Medora Area Bike Trails
Information courtesy of Dakota Cycling, some trail descriptions modified based on personal experience.
Hard Surface Trails
For Maah-Daah_Hey Trail Descriptions, click here!
East River Road: This is a scoria road. To access the road head east out of town, and turn right at the East River Road sign. Enjoy the non-technical ride with some good climbing and fast descents. Since this is an out and back ride, you can go as far as you want and then turn around for the return trip. It is also possible to ride all the way to Amidon, a 42 mile one-way trip.
West River Road: This is a hard scoria / gravel road. To access this road take the ampitheatre turn and get on the fireguard just before the railroad crossing. Follow the railroad tracks which will connect with the West River Road. An alternate access route is to take the highway west to I-94 and take the I-94 exit 23 to the West River Road. The road consists of a long gradual climb from Andrews Creek to the summit. It is a gentle, rolling and winding road.
Ranchorama Road: This is a hard surface scoria road. Take the road east out of Medora and turn right just before the Ranchorama Rodeo Grounds. After two miles of easy riding the road will end at an oil site.
Fryberg Road: Take the East River Road as described above. The sign to Fryburg will be in four miles. The ride to Fryburg is 12 miles.
River Road: Follow the East River Road as described above. Just before the first ascent, turn right and follow the river for one mile. Do not bike beyond the third cattle guard, which will be found at a distance of 3.2 miles.
Intermediate Trails
Sully Creek Trail: Bike to the East River Road as described above. Go past the Sully Creek Campground sign. Take the first right after the sign (in approximately 150 yards). Go about 300 yards on the double track scoria trail and turn right on the old fire guard trail. Head up the hill toward the trees on the skyline. At the summit check out the spectacular view of Custer Wash. A single track trail will loop around the plateau almost back to the ascent. There will be a Stone Johnny (a pile of scoria rocks) at the descent. Follow the trail along the ridge to the Sully Creek Campground. The trail is approximately 5 miles.
Great Divide Trail: Bike to the East River Road as described above. Across from the Painted Badlands Ranch go directly through gate #739B onto a double track trail. After approximately 200 yards, the trail passes through a small tree line and turns left. The trail will begin to parallel a fence on your left until you reach gate #2 just after the fence takes a right turn. After going through the gate, the trail is faint with overgrown grass. Follow it around the ridge keeping to the right. Stay on this trail for approximately 3/4 mile. A slight descent takes you into gate #3. Continue on the double track down a hill. Turn to the right, and go approximately 1/4 mile until you reach a tall, white piece of P.V.C. tubing sticking out of the ground. Turn left here, and pick up the double track in approximately 20 yards. The trail will angle to the left. Enjoy the fast downhill to the scoria road. Hop the barbed wire fence, go left, and ride the scoria Ranchorama Road back to town. This trail is about 9 miles.
Andrews Creek Trails: Bike west out of town, across the Little Missouri River. Decide which of the two possible trail routes to start with:
1. Take the first left, and follow the signs up the steep winding hill to the ampitheatre. Catch your breath, then head through the gate at the west end of the parking lot. Go straight a few hundred yards and you will intersect the Maah-Daah-Hey Trail. A right turn at this trail leads through a self-closing gate, then north through a fast downhill section and back to the paved Medora bike trail. A left turn on the Maah-Daah-Hey will eventually lead you down a hill to an intersection with another trail. Turning left at the intersection leads to a stock tank, then through a prairie dog town and on a difficult climb on the Canyon trail. The Canyon Trail is an advanced trail requiring excellent bike handling skills with steep climbs, fast descents, and rough terrain. The Canyon trail will again meet up with the Maah-Daah-Hey. Staying on the south trail at the intersection will keep you on the Maah-Daah-Hey trail. Regardless of your intersection choice of left (Canyon trail) or straight (Maah-Daah-Hey) the trails will meet just before a self-closing gate. Go through the self-closing gate and follow the marked trail down the switchbacks. At the bottom of the hill go right and follow the trail northwest until you reach the fence line. Take a right and head east to return to the self-closing gate. Return on the Maah-Daah-Hey or Canyon trail.
2. Take the bike path to the bridge 1-1/2 miles west of Medora. The path will connect with the Maah-Daah Hey trail on the south. This choice will mean the initial steep climb up the paved ampitheatre road is replaced with a little less steep (but longer and more entertaining) climb up the Maah-Daah-Hey trail. After you go through the self-closing gate at the top of the hill, you will be at the same location you would be in the first choice above after you went through the gate near the ampitheatre parking lot. If rain has fallen recently, there will be three hard bottom creek crossings to negotiate near the intersection of the Maah-Daah-Hey with the paved Medora bike trail.
Click here for fine art photography of the North Dakota badlands and the Maah-Daah-Hey area.