition, when General Alfred Sully's forces engaged Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors in the Battle of the Badlands, with military trails from this campaign crossing the general vicinity. In May and June of 1876, Custer's troops were delayed for three days near Easy Hill by an unseasonable snowstorm that deposited six inches of wet snow. During the 1880s Dakota Boom, the region became a major ranching hub following homesteading under the Homestead Act of 1862 and the Stock-Raising Homestead Act of 1916. Cattle ranching emerged as the primary land use, with much of the land eventually leased to local ranchers. Future President Theodore Roosevelt ranched in the nearby Badlands during the 1880s; his experiences here informed his later conservation policies.

The 1930s Dust Bowl and severe droughts rendered the land submarginal for traditional farming and ranching, leading to widespread crop failures and land abandonment. The federal government reacquired millions of acres during the 1930s under the Land Utilization Program, facilitated by Executive Orders 6909 and 6910, issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on November 21 and November 26, 1934, respectively. These orders withdrew public lands in North and South Dakota from settlement and entry, reserving them for conservation and grazing projects under the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and the Resettlement Administration. The Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act of 1937 provided permanent legislative authority for federal management of these "Land Utilization Projects."

The lands were administered as part of the Custer National Forest, headquartered in Billings, Montana, until 1998, when the Dakota Prairie Grasslands was established as a separate administrative unit by the Chief of the Forest Service. This administrative reorganization separated the Little Missouri, Sheyenne, Cedar River, and Grand River National Grasslands from the Custer National Forest to provide focused management for grassland resources, which have different ecological and social needs than montane forests. Easy Hill is protected under the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule as a 7,344-acre Inventoried Roadless Area within the Medora Ranger District of the Dakota Prairie Grasslands. While the roadless designation currently limits surface disturbance, the surrounding region has experienced significant oil and gas exploration and horizontal drilling since the mid-twentieth century, as the area sits within the Williston Basin.

Vital Resources Protected

Headwater and Riparian Integrity in Davis Creek Drainage

The Davis Creek headwaters originate within Easy Hill's woody draws and riparian corridors, which are documented as sensitive to erosion and sedimentation. These draws—narrow, vegetated valleys that concentrate water flow—function as the primary water source for downstream ecosystems across the Little Missouri basin. Road construction in headwater areas accelerates erosion from cut slopes and removes riparian vegetation that stabilizes banks and filters sediment, directly degrading water quality for all species dependent on Davis Creek downstream.

Woody Draw Habitat for Federally Endangered Northern Long-Eared Bat

The Northern Long-Eared Bat (federally endangered) relies on the woody draws within Easy Hill for roosting habitat—the sheltered, forested microsites where this species rests between feeding flights. These draws are scattered across the grassland landscape and are difficult to restore once lost. Road construction fragments these isolated habitat patches, increases edge exposure that makes bats vulnerable to predation and wind stress, and removes the canopy structure the species requires for thermal regulation and protection.

Mixed-Grass and Shortgrass Prairie Mosaic for Whooping Crane and Monarch Butterfly

Easy Hill's Western Mixed-grass Prairie and Shortgrass Prairie ecosystems provide stopover and foraging habitat for the federally endangered Whooping Crane during migration, and breeding and nectar resources for the Monarch butterfly (proposed threatened). These prairie types exist as a climate-sensitive mosaic—the balance between grass species composition shifts with temperature and precipitation patterns. Road construction removes native vegetation, introduces invasive species through disturbed soil corridors, and fragments the continuous grassland that cranes require for safe movement and visibility during vulnerable migration periods.

Pollinator and Insect Communities in Intact Grassland

Suckley's cuckoo bumble bee (proposed endangered) and the Western regal fritillary butterfly (proposed threatened) depend on native wildflower diversity and undisturbed soil structure within the grassland matrix. Road construction creates compacted, bare-soil corridors that exclude native plants, favor invasive species like leafy spurge (already documented as a major threat across the Little Missouri National Grassland), and fragment the continuous flowering resources these specialist pollinators require across the breeding season.

Threats from Road Construction

Sedimentation and Stream Temperature Increase in Davis Creek Headwaters

Road construction in headwater terrain requires cut slopes and removal of riparian vegetation to accommodate roadbeds and drainage. Exposed soil on cut slopes erodes during precipitation events, delivering fine sediment directly into Davis Creek and its tributaries. Simultaneously, removal of woody draw canopy increases solar exposure to the stream channel, raising water temperature. These combined effects degrade spawning substrate for native fish and reduce dissolved oxygen—conditions that are difficult to reverse because headwater erosion is chronic and riparian vegetation recovery takes decades in this semi-arid climate.

Habitat Fragmentation and Edge Effects for Northern Long-Eared Bat Roosts

Road construction fragments the scattered woody draws that serve as roosts for the federally endangered Northern Long-Eared Bat, creating isolated habitat patches separated by open grassland and road corridors. The bat's limited flight range and dependence on specific microhabitat conditions mean that fragmented draws become functionally unavailable—individual bats cannot move between roosts to find optimal thermal conditions or escape predators. Edge effects from road clearing also increase wind exposure and predation risk at draw margins, reducing the effective roosting area available to the species.

