Category: North Dakota Federal

Dakota Prairie National Grasslands

The Dakota Prairie National Grasslands consist of four National Grasslands, three in North Dakota and one in South Dakota.  Here is their website.  And here is another very informative website from the Forest Service.  For more information call 701-989-7300.  For information about a specific trail, be sure to contact the individual Ranger District.

Little Missouri National Grassland For information call the Medora Ranger District. 701-227-7800
This is the largest grassland in the country at 1,033,271 acres.  “A predominant feature of the grassland is colorful and beautiful badlands, a rugged terrain extensively eroded by wind and water. It is a mixed grass prairie, meaning it has both long and short grass.”

Sheyenne National Grassland   For information call the Sheyenne Ranger  District 701-683-4342
This grassland “is characterized by sandy soils, originally deposited as a delta of an ancient river as it emptied into glacial Lake Agassiz.  Since that time, the wind and rain have shaped the topography into a unique landscape ranging from flat deltaic plains to choppy sand dunes.” “It is the only National Grassland in the tallgrass prairie region of the United States.”
Oakleaf Trail is a “…4-mile loop attached to the northeast end of the North Country National Scenic Trail.”   It is a marked, graveled trail intended for non-motorized travel.

Denbigh Experimental Forest
? Denbigh Trail is a “…3 mile loop that winds through the tree plantings and surrounding prairie at the Denbigh Experimental Forest.  It includes a small loop through the historic arboretum.  It is a marked, graveled trail.  This trail has two trailheads along its route.  One trailhead is located at the southwest corner of the unit and the other is at the northwest end of the unit near the arboretum and administrative site. ”
?Hankinson Hills Trail  is a “8 mile loop that winds through the oak trees and prairie surrounding the Hankinson Hills Campground.  It is a marked, graveled trail.  This trail has four trailheads along its route, including one located in the campground. ”  Map

Audubon National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge is 14,735 acres of “native prairie, planted grasslands, and wetlands”……”managed to provide food,water, shetler, and space to meet the need of waterfowl and other migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, and resident wildlife. ”
  Map Here is the Refuge website.  Phone 701-442-5474 .
Prairie Nature Trail is accessible to wheelchair users with some help.  Thanks to Visitor Services Manager Jackie Jacobson for this description:  “The prairie nature trail is approximately 1 mile in length and has a gravel surface. ……we have found that the gravel does not stay real well packed along the entire length of the trail. We have had students who use wheelchairs and they have needed to have a person with them to help push the wheelchair, as the wheels do not always stay on top of the gravel….especially if we have had rain. The cross slope is very minimal on the trail and is considered to be accessible.  A person who is walking slowly, or using a cane or walker could navigate through this trail. It is a loop, but people are invited to hike as much as they are comfortable with, and then turn around and come back to the visitor center. “

Theodore Roosevelt National Park
The three units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park cover 70,446 acres of badlands and floodplain. The Little Missouri River flows through all three units of the park contributing to the diversity of habitat, plants, and animals. Periodic flooding has helped to establish cottonwood forests. Flat grasslands on the floodplains provide forage for the park’s numerous grazing mammals, including bison, deer, horses, and elk.
Here is the Park website.    Hiking Guide and Trail Map   Accessibility   Phone 701-623-4466
Skyline Vista Overlook is a 0.1 mile paved, flat nature trail on Johnson’s Plateau.
Little Mo Nature Trail has a 0.7 mile inner loop which is paved and an 1.1 mile outer loop which is unpaved.   Trail brochures are available at the trailhead.
Boicourt Overlook is a 0.2 mile trail with a “slight grade”.  Hard surface.

Wind Canyon Trail 0.4 mile along a canyon to a view of the Little Missouri River.