Maah-Daah-Hey Trail - Area 6
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 (304 KB).
Click here to see a profile of area 6 (35 KB).
Click here to see a bird's eye view of area 6 (87 KB - Vertical Scale Exaggerated 8X).
| Waypoint
Name |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Bearing (Deg) |
Distance to point (ft) |
Total Distance (ft) |
| A6-1-- |
47 deg 9 min 19 sec N |
103 deg 38 min 53 sec W |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| A6-2-- |
47 deg 9 min 36 sec N |
103 deg 38 min 58 sec W |
348.6 |
1,756 |
1756 |
| A6-3-- |
47 deg 9 min 53 sec N |
103 deg 39 min 58 sec W |
292.6 |
4,487 |
6243 |
| A6-4-- |
47 deg 10 min 10 sec N |
103 deg 40 min 13 sec W |
328.9 |
2,009 |
8252 |
| A6-5-- |
47 deg 10 min 13 sec N |
103 deg 39 min 58 sec W |
71.6 |
1,092 |
9345 |
| A6-6-- |
47 deg 10 min 33 sec N |
103 deg 40 min 3 sec W |
350.5 |
2,094 |
11439 |
| A6-7-- |
47 deg 11 min 18 sec N |
103 deg 39 min 18 sec W |
34.8 |
5,449 |
16888 |
| A6-8-- |
47 deg 12 min 26 sec N |
103 deg 39 min 58 sec W |
338.2 |
7,419 |
24306 |
| A6-9-- |
47 deg 12 min 50 sec N |
103 deg 39 min 59 sec W |
359.8 |
2,496 |
26802 |
| A6-10- |
47 deg 12 min 57 sec N |
103 deg 39 min 29 sec W |
71.6 |
2,183 |
28985 |
| A6-11- |
47 deg 13 min 11 sec N |
103 deg 40 min 14 sec W |
293.9 |
3,398 |
32383 |
| A6-12- |
47 deg 13 min 21 sec N |
103 deg 39 min 39 sec W |
66.9 |
2,628 |
35011 |
| A6-13- |
47 deg 13 min 55 sec N |
103 deg 39 min 9 sec W |
31 |
4,018 |
39029 |
| A6-14- |
47 deg 13 min 51 sec N |
103 deg 37 min 43 sec W |
93.3 |
5,878 |
44907 |
| A6-15- |
47 deg 14 min 8 sec N |
103 deg 37 min 43 sec W |
0 |
1,721 |
46628 |
| A6-16- |
47 deg 14 min 29 sec N |
103 deg 38 min 8 sec W |
320.1 |
2,692 |
49320 |
| A6-17- |
47 deg 14 min 56 sec N |
103 deg 38 min 33 sec W |
327.9 |
3,250 |
52570 |
| A6-18- |
47 deg 15 min 13 sec N |
103 deg 38 min 33 sec W |
0 |
1,721 |
54291 |
| A6-19- |
47 deg 15 min 30 sec N |
103 deg 39 min 9 sec W |
305.5 |
2,966 |
57257 |
| A6-20- |
47 deg 16 min 1 sec N |
103 deg 38 min 39 sec W |
33 |
3,797 |
61055 |
| A6-21- |
47 deg 16 min 22 sec N |
103 deg 38 min 39 sec W |
0 |
2,066 |
63120 |
| A6-22- |
47 deg 16 min 15 sec N |
103 deg 38 min 19 sec W |
116.5 |
1,542 |
64662 |
| A6-23- |
47 deg 16 min 29 sec N |
103 deg 37 min 18 sec W |
71.6 |
4,365 |
69027 |
| A6-24- |
47 deg 16 min 22 sec N |
103 deg 37 min 8 sec W |
134.9 |
975 |
70002 |
| A6-25- |
47 deg 16 min 52 sec N |
103 deg 36 min 58 sec W |
12.5 |
3,174 |
73177 |
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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 as described is approximately 18 miles with about 3 hours of actual riding time. Allow about 6 hours for the complete ride. The trail description for this section will be for a north to south ride, except for the first portion down to the river, which has a description for each direction.
To get to the start point - From Medora, drive 1 mile west to I-94, then on I-94 another mile west to the West River Road exit. From this exit, drive north and west approximately 9-1/2 miles on 730A until you arrive at the intersection with road 726. Turn right on road 726 and travel northeast approximately 7 miles to the intersection with road 729. Turn left on 729 and travel northwest approximately 4-1/2 miles to the intersection with road 725. Turn north onto 725 and travel north and east approximately 7 miles to the intersection with road 722. Turn left on 722 and travel northwest approximately 5 miles to the intersection with road 708. Turn right on 708 and travel north approximately 4-1/2 miles to the intersection with road 703. Turn right here (east), staying on 708, and travel east and north approximately 4-1/2 miles. At this point, you will find the intersection to the road to the Elkhorn campground. Continue North about another half-mile until you arrive at the Maah-Daah-Hey trail crossing sign. Park on the approach at the trail on the east side of the road. This will provide an excellent view of the Little Missouri river bottom to the east.
