The Historical 6-Mile Trail in North Dakota That’s Worth the Trek

Going the easy route is all well and good some of the time, but you’ve got to challenge yourself every once in a while. You’ve got to push yourself to go a little farther, a little faster, or how else are you supposed to ever experience the good stuff? In terms of hiking, some of the best routes are the toughest of the lot. Most people don’t get to experience the most fantastic views just because the mileage daunts them. Don’t let that be you. If you’re looking for a challenging trail that has lots to offer while still being manageable, I’ve got the spot for you.

Now, when I say challenging, I’m not saying you’re going to be stomping around for a hundred miles. No, I’m talking about the 5 to 10-mile range, and the trail that I want to talk about today falls nicely in the middle. The Maah Daah Hey Trail in North Dakota is a solid 6 miles and will take you around three hours to complete. The aforementioned challenge stems from the frequent elevation changes and, depending on the time of year, the heat. I recommend bringing plenty of water and a good hat to protect yourself from the sun. 

Now, 6 miles for your trained outdoorsman who has no problem sleeping outside for months at a time or eating dirt for the nutrients is a walk in the park, but for us, perhaps more generalist nature lovers who stroll around every once in a while, this is gonna be a bit of a journey. I’m including myself in this category. 

The Maah Daah Hey Trail is full of picturesque views of North Dakota’s Badlands. It offers a wide variety of plateaus, jagged peaks and valleys, large expanses of rolling prairie, and rivers… a little of everything, really. It’s part of the 144-mile Maah Daah Hey Trail, the longest continuous singletrack mountain biking trail in America. 

The trail has been used for hundreds of years by the Native Americans, and Maah Daah Hey is a phrase from the Mandan language, meaning “an area that has or will be around for a long time.” The trail even uses the turtle as a symbol. It is adopted from the Lakota Sioux Indians, who thought of the creature as symbolizing patience, loyalty, determination, steadfastness, long life, and fortitude.

Overall, if you’re ready for a challenge, not afraid of a little sweat, and excited to see some stunning sights, this trail is the perfect choice. It might be tough, but by the time you reach the end, you’ll be grateful that you made the effort. 

If you plan to do any hiking, download the AllTrails app on your phone so that you can have easy access to maps, trail information, and curated lists on the best hikes in your area.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.