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Expansive mixed-grass prairie and rugged badlands offering scenic trails, wildlife viewing, and rustic camping across over a million acres of public land.
General Information
How to Get There
From Medora, ND (varies): Access via I-94 or US-85 depending on which section of the grassland you plan to visit; consult maps for trailheads and campgrounds.
Overview
The Little Missouri National Grassland is the largest grassland in the United States, spanning over a million acres of North Dakota’s western Badlands. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, it offers a rugged and remote landscape of eroded buttes, colorful canyons, and sweeping prairie. The area is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, birdwatching, and camping. The Maah Daah Hey Trail, a 144-mile non-motorized trail, winds through the heart of the grassland, connecting visitors to its most scenic and secluded areas.
Wildlife is abundant, with sightings of bison, mule deer, prairie dogs, and a variety of raptors and songbirds. Campgrounds like CCC, Bennett, and Burning Coal Vein provide rustic accommodations for those seeking solitude and starry skies. Whether you're exploring on foot, horseback, or mountain bike, the Little Missouri National Grassland offers a true escape into the wild beauty of the Northern Plains.
Things to Do
Explore the Rugged Badlands of Western North Dakota
Little Missouri National Grassland is the largest national grassland in the United States, encompassing more than one million acres of prairies, badlands, river valleys, buttes, and rugged open landscapes across western North Dakota. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, the grassland surrounds portions of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and offers visitors outstanding opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, camping, wildlife viewing, hunting, and backcountry recreation.
Experience the Badlands and Prairie Scenery
The grassland showcases striking badland formations, colorful rock layers, rolling prairies, and dramatic buttes carved by the Little Missouri River. Visitors can enjoy sweeping vistas that reflect the landscapes admired by Theodore Roosevelt during his time in the Dakota Territory.
Observe Wildlife of the Northern Plains
The grassland supports a rich variety of wildlife, including bison, elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, coyotes, wild horses, golden eagles, hawks, prairie dogs, and numerous grassland bird species. Wildlife viewing and photography are popular throughout the year.
Enjoy Backcountry Recreation
Little Missouri National Grassland is known for its remote character and opportunities for solitude. Visitors can enjoy horseback riding, dispersed camping, mountain biking, hiking, hunting, fishing, and stargazing beneath some of the darkest skies in the Midwest.
Visit the Maah Daah Hey Trail
One of the grassland's most famous attractions is the Maah Daah Hey Trail, a nationally recognized trail system that traverses some of the most scenic terrain in North Dakota. It is considered one of the premier long-distance hiking and mountain biking routes in the United States.
Top Trails
Maah Daah Hey Trail
Length: Approximately 144 miles one way
Elevation Gain: Moderate to Strenuous
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
This legendary trail crosses badlands, river valleys, prairies, and public lands throughout western North Dakota. It is popular with hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders seeking a true Great Plains wilderness experience.
Devil's Pass Trail
Length: Approximately 4 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate
This scenic route features impressive badland formations, grassland vistas, and opportunities to observe wildlife. The trail is a favorite among visitors looking for a shorter exploration of the rugged landscape.
Bully Pulpit Trail Area
Length: Variable distances available
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Located near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, this area offers scenic overlooks of the Little Missouri River Valley and access to hiking routes through classic North Dakota badlands terrain.
Long X Trail
Length: Approximately 18 miles one way
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate
This trail traverses remote sections of the national grassland, passing through prairies, badlands, and wildlife habitat while offering excellent opportunities for solitude and backcountry exploration.
Sources: U.S. Forest Service official Little Missouri National Grassland information, including details on wildlife, recreation, camping, prairie ecosystems, scenic drives, and trail opportunities. https://www.fs.usda.gov/dpg
Additional information verified through Dakota Prairie Grasslands resources covering the Maah Daah Hey Trail, Devil's Pass, Long X Trail, badlands recreation, wildlife viewing, and public lands management throughout Little Missouri National Grassland.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the Little Missouri National Grassland, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
