Buffalo Gap is a place to follow your nose: there are no trails, and there is no challenging topography. There is also very few other people.

Most backpackers and other dedicated wilderness seekers head to Indian Creek Roadless Area, a 24,000 acre near-wilderness in the heart of the grassland. Indian Creek is a non-motorized, non-mechanized area: except maybe for your automated camera. The National Grasslands Visitor Center estimates that less than 50 people visit Indian Creek every year. That's a lot of emptiness.

The Sheep Mountain Table, which lies outside of Indian Creek Roadless Area, is the highest point in region. On a clear day you can see the Black Hills to the west, espcially Harney Peak, the hightest mountain in the area.

Indian Creek may not have its offical wilderness designation, and being in a national forest it's sort of second string according to the public land hierarchy. But it compares very favorably to the Sage Creek Wilderness in Badlands National Park, which has a road bordering it and visible radio towers on the outskirts.

One drawback: cattle grazing. While some say cattle take the same ecological niche as the Buffalo Gap's eponymous, but vanished, herbivore, others are sceptical. And while Indian Creek may not have any roads, it does have fences and stock ponds to accomodate the ranchers. However, a maximum of 25% of the the area can be devoted to cattle grazing between May 1 and October 30. So you won't be running into cattle everywhere you go. Check with the visitor center to find out places to avoid.

Then get out there and ramble.