Click here to see a topographic version of this map with GPS waypoints (833 KB).
Click here to see a profile of area 5 (40 KB).
Click here to see a bird's eye view of area 5 (94 KB - Vertical Scale Exaggerated 8X).
| Waypoint Name | Latitude | Longitude | Bearing (Deg) | Distance to point (ft) | Total Distance (ft) |
| A5-31- | 47 deg 16 min 56 sec N | 103 deg 36 min 59 sec W | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A5-30- | 47 deg 17 min 10 sec N | 103 deg 36 min 26 sec W | 59 | 2,661 | 2,661 |
| A5-29- | 47 deg 17 min 0 sec N | 103 deg 35 min 55 sec W | 114.3 | 2,324 | 4,985 |
| A5-28- | 47 deg 17 min 4 sec N | 103 deg 35 min 25 sec W | 79.9 | 2,112 | 7,096 |
| A5-27- | 47 deg 17 min 1 sec N | 103 deg 35 min 11 sec W | 108.4 | 1,049 | 8,146 |
| A5-26- | 47 deg 17 min 13 sec N | 103 deg 35 min 2 sec W | 25.4 | 1,358 | 9,503 |
| A5-25- | 47 deg 17 min 13 sec N | 103 deg 34 min 46 sec W | 87.5 | 1,144 | 10,648 |
| A5-24- | 47 deg 17 min 19 sec N | 103 deg 34 min 54 sec W | 313.2 | 823 | 11,471 |
| A5-23- | 47 deg 17 min 32 sec N | 103 deg 34 min 53 sec W | 3.6 | 1,284 | 12,755 |
| A5-22- | 47 deg 17 min 43 sec N | 103 deg 35 min 6 sec W | 323.9 | 1,487 | 14,242 |
| A5-21- | 47 deg 17 min 49 sec N | 103 deg 35 min 4 sec W | 14.3 | 610 | 14,852 |
| A5-20- | 47 deg 17 min 52 sec N | 103 deg 34 min 23 sec W | 85.3 | 2,836 | 17,687 |
| A5-19- | 47 deg 17 min 44 sec N | 103 deg 34 min 12 sec W | 135.4 | 1,062 | 18,750 |
| A5-18- | 47 deg 17 min 44 sec N | 103 deg 33 min 45 sec W | 90.9 | 1,854 | 20,604 |
| A5-17- | 47 deg 18 min 6 sec N | 103 deg 33 min 36 sec W | 14.7 | 2,322 | 22,925 |
| A5-16- | 47 deg 18 min 6 sec N | 103 deg 33 min 16 sec W | 89.1 | 1,395 | 24,320 |
| A5-15- | 47 deg 17 min 51 sec N | 103 deg 32 min 59 sec W | 142.7 | 1,908 | 26,228 |
| A5-14- | 47 deg 17 min 52 sec N | 103 deg 32 min 47 sec W | 84.3 | 832 | 27,059 |
| A5-13- | 47 deg 17 min 40 sec N | 103 deg 32 min 27 sec W | 131 | 1,843 | 28,902 |
| A5-12- | 47 deg 17 min 48 sec N | 103 deg 32 min 6 sec W | 61.2 | 1,668 | 30,570 |
| A5-11- | 47 deg 17 min 47 sec N | 103 deg 31 min 58 sec W | 100 | 551 | 31,121 |
| A5-10- | 47 deg 17 min 36 sec N | 103 deg 31 min 52 sec W | 158.6 | 1,212 | 32,333 |
| A5-9-- | 47 deg 17 min 38 sec N | 103 deg 31 min 38 sec W | 79.7 | 943 | 33,276 |
| A5-8-P | 47 deg 17 min 37 sec N | 103 deg 31 min 32 sec W | 102 | 415 | 33,691 |
| A5-7-P | 47 deg 17 min 16 sec N | 103 deg 30 min 45 sec W | 123.4 | 3,883 | 37,574 |
| MP55 | 47 deg 17 min 22 sec N | 103 deg 30 min 47 sec W | 352.7 | 688 | 38,262 |
| A5-6-P | 47 deg 17 min 27 sec N | 103 deg 30 min 47 sec W | 0.2 | 489 | 38,751 |
| A5-5-P | 47 deg 17 min 31 sec N | 103 deg 30 min 33 sec W | 70.1 | 1,011 | 39,762 |
| A5-4- | 47 deg 17 min 49 sec N | 103 deg 30 min 12 sec W | 36.7 | 2,356 | 42,117 |
| A5-3- | 47 deg 17 min 57 sec N | 103 deg 29 min 24 sec W | 77.7 | 3,425 | 45,543 |
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 as described is approximately 11.5 miles with about 2 hours or less of actual riding time. Allow 4-5 hours for the complete ride. The trail description for this section will be for an east to west ride. If it is ridden the other direction, add 1/2 hour to the riding time.
