Maah-Daah-Hey Trail - Area 3
Trail descriptions are not to be copied with intention to republish without prior permission. WestDakota is not responsible for errors or omissions. These trails are sometimes difficult to follow and are always dangerous, and riders must be aware that they alone are responsible for their own safety.
Click here to see a topographic version of this map with GPS waypoints (207 KB).
Click here to see a profile of area 3 (36 KB).
Click here to see a bird's eye view of area 3 (95 KB - Vertical Scale Exaggerated 8X).
| Waypoint
Name |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Bearing (Deg) |
Distance to point (ft) |
Total Distance (ft) |
| A3-1- |
47 deg 19 min 46 sec N |
103 deg 24 min 11 sec W |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| A3-2- |
47 deg 20 min 3 sec N |
103 deg 24 min 13 sec W |
355.9 |
1648 |
1,648 |
| A3-3- |
47 deg 21 min 9 sec N |
103 deg 24 min 49 sec W |
339.7 |
7133 |
8,780 |
| A3-4- |
47 deg 21 min 13 sec N |
103 deg 24 min 44 sec W |
37 |
588 |
9,368 |
| A3-5- |
47 deg 21 min 48 sec N |
103 deg 24 min 51 sec W |
352.4 |
3582 |
12,950 |
| A3-6- |
47 deg 22 min 8 sec N |
103 deg 24 min 3 sec W |
58.8 |
3853 |
16,802 |
| A3-7- |
47 deg 22 min 18 sec N |
103 deg 24 min 8 sec W |
339.9 |
1031 |
17,833 |
| A3-8- |
47 deg 22 min 26 sec N |
103 deg 24 min 3 sec W |
23.3 |
894 |
18,728 |
| A3-9- |
47 deg 22 min 44 sec N |
103 deg 24 min 11 sec W |
342.6 |
1968 |
20,696 |
| A3-10- |
47 deg 23 min 43 sec N |
103 deg 24 min 13 sec W |
358.8 |
5929 |
26,624 |
| A3-11- |
47 deg 23 min 52 sec N |
103 deg 24 min 20 sec W |
333.4 |
1050 |
27,675 |
| A3-12- |
47 deg 24 min 15 sec N |
103 deg 24 min 8 sec W |
19.3 |
2488 |
30,162 |
| A3-13- |
47 deg 24 min 32 sec N |
103 deg 23 min 3 sec W |
69.5 |
4777 |
34,939 |
| A3-14- |
47 deg 24 min 43 sec N |
103 deg 22 min 59 sec W |
11.3 |
1197 |
36,136 |
| A3-15- |
47 deg 24 min 46 sec N |
103 deg 22 min 37 sec W |
81.3 |
1548 |
37,684 |
| A3-16- |
47 deg 24 min 54 sec N |
103 deg 22 min 30 sec W |
29.8 |
947 |
38,631 |
| A3-17- |
47 deg 25 min 6 sec N |
103 deg 21 min 54 sec W |
62.4 |
2788 |
41,419 |
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Easy GPS is a freeware GPS file transfer program offered by TopoGrafix. Get your copy here!
Right-click and select "Save Target As" to download the following EasyGPS route files for areas 1 through 9 => mdh.gpx (approx. 50K).
Total Distance of this section is approximately 10 miles with about 2 hours of actual riding time. Allow 3-5 hours for the complete ride.
To get to the start point - From Highway 85 at Grassy Butte, drive approximately 6-1/2 miles west on the Beicegel Creek Road (Road 50) until you see the 809 intersection. The intersection is easy to notice since there is a fenced pipeline section near the intersection. The MDH crosses this road near the center of section 36. Since this trail description is written for riding from south to north, turn south on Road 809 from Road 50. Follow 809 about 3 miles until it meets with Road 808. Follow Road 808 an additional 4 miles south, until it bends toward the west near the south end of section 35. At this point the road is only 1/4 mile east of the trail, and the markers can be seen if you carefully watch while driving. Park here, and ride over to the trail markers, lifting your bike over the fence on the way.
Riding north from the southern part of section 34:
Section 34
This is a flat easy ride over prairie on faint single and double track. At places, the trail actually seems to be missing, but it is easy to follow the turtle markers. A very easy mile.
Section 27
Continue the easy, level ride north on faint single track on an increasingly narrow plateau. This is antelope country, and you will likely see the speed goats on this section or anywhere during the next 8 miles. At the north end of section 27, you will enjoy an excellent downhill singletrack. It is fun and mostly non-technical.
Section 22
There is excellent rolling single track through this section, as the trail leads you east, then north again. The southern part of this section has steeper trails than the northern part. While there are both uphills and downhills here, when riding north it is predominately downhill. Fun and relatively easy! There is a self-closing gate at the end of this section.
Section 15
Continue riding north downhill on single track until you cross Road 809 near the center of section 15. As you continue north from Road 809, you will cross Beicegel Creek. Check out the petrified stumps in the creek bed! North from the creek, the trail disappears into cactus and grass. Only careful, slow riding here will prevent a flat. While the trail itself sometimes seems to be missing, the markers are obvious, frequent, and easy to follow. On the north half of this section the land is swampy, especially if it has been raining recently, so be ready for a little mud.
Section 10
The marshy, hard to see (but well-marked) trail continues north until the middle of section 10, where it again materializes and leads you to an excellent singletrack climb. The climb continues through the rest of the section, and even has a few short borderline technical sections.
Section 3
The trail continues the neat singletrack climb until you reach the plateau near the center of section 3. Here the trail turns east and becomes a gentle downhill to the self-closing gate at the east end of section 3.
Section 2
Traveling mostly east through section 2, you will cross a broad valley, then climb a gentle singletrack up a coulee. At the end of section 2, you will cross Road 809, and find a self-closing gate. Watch for sharptail grouse.
Section 36
The final 1/2 mile of this trail is easy singletrack which leads to the Beicegel Creek Road (50).
To get to Highway 85 - Drive about 6-1/2 miles east on the pavement to arrive at Grassy Butte.
[ Area 1 | Area 2 | Area 4 | Area 5 | Area 6 | Area 7 ]
[ Area 8 | Area 9 | Maah-Daah-Hey ]
Click here for fine art photography of the North Dakota badlands and the Maah-Daah-Hey area.