Volunteers Bring New Life to Pinnacles Dispersed Camping Area During National Grasslands Week
New designated sites and fencing improve safety, reduce impact, and protect native prairie near Wall, South Dakota
A Wilderness Volunteer installs fencing at the Pinnacles camping area to define new designated sites and protect native wildflowers and prairie grasses.
A heavily visited dispersed camping area in Buffalo Gap National Grassland just got a much-needed facelift, thanks to a partnership between the Black Hills Parks & Forests Association (BHPFA), Wilderness Volunteers, and the U.S. Forest Service.
The work coincides with National Grasslands Week (June 15–21), a time to celebrate America’s National Grasslands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. At Pinnacles, years of unregulated use have left their mark—damaged native vegetation, informal roads and fire rings, and increased risk to visitors and wildlife.
The volunteers built a fence to designate a picnic area. Buffalo Gap National Grassland plans to plant grass, place picnic tables, and interpretive signs.
Project Stats:
1000 feet+ of fencing was built to designate campsites and protect vegetation- 12 campsites developed
- 10 campsites closed on the cliff edge
“The work done by the volunteers helps protect wildlife, gives the land a chance to heal, and improves the camping experience for everyone”
Christy Bentley, Recreation Manager for Buffalo Gap National Grassland.
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The trip consisted of volunteers from all over the country who came to camp and work on Buffalo Gap National Grassland for the week. Wilderness Volunteers organizes public lands service trips across the U.S.
