This North Dakota Ranch In The Middle Of Nowhere Will Make You Forget All Of Your Worries
By Tori Jane|Published March 08, 2022
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
Lovers of peace and quiet have good reason to want to visit (or live in) North Dakota. With a population of just over 762,000 people, it’s one of the least-populated states in the US. We’re not entirely certain why; sure, the winters up here can get a little… uh, dodgy… but that’s a minor price to pay for the luxury of calling somewhere so beautiful (and so peaceful!) home. Whether you already live here or you’re just planning a visit, chances are that at some point you’ll find yourself wanting to relax and unwind in some quiet way, and you’ll be wanting to find accommodations that align with that desire. We found a delightfully secluded stay in North Dakota that offers all the peace and quiet in the world matched with a brilliantly vibrant atmosphere that even the most hardened of cowpokes will come to love.
Buffalo Gap Guest Ranch is THE quintessential representation of what rest, relaxation, and good times in the Badlands is like.
It really is located in the middle of nowhere, somewhere off in far west-central North Dakota, near Sentinel Butte.
Don't let the remoteness of the location fool you, though: once you check in to Buffalo Gap Guest Ranch, you're in for a splendid time that's somehow both invigorating and relaxing.
Unwind on the porch overlooking miles of scenic North Dakota wildlands; the Badlands are so much more beautiful than most will give it credit for, and Buffalo Gap just so happens to be cozily nestled smack-dab in the middle of it all.
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The lodge consists of 27 rustic, modern cabin rooms, each outfitted with two queen beds, a TV, and Wi-Fi.
We personally prefer to unplug entirely when at places like this, but that's us - you do whatever it is that brings you peace. The Ranch is perfect for a weekend of decompressing.
There is a plethora of fun stuff to do on and around the ranch, like camping, hunting (one of their specialties is catering to hunters!), and horseback riding, with things even the kids can get in on.
Hike the amazing Maah-Daah-Hey Trail and then come back for a genuine cowboy supper followed by dancing and a bonfire with other guests just like settlers used to do in the old days.
The Ranch restaurant serves up some of the best steaks in the upper Midwest, and the breakfasts here are to die for, too.
They'll even pack you a trail lunch if you have plans to go horseback riding or mountain biking on the Maah-Daah-Hey; just let them know and you'll get a plethora of options. This getaway is ideal for the outdoorsy-explorer type, but if you prefer a cozy weekend in, no worries - the Ranch is perfect for that, too.
The rooms are split up into many cozy cabins, and the grounds also have all kinds of campsites offering different amenities from primitive sites to RV hookups up for grabs as well.
This is one of those wonderful places where the days can be anything you want them to be: slow and quiet, fast-paced and fun, or a mixture of both - no matter what you prefer, this is the ideal secluded stay in North Dakota for you.
Come for the peace and quiet, but stay a while to really absorb the intense natural beauty of North Dakota's badlands.