The Elkhorn Campground has 8 single unit back-in sites and one double unit pull-through camp spur. The campground has a single vault, unisex, handlicap accessible toilet. A water well is available during the summer months. The campground is only two miles from the Elkhorn Ranch site.
To get to the Little Missouri River from the intersection of road 708 and the Maah-Daah-Hey trail:
Section 21
A very short ride east from the road leads to a self-closing gate. Go through the gate, and descend the excellent switchbacked singletrack to the river bottom. This will be a very muddy ride if it has recently rained. Once in the bottom, travel north 1/2 mile through the bottomland forest to the Little Missouri River crossing. 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 return to the road, travel back south through the trees, and make the steep switchbacked climb back to the starting point. From the road, continue west following the well-marked trail to the self-closing gate on the west side of section 21.
Section 20
Enjoy the grassy and mostly imaginary (but well-marked) trail for 1/2 mile before going through another self-closing gate, and beginning a relatively steep downhill single track with high cross-cuts. At the bottom, follow the trail south and begin the gentle climb up the grassy valley on the single track. Another self-closing gate marks the beginning of section 29.
Section 29
This is private land. Continue up the double-track to the scoria road and go past the oil well, heading generally south.
Section 30
Follow the trail southwest around the edge of the hill, then begin the moderate climb to the steep switchback trail up the hill on the east side of the valley. The trail is somewhat hard to see here, but the markers are obvious and easily followed.
Section 29
The trail continues here as a short, fast downhill run to the scoria road.
Section 32
The trail parallels the scoria road for a short distance leading to a self-closing gate. After leaving the gate, ride generally southeast, and hang on. Enjoy the excellent, fast, downhill singletrack, followed by a short singletrack climb, leading to section 5.
Section 5
Pass the stock tank, and continue on the excellent rolling singletrack leading to the side hill overlooking Theodore Roosevelt's Elkhorn Ranch site. The view here is wonderful, and the riding can't be beat. The trail continues south, dropping off the side of the cliff into a valley. Here the trail turns generally west, levels out, leads to a self-closing gate, then parallels a dirt road to another gate at section 6.
Section 6
Continue west on the relatively flat trail until it crosses the dirt road near the bottom center of this section. Here it turns south and leads you up a hill to section 7 and another self-closing gate.
Sections 7 and 12
Continue the ride through the northwest corner of section 7. You will leave section 7 briefly, heading west on a plateau on a ride around a large valley. Another self-closing gate signals the beginning of section 12. Continue the fine singletrack ride west, then south and back east on the top of the plateau. You will return to section 7 on some fine and fun downhill singletrack. The trail winds around for some easy singletrack through a valley, then serves up a steep climb and another downhill singletrack to section 13.
Section 13
Continue south past the stock dam, climbing to the self-closing gate between sections 13 and 18.
Section 18
This is gentle downhill riding on a faint but easily-followed trail.
Section 19
Continue south to Dry Creek. Cross the creek and tackle the steady singletrack climb to section 30.
Section 30
Cross into the state land, and continue past the stock tank to section 25.
Section 25
Continue across the creek, and work your way up the steep climb to the top of the ridge. Follow the edge of the hill to section 36.
Sections 36 and 31
Continue southeast about 1-1/2 miles along the mostly imaginary, grassy trail along the south side of the ridge of hills. In many places the trail itself is faint or non-existant, but the markers are easy to follow. Once past the stock tank, you will be treated to a fast singletrack downhill run to road 722.
This section of trail, along with others in this area, has an abundance of horned toads. They seem to enjoy lying on or near the trail beginning in late morning. Sometimes they will scurry away, other times, they just lie still.
To get to Medora - Drive east on road 722 about 2-1/2 miles to road 725. Turn south on 725 and travel approximately 7 miles to road 729. Turn east on 729 and travel about 4-1/2 miles to road 726. Turn right on 726 and travel about 7 miles to road 730A. Turn east on 730A and drive about 9-1/2 miles to the I-94 West River Road Exit. Get on the interstate, and drive 1 mile east to the Medora exit.
[ Area 1 | Area 2 | Area 3 | Area 4 | Area 5 | 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.