Greatest Hikes in North Dakota

North Dakota is low-key one of the best hiking destinations in the United States. Low crowds, clear air and some stunning landscapes make it a hidden treasure that cannot be missed.

The Maah Daah Hey trail is a system of trails that winds throughout Theodore Roosevelt National Park near Medora. With more than 100 trails to choose from, you can spend days exploring the badlands and rolling prairies, or hop on your bike and see how much you can cover in one day.

Alternatively, take in one of the country’s largest grasslands at Little Missouri National Grasslands. The region offers a wealth of varying terrain, including badlands, woody draws and high buttes. The grasslands have extensive hiking and biking trails, and excellent places to camp.

You might think North Dakota is mostly flat prairies, but Lake Metigoshe State Park is a great place to experience the state’s diversity. In addition to the sandy shores, the lake rests in the scenic Turtle Mountains and is surrounded by several miles of rolling hills to hike and explore.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is so expansive it’s impossible to explore in one visit, and is often divided into separate regions. The South Unit of the park provides the best views of the North Dakota Badlands. A hike here will expose you to a scenic backdrop home to buffalo, elk, bighorn sheep and wild horses.

Finally, Fort Ransom State Park is one of the flatter offerings in the state, but no less impressive than the rest. It contains more than 15 miles of trails and showcases impressive dirt mounds thought to be constructed by settlers more than 6,000 years ago. Whether they were used as tombs or homes, no one is quite sure.