To get to the start point - From Highway 85 six miles north of south Fairfield, turn west on road 712 and drive approximately 16 miles west and northwest. This is a curvy scoria road. Several other roads intersect with this road, but it is fairly easy to stay on 712 since this is one of the more well-traveled roads. A trail crossing sign indicates where the M-D-H crosses the road. Just past the trail you will find the entrance to the Magpie campground. This campground features 11 back-in camp sites. A single valut, unisex, handicap accessible toilet is available. A potable water well is available for summer use. Several of the campsites are shaded for refuge from those hot summer afternoons! This is a convenient campground for those who are touring the Devil's Pass area, or the ice caves. Park in the Magpie campground, and follow the short trail to the Maah-Daah-Hey.
Riding west from road 712:
Section 10
A very short ride leads to a self-closing gate.
Section 9
Enjoy the excellent but easy rolling single track over the south side of this section, leading to a self-closing gate.
Section 17
Tackle the big singletrack climb up to the road crossing. There is a self-closing gate midway through this section. Cross the road, and continue on the excellent singletrack.
Note - Riders can choose to follow the scoria road along this portion and over the next few miles of the trail, but will miss out on some excellent scenery, especially off to the southwest.
Section 18
Continue on the semi-technical but fun singletrack through this area. This area begins with a ride through a ravine, then climbs to Devils Pass. Both the view and the riding as you cross Devils Pass is incredible. This section and the next two sections provide some excellent biking.
Sections 13 and 12
The trail continues here as fun singletrack closely paralleling the scoria road and occassionally crossing it. The trail is more challenging and requires more exertion then the nearby road.
Section 14
Here the trail closely parallels the scoria road. Easy riding.
Section 15
The trail turns south here, and begins dropping down off the edge of a plateau. Excellent and fun singletrack leading to a self closing gate on the east side of section 15.
Section 14
Continue dropping down the semi-technical and aggressive singletrack south. There is excellent scenery on this stretch to match the fun ride. About half way down the draw, watch for the switchback near a large table rock . This is the half-way point of the Maah-Daah-Hey trail.
Section 15
Finish out the downhill run on great singletrack to the scoria road 719. Follow this road a short distance until the trail markers lead off to the west. The last portion of this section is riding through knee-deep sagebrush and trees along the well-marked trail toward the Little Missouri River.
Section 16
Continue the ride west through the brush and trees until you reach Whitetail Creek. Cross the creek, and continue a short distance to the self-closing gate between sections 16 and 21.
Section 21
Once through the gate, it is only a short ride to the Little Missouri River crossing in the top center of section 21. I crossed the Little Missouri when the water was higher than the normal summer conditions after heavy rains went through the area, and found the deepest spots to be about three feet deep. The water would normally be shallower in summer, deeper in early spring. The bottom was sandy but firm. There was a significant current, and it could be hard to cross if the river was much deeper.
To get to Highway 85 - Ride back east about 1 mile through sections 21 and 16 until you reach road 719. Follow the curvy scoria road 719 about 8 miles south and east until you intersect the Blacktail Creek road. Follow the curvy Blacktail Creek road about 14 miles south and east until you are 1 mile east of the substation. Turn 1 mile north, then back east 4-1/2 miles to highway 85.
[ Area 1 | Area 2 | Area 3 | Area 4 | 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.