Maah Daah Hey Trail (trip)
Maah Daah Hey Trail
- Bismark, ND
- Active & Adventure
| from $1,165* per person | 5 Days | June, August, September |
| Comfort accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Escape Adventures | 12 people max | |
In a word: epic. The Maah Daah Hey's ninety-six continuous miles of singletrack traverse North Dakota's rugged badlands and weave through prairie teeming with wildlife. But riders aren't drawn to North Dakota just for the scenery; the Maah Daah Hey offers world-class mountain biking- some even dare say it's better than Moab!
With many types of terrain, and 100% singletrack, there are plenty of challenges to keep things interesting for even the most experienced riders. North Dakota's winters may be downright cold but its summers offer a refreshing escape from the heat. With average temperatures in the upper 70s, the Maah Daah Hey Trail will keep you cool while providing a challenging and beautiful ride. There are also opportunities for close encounters with wildlife including mule deer, coyotes, bison and golden eagles.
If you are looking for the perfect getaway with epic riding, great scenery, and abundant wildlife, our Maah Daah Hey tour can't be beat.
This tour is offered in cooperation with Dakota Cyclery. Dakota Cyclery operates under special use permit from the USDA Forest Service on the Little Missouri National Grassland.
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Locations visited/nearby
North Dakota, United States
Itinerary
Day 1 | CCC Trailhead & New SingletrackWe meet in Medora at Dakota Cyclery and then shuttle for about an hour. At the CCC Trailhead, we have lunch and go through a quick safety orientation before riding a prime-cut section of the Maah Daah Hey. This out-and-back is a great sampling of the Badlands and a perfect warm-up! Then it's into the van for a short shuttle to our camp for the night.
Total Mileage | 16 miles Camp | Near Bennett Creek
Terrain | Singletrack, No Van Support
Day 2 | Bennett Trail or Cottonwood Trail
Today we will ride the Bennett Trail or the brand new Cottonwood Trail, before joining the Maah Daah Hey Trail at mile marker 75. On our way to lunch we track south through high prairie grasses and wooded draws. When we reach Beicigel Creek Road, we stop to meet the van and enjoy lunch before continuing on to Magpie Campground. There, we spend the evening in good company under a bright blanket of stars, taking in the coyote calls that punctuate the night's stillness.
Total Mileage | 22 miles Camp | Near Magpie Campground
Terrain | Singletrack, No Van Support
Day 3 | Devil’s Pass, Little Missouri River
Don't forget your camera today! As we make our way to Devil's Pass it's hard to believe that this trail was once an old cattle road; nowadays it's is a fairly narrow passage for us. We reach a crest and are treated to fantastic views as we peer out across the Little Missouri River Valley. From here we drop down, eventually reaching the foot of the river itself; a quick wade brings us to the other side. Riding on, we meander through shady cottonwoods and climb up to the van and our lunch spot. After the break, eight more rolling miles bring us to our camp near Teddy's own Elkhorn Ranch. Here it is easy to see why Roosevelt was so in love with this land, and so committed to protecting it.
Total Mileage | 20 miles Camp | Private Camp
Terrain | Exposed singletrack, No Van Support
Day 4 | Buffalo Gap to Wannagan Creek
Today we enjoy ripping fast descents on buff singletrack mixed with shaded, sustained climbs as the trail winds though juniper and ash trees. We also weave our way though ancient sun-bleached stumps of petrified Cypress trees before descending to our camp near Wannagan Creek.
Total Mileage | 20 miles Camp | Near Wannagan Creek
Terrain | Singletrack, No Van Support
Day 5 | Buffalo Gap & South Unit
A big day of riding awaits us as we finish up our epic adventure in the Badlands! After a delicious breakfast, we will skirt the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and link up with the Buffalo Gap Trail. This trail leads us back to "civilization" in the funky wild west town of Medora. We'll finish at the tour with lunch at a local park as we say goodbye to our new found friends.
Total Mileage | 32 miles
Terrain | Singletrack, No Van Support
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