Maah Daah Hey Trail

State: North Dakota. Type: long-distance non-motorized trail through the Badlands, within the Little Missouri National Grassland (U.S. Forest Service). Spans Billings and McKenzie counties. Length: 144 miles (232 km), described as the longest continuous singletrack mountain-biking trail in the U.S. Name derives from a Mandan phrase meaning "an area that has been or will be around for a long time." Managed with the nonprofit Maah Daah Hey Trail Association (MDHTA).

The Maah Daah Hey Trail is a 144-mile non-motorized route that threads through the rugged buttes, plateaus and river valleys of North Dakota's Badlands, running roughly from south of Medora north to south of Watford City. It links the North and South Units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, though bicycles are prohibited inside the national park itself and riders use marked alternate routes to bypass those sections. Built and maintained across the Little Missouri National Grassland by the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with the volunteer-driven Maah Daah Hey Trail Association, the trail is open to hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders along its full length. Its varied terrain, eight distinct segments crossing plateaus, jagged peaks, valleys, rolling prairie and river crossings, has made it a nationally recognized bikepacking and endurance-riding destination, home to organized multi-day races. A string of primitive, fenced campgrounds with potable water and pit toilets supports multi-day trips, and numerous trailheads allow shorter out-and-back or point-to-point outings for visitors with less time.

The trail runs through the Badlands of southwestern North Dakota, within the Little Missouri National Grassland, spanning Billings County in the south and McKenzie County in the north. Its southern end is near the USFS Burning Coal Vein Campground about 30 miles south of Medora, and its northern end is near the USFS CCC Campground about 16 miles south of Watford City. Access points are reached via U.S. Highway 85 and various county and forest roads west of the Little Missouri River.

The North Dakota Badlands have a continental climate with hot, sometimes windy summers and cold winters; the Little Missouri National Grassland sits in an exposed, largely treeless landscape where conditions can change quickly. Summer daytime temperatures can reach into the 90s Fahrenheit, and thunderstorms can turn clay-heavy trail sections ('gumbo') slick and difficult to ride or hike. Winters bring hard freezes and snow, and the trail is far less traveled outside the warmer months.

Late spring through early fall (roughly May through September) is the main season for hiking, biking and horseback riding, when campgrounds are open and water sources are more reliable. Many riders and hikers favor the shoulder months for cooler temperatures, since midsummer heat on the exposed Badlands terrain can be intense. Check current Forest Service and MDHTA trail condition alerts before a trip, since rain can make clay sections impassable.

The trail takes its name from a Mandan phrase meaning roughly "an area that has been or will be around for a long time." It was developed within the Little Missouri National Grassland to link the North and South Units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and its 144-mile length has been promoted as the longest continuous singletrack mountain-biking trail in the country. The nonprofit Maah Daah Hey Trail Association works alongside the U.S. Forest Service to maintain the trail, its campgrounds and trailheads, and to support the multi-day mountain-biking and endurance events now held on the route.

Visitors hike, mountain bike or ride horses along all or part of the 144-mile route, choosing anything from a short out-and-back near a trailhead to a full multi-day traverse. The trail's eight segments offer varied scenery, from plateaus and jagged buttes to river-bottom cottonwood stands and open prairie. Multi-day bikepacking and endurance mountain-bike races are held on the trail, and the fenced campgrounds along the way make it practical to string together several days of riding or hiking. Wildlife viewing, photography of Badlands rock formations, and simply experiencing the remoteness of the Little Missouri National Grassland are also draws.

Along the trail, visitors pass close to Theodore Roosevelt National Park's North and South Units, both worth combining with a Maah Daah Hey trip (note: cycling is not permitted inside the park). Trailheads such as Sully Creek, Bully Pulpit and CCC Campground each offer a different flavor of Badlands terrain, and the fenced primitive campgrounds (including CCC, Summit, Bennett, Magpie, Elkhorn, Wannagan, Buffalo Gap, Sully Creek, Coal Creek and Burning Coal Vein) double as scenic rest points even for day visitors.

