2 Underrated National Grassland Hikes in North Dakota That Rival Badlands National Park

Much of the Midwest has a reputation for being flat: fields, prairie, and a whole lot of flat. That may mean that grasslands in the Midwest make you think of a horizon like a piece of paper. In some ways, that may be true—sorry, Southern Illinois. However, there are a couple of underrated hikes in the national grasslands of North Dakota that could make you think a little differently. While arguably not as varied as Badlands National Park, these hikes demonstrate the magic of a wild protected grassland.

North Dakota is home to three national grasslands (including Cedar River National Grassland), which is more than any other state. So it's a good spot to bask.

Sheyenne National Grassland - North Country Trail

Before we get into the hike, let's take a moment to appreciate the uniqueness of the Sheyenne National Grassland. This is the only National Grassland in the country's tallgrass prairie region and is home to one of the world's largest populations of western prairie fringed orchids. These threatened orchids, with their distinctive white flowers, look almost like fairies dancing among the prairie grass. Keep an eye out on the trail for these beauties.

What trail are you going to be looking out from? That would be a section of the North Country National Scenic Trail. This largely flat, moderate hike through the grasslands is a 15.8-mile, point-to-point route. If you don't have that kind of time to spare, you don't have to hike the whole thing. Along the way, you'll spot all sorts of wild flowers and potentially see some wildlife too, like the local pheasants or pronghorn.

Little Missouri National Grassland - Birnt Hills Trail

Another underrated hike to consider can be found in Little Missouri National Grassland. Contrary to its name, there is nothing diminutive about this national grassland. In fact, it's the largest one in the U.S. It consists of more than a million acres of protected wilderness, bordering Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and this magnificent hike will have you seeing vistas you didn't think possible outside of a major national park location.

Tucked away in one of the upper corners of Little Missouri National Grassland's borders, you can hike Birnt Hills Trail. The moderate, 3.2-mile loop offers stunning views of the nearby Missouri River and prairie grass-covered vistas. Birnt Hills Trail can be more rugged at times, with hard-to-find trail markers, so be sure to download your map from AllTrails ahead of time. When you're not looking ahead to the next trail post, don't forget to admire the trees, rocks, and wildlife that call the grasslands home.

If you happen to be visiting during the warm months, or you want to see the river, there is a small public beach partway through this hike. So, take a dip and head back into the wilderness for more grassland adventure.

Ready to hit the trail? Use Only In Your State's AI Travel Planner to make your next North Dakota trip the best one yet!