Invasive Species Establishment and Native Grassland Conversion

Road construction creates disturbed soil corridors that are colonized by invasive species, particularly leafy spurge, which is already documented as a major threat across the Little Missouri National Grassland. Leafy spurge displaces native wildflowers that Suckley's cuckoo bumble bee and Western regal fritillary butterfly depend on for nectar and larval host plants. Once established along road corridors, invasive species spread into adjacent grassland through seed dispersal and vegetative expansion, converting native prairie to spurge-dominated monoculture that provides no forage value for Whooping Cranes and reduces the floral diversity required by specialist pollinators.

Fragmentation of Grassland Connectivity for Whooping Crane Migration and Loggerhead Shrike Territories

Road construction breaks the continuous grassland matrix that Whooping Cranes require for safe, visible movement during migration—the species relies on unobstructed sightlines to detect predators and navigate across unfamiliar terrain. For the Loggerhead Shrike (near threatened, IUCN), roads fragment the open grassland territories this predatory songbird requires for hunting and nesting. The linear disturbance of a road corridor also increases human access and vehicle traffic, introducing noise and light disturbance that disrupt the behavioral cues these species use to assess habitat safety during critical migration and breeding periods.

Easy Hill, a 7,344-acre roadless area within the Dakota Prairie Grasslands, offers backcountry hunting, fishing, birding, and photography in the North Dakota Badlands. The area's roadless designation preserves non-motorized access and undisturbed wildlife habitat across mixed-grass prairie, juniper woodland, and woody draws.

Hunting

The area supports populations of mule deer, white-tailed deer, and pronghorn accessible by foot or horseback from the Easy Hill Overlook and Bear Creek drainage. Sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, and ring-necked pheasant inhabit the grassland and draw habitats. Coyote, red fox, and jackrabbit are also present. Hunting follows North Dakota Game and Fish Department seasons—typically mid-September through early January for grouse and partridge, and a 16-day gun season in November for deer. Because the area is roadless, all hunting access and game retrieval must be non-motorized. Motorized vehicle travel is prohibited. Portable tree stands are permitted but must be removed by January 31. Firearm discharge is prohibited within 150 yards of the Easy Hill Overlook or across National Forest roads. The absence of roads supports higher game populations and enables the primitive backcountry hunting experience that defines recreation here.

Fishing

Easy Hill Dam, a 6.6-acre water body within the area, is stocked with largemouth bass by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and supports abundant bluegill. Davis Creek, which originates in the roadless area, contains native flathead chub and creek chub. The dam has 0.8 miles of shoreline and no boat ramp, making it a shore-fishing or carry-in location. Fishing is open year-round under North Dakota regulations; anglers may use two poles with one line each, and the daily limit for largemouth bass is five fish. Access to the dam and Davis Creek requires hiking from the perimeter, as the roadless condition eliminates vehicle access to interior fishing locations and preserves the quiet, undisturbed character of the watershed.

Birding

The area provides habitat for grassland specialists including long-billed curlew, short-eared owl, and burrowing owl. Sparrow diversity is high: grasshopper sparrow, Baird's sparrow (in lightly grazed mixed-grass prairie), LeConte's sparrow, vesper sparrow, lark sparrow, Savannah sparrow, and field sparrow are documented residents. Raptors include ferruginous hawk, golden eagle, and prairie falcon. Sharp-tailed grouse, gray partridge, and wild turkey occupy forest-edge and grassland habitats. Spring and summer bring chestnut-collared longspurs and Sprague's pipit; winter brings rough-legged hawks and snowy owls. The Easy Hill Overlook provides an elevated vantage for scanning the surrounding terrain. The Maah Daah Hey Trail, which passes through the region, offers access to birding habitats across clay buttes, woody draws, and rolling prairie. The roadless condition maintains unfragmented habitat for interior forest and grassland species and preserves the quiet necessary for hearing warblers and other songbirds.

Photography

The Easy Hill Overlook is a documented viewpoint offering panoramic views of the Badlands terrain. Easy Hill Camp, located near the overlook, features interpretive panels describing the 1876 military camp. The area's transition from flat prairie to rugged Badlands provides landscape photography opportunities, particularly the seasonal color and texture of western mixed-grass prairie, silver sagebrush, and western snowberry in the woody draws. Sharp-tailed grouse leks within the area offer opportunities to photograph mating displays. Pronghorn, mule deer, and the headwaters of Davis Creek provide wildlife and water feature subjects. The Custer Trail Auto Tour includes Easy Hill as a primary stop with historical context. The absence of roads preserves the visual integrity of the landscape and maintains the undisturbed natural setting that makes photography here distinct from developed recreation areas.