Maah Daah Hey Trail

Maah Daah Hey Trail
Name	Maah Daah Hey Trail
Location	North Dakota, United States
Length	144 miles
Use	Hiking, Mountain Biking, Equestrian
Difficulty	Moderate to Strenuous
Established	1994

Maah Daah Hey Trail is a long-distance backcountry route in the Badlands of western North Dakota that traverses remote landscapes, rugged canyons, andprairie grasslands. The corridor links recreational access within Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, and Little Missouri National Grassland, providing multi-use passage for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. Management involves federal and state agencies such as the United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department working with local stakeholders including the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and volunteer groups like Backcountry Horsemen of America.

Overview

The trail extends through the North Dakota Badlands and connects trailheads near communities including Medora, North Dakota, Watford City, North Dakota, Grassy Butte, North Dakota, and Beach, North Dakota. It crosses terrain associated with the Little Missouri River and scenic features cataloged by the National Park Service and the United States Geological Survey. Trail users navigate varied topography mapped by organizations such as the Appalachian Mountain Club and informed by guides produced by the National Outdoor Leadership School and regional outfitters.

Route and Geography

The corridor runs roughly north–south across shale buttes, mixed-grass prairie, and coulees carved by the Little Missouri River and tributaries identified by the USGS National Hydrography Dataset and regional hydrologists from North Dakota State University. Sections pass near geological formations studied by the United States Geological Survey and referenced in publications from the Geological Society of America regarding the Paleocene and Eocene stratigraphy of the Plains. Elevation changes reflect the Great Plains escarpment and erosional patterns comparable to sites managed by the National Park Service and examined in works by geologists at the Smithsonian Institution.

History and Development

The corridor follows routes through lands historically used by Indigenous peoples including the Lakota, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (Sahnish), as documented by the Smithsonian Institution and tribal historical offices. Euro-American exploration and settlement influenced patterns later recorded by the Lewis and Clark Expedition narratives and territorial maps held by the Library of Congress. Trail development accelerated during the late 20th century with support from agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and conservation organizations like The Nature Conservancy leading to formal designation and volunteer-built corridors guided by standards from the International Mountain Bicycling Association.

Recreation and Use

The route supports multi-day backcountry travel for users influenced by outdoor traditions practiced by organizations including the American Hiking Society, International Mountain Bicycling Association, and Equestrian Trails and Recreation Association. Popular activities echo regional events hosted by local tourism boards in Medora, North Dakota and outfitters based in Watford City, North Dakota, with logistical services provided by outfitters connected to the Outdoor Industry Association networks. Trail guides and route descriptions appear in resources from the Backpacker Magazine, Outside (magazine), and regional guidebooks produced by the North Dakota Tourism Division.

Environmental and Cultural Significance

The corridor traverses habitats for species monitored by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, including grassland birds listed by the Audubon Society and megafauna documented in paleontological collections at the State Historical Society of North Dakota and Museum of the Rockies. The landscape contains cultural sites referenced in tribal histories preserved by the Mandan Hidatsa Cultural Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian. Conservation values have attracted partnerships with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and research by faculty at North Dakota State University and University of North Dakota.

Management and Maintenance

Administration involves interagency cooperation among the Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, National Park Service, and the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, with maintenance supported by volunteer groups like the Backcountry Horsemen of America and regional trail coalitions modeled after those affiliated with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Policy guidance references federal statutes administered by the United States Department of the Interior and best practices promoted by the International Mountain Bicycling Association and Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.

Safety and Access Information

Visitors must prepare for remote travel consistent with guidance from the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, and state emergency responders such as North Dakota Highway Patrol. Seasonal conditions follow continental patterns documented by the National Weather Service and require route planning advised by organizations like the American Red Cross and Search and Rescue teams coordinated with local sheriffs and county emergency management offices. Permits, closures, and land-use notices are issued by agencies including the Bureau of Land Management and the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, while outfitter logistics are often routed through businesses in Medora, North Dakota and Watford City, North Dakota.

Category:Trails in North Dakota Category:Protected areas of North Dakota