The trail is most commonly reached via the towns of Medora (near the southern end) or Watford City (near the northern end), both accessible by car via Interstate 94 or U.S. Highway 85. There is no commercial airport directly on the trail; travelers typically fly into a regional airport and then drive, since the trail's remote trailheads require a personal or rental vehicle. Multiple trailheads along US 85 and connecting county/forest roads provide access points at different points along the 144-mile route.

The trail itself has no gate or set opening hours and can be accessed year-round, though winter conditions and closed/unmaintained campgrounds make the warmer months the practical visiting window. Individual campgrounds and trailheads may have seasonal service schedules; check current Forest Service and MDHTA alerts before visiting.

General Forest Service guidance for the Little Missouri National Grassland indicates that many recreation facilities are free to use, while developed sites such as certain campgrounds may charge overnight fees; a specific day-use fee for the Maah Daah Hey Trail itself was not confirmed in the sources checked. Confirm current fee status directly with the Dakota Prairie Grasslands (U.S. Forest Service) office before a trip.

A short visit to a single trailhead segment can take a few hours, while riding or hiking the full 144-mile trail is typically a multi-day trip of four days or more depending on pace and route choices around Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Medora, at the trail's southern end, and Watford City, near its northern end, both offer a range of motels, hotels and vacation rentals serving Badlands visitors. Along the trail itself, overnight stays are generally limited to the fenced primitive campgrounds with potable water and pit toilets rather than hotels, so multi-day travelers plan around these designated sites or dispersed camping permitted elsewhere on the grassland.

Medora and Watford City both have restaurants and grocery/convenience options suited to travelers passing through, ranging from casual diners to tourist-oriented dining tied to the Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt National Park visitor traffic. Along the remote sections of trail itself, there are no restaurants, so multi-day riders and hikers typically carry their own food and resupply in these towns.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park's North and South Units sit adjacent to the trail's endpoints and are natural pairings for a Badlands trip. The towns of Medora, with its Western-heritage tourism scene, and Watford City are the closest service hubs. The wider Little Missouri National Grassland offers additional dispersed hiking and scenic driving beyond the trail corridor itself.

There is no rail or transit service to the trail; the closest practical option is driving via Interstate 94 (to Medora) or US 85 (toward Watford City), with the nearest regional commercial airports being in Dickinson or Williston, from which a rental car is needed to reach the trailheads.

Water sources along the trail are limited to the fenced campgrounds, so carry enough water or a reliable filtration method between them. Clay-heavy "gumbo" trail sections become extremely slick and can be unsafe to ride or hike after rain; check conditions before setting out. The terrain is remote with limited cell service in many stretches, so tell someone your route and expected return, and be alert for rattlesnakes and range cattle/wildlife that share the grassland.

Sufficient water or a filtration system, sun protection, a map or GPS track of the route (cell coverage is unreliable), a basic bike or first-aid repair kit, and layered clothing for temperature swings between day and night are all recommended for anyone attempting more than a short trailhead segment. Bear spray or similar precautions for wildlife encounters, along with sturdy footwear, are also worth carrying.

Check current Forest Service and Maah Daah Hey Trail Association trail-condition alerts before heading out, since the clay soils here are impassable when wet. Plan multi-day trips around the fenced campgrounds' water availability and consider caching supplies if attempting the full 144-mile length. Bikes are not allowed inside Theodore Roosevelt National Park, so know the marked alternate routes around both units in advance.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For trail information, the Maah Daah Hey Trail Association can be reached at 701-225-5796 or hello@mdhta.com; for land-management questions, contact the Dakota Prairie Grasslands (U.S. Forest Service) office.

Maah Daah Hey Trail Association - https://mdhta.com ; U.S. Forest Service, Little Missouri National Grassland - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/dpg/recreation/trails/maah-daah-hey-trail

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.