When people think about North Dakota, many think “flyover country.” As bad as it sounds, I might have been one of them. On this trip to North Dakota, I set out to experience it all (and I do mean everything), from hiking trails in Bismarck, to the rugged Badlands, to the legendary Maah Daah Hey Trail.
After spending time here biking, hiking, and backpacking across its vast landscapes, I can confidently tell you that my previous notions couldn’t be further from the truth. North Dakota is a place of stories. Stories written into the badlands, carved by rivers, and carried forward by the people who call this place home.
Starting in Bismarck: Where History Meets Trail
I kicked things off in Bismarck, the second-largest city in the state. Bismarck is a great basecamp if you’re looking to explore North Dakota hiking trails without immediately heading deep into the badlands on the Western side of the state.
Before hitting the trails, I spent time at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum. Walking through the exhibits with a local guide, I learned more about the rich history of North Dakota and its people, and how they learned to thrive in this rugged landscape.
One of the highlights here is Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, a place where history and outdoor adventure collide. Biking through the start park with my new buddy, Easton, felt like stepping through time. One minute we were cruising smooth singletrack, and the next we were weaving past old cavalry fortifications and earth lodge villages.
If you're looking for accessible hiking trails Bismarck North Dakota, Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is a perfect place to start. The terrain rolls like a roller coaster, which is flowy, fast, and just the right amount of difficulty to keep things interesting – without being too technically demanding. That comes a little later.
Life on a North Dakota Ranch
Just outside Medora, I had the chance to step fully into that Old West lifestyle at Bar X Ranch. I was lucky enough to spend the day with some real cowboys and girls, mending fences and driving cattle on horseback.
Riding horseback across the Badlands was one of my favorite experiences in ND. I am not a rancher, nor have I even ridden a horse through open terrain, but I can definitely see the appeal of that kind of life.
What struck me most was how little has changed. The work, the pace, the lifestyle are all still steeped in tradition, and being invited into that world, even for a day, gave me a deeper appreciation for the people who call this place home.
The People Who Shape North Dakota
One of the most meaningful parts of my backpacking trip to North Dakota wasn’t just the trails, it was the people.
I had the opportunity to attend the United Tribes International Pow Wow, one of the largest outdoor celebrations in North America. People from across the United States, Canada, and even Mexico, travel here to gather and celebrate their culture. Being invited was such an honor, and it gave me a deeper understanding of how connected this land is to the people who have lived here for generations.
From the Pow Wow, to conversations in the museum, to working alongside ranchers, each experience during this trip added depth, and another layer to the journey.
Heading West Into the Badlands
To really understand North Dakota, you’ve got to head west.
The drive from Bismarck to Medora is something really special. Endless prairie stretches out in every direction, until suddenly – BAM.
The green prairies give way to steep red buttes jutting out of the horizon, and you are teleported straight into another world. The sudden and drastic shift in landscape really cannot be understated.
When I arrived in Medora, it felt like stepping into the Old West. Wooden storefronts, dusty roads, and a slower pace of life. The town even went to the effort to bury its electrical lines, further giving the impression that this place exists in a much older reality than ours.
If you're searching for hiking trails in Medora, North Dakota, you’ll find everything from scenic overlooks to rugged badlands routes. And of course, there’s the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt, whose influence on conservation is still felt here today.
The Maah Daah Hey Trail
Let’s talk about the main event of my trip: the Maah Daah Hey Trail.
This trail is the backbone of outdoor adventure in North Dakota. The Maah Daah Hey Trail is 144 miles of pure, untamed terrain winding through the Badlands. Whether you’re into biking, hiking, camping, or backpacking in North Dakota, this trail absolutely delivers, and I decided to experience the Maah Daah Hey Trail the best way I know how: biking and backpacking.
The Maah Daah Hey is a trail of steep ups and downs, and massive, breathtaking views. Unlike mountain biking in places with long climbs and descents, this trail keeps you working. You’re constantly driving up steep, short climbs, and tearing down quick descents. It’s challenging, but incredibly rewarding. If you’re into endurance events, the Maah Daah Hey Trail run is quickly becoming a bucket-list experience for cyclists and trail runners looking for something truly unforgettable.
Biking and Backpacking
I’ve done a lot of mountain biking, and I’ve taken even more backpacking trips. But combining the two? That was new.
Bikepacking along the Maah Daah Hey Trail gave me a whole new appreciation for the land. You carry everything you need, ride through constantly changing terrain, and earn every mile.
After a long, hot day on the trail, crossing the Little Missouri River felt like a reset. That night, I set up camp under a sky full of stars, and it really doesn’t get better than that.
Sitting around camp, cooking a simple meal, watching the sun drop below the buttes, those moments will stick with me forever. If you’re considering a North Dakota biking and backpacking adventure, this is one of the most unique ways to do it.
Backpacking the Badlands
After the intensity of biking, I wanted to slow things down. So we loaded up our packs and headed out on foot, and this is where North Dakota really surprised me.
The North Dakota Badlands are alive in ways you don’t expect. Red clay formations, created by underground coal fires, cut through the landscape. River valleys glow gold and red in the fall. Towering buttes rise up against a massive blue sky. Hiking here feels different than anywhere else I’ve explored. You can see for miles in every direction, and there’s this sense that you’re free to go wherever the land takes you.
If you're looking for hiking trails in North Dakota that offer solitude and scenery, the Badlands are where it's at.
Why North Dakota Should Be Your Next Adventure Destination
I’ve traveled all over the world, but there’s something uniquely powerful about North Dakota.
This trip was about more than just hiking, backpacking, or biking the Maah Daah Hey Trail. It was about experiencing a place where the trails, the history, the people, and the land are all connected.
From biking through Fort Abraham Lincoln, to learning deeper stories at the museum and the Pow Wow, to riding horseback with cowboys in Medora, to biking through the Badlands and slowing down again on foot, each moment built on the last.
By the end of it, I realized this place is defined by how all of these experiences come together.
So whether you’re looking to travel to North Dakota for hiking, biking, camping, history, or solitude, one thing is certain: you won’t just leave this place with photos, you’ll leave with a story.
Start planning your North Dakota adventure
Be sure to read my previous hiker’s guide to North Dakota here: Maah Daah Hey Trail Guide: Thru-Hike North to South in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
