National Recreation Trails
The National Recreation Trails Program was created in 1968 under the National Trail System Act. This act also created the National Scenic Trails and National Historic Trails programs. While Scenic and Historic Trails can only be designated by an act of Congress, the National Recreation Trails Program allows the Secretary of Interior or Secretary of Agriculture to award the designation to exemplary trails of local or regional interest.
Nationwide, over a thousand trails, ranging from half-mile to nearly 500 miles in length, have been designated as National Recreation Trails.
In North Dakota, 12 trails on public land have been awarded the National Recreation Trail designation. For more information, contact the managing agency listed under each of the trails described below or visit their web sites.
National Recreation Trails in North Dakota
Cross Ranch Trails
Location—Cross Ranch State Park, 12 miles southeast of Hensler
Length—14.7 miles
Uses—Hiking, cross country skiing, backpacking, interpretive signs.
Web Site & Contact— A Cross Ranch State Park trail map is available online (PDF, 467KB). Cross Ranch State Park, 1403 River Road, Center, ND 58530, Ph. 701-794-3731, E-mail crsp@nd.gov
Ft. Mandan History & Nature Trail
Location—Ft. Mandan Historic Site, Washburn
Length—1.1 miles (loop trail)
Uses—Paved trail for walking, mountain biking, cross country skiing
Web Site & Contact—Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, PO Box 607, Washburn, ND 58577, Ph. 701-462-8535, E-mail info@fortmandan.org
Grand Forks Greenway Trail
Location—Greenway along the Red River in Grand Forks, ND, and East Grand Forks, MN.
Length—20 miles
Uses—Paved multi-use trail for walking, jogging, biking, inline skating, cross country skiing, snowmobiling.
Web Site & Contact—A Greenway trail map (PDF 596KB) is available online. Grand Forks Park District,
PO Box 12429,
Grand Forks, ND 58208, Ph. 701-746-2750, E-mail gfparks@gfparks.org
J. Clark Salyer Canoe Trail
Location—J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, Upham
Length—13 miles
Uses—Souris River trail for canoeing, kayaking, signed
Web Site & Contact— J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge,
P. O. Box 66
Upham, North Dakota 58789, Ph. 701-768-2548, E-mail JClarkSalyer@fws.gov
Hay Creek Trail
Location—2525 N. 19th Street, Bismarck
Length—5.25 miles
Uses—Walking, biking, roller/inline skating, paved trail
Web Site & Contact—Bismarck Parks & Recreation Department, 400 East Front Avenue,
Bismarck, ND, Ph. 701-222-6455,
E-mail bisparks@bisparks.org
Lostwood Refuge-Prairie Hiking Trail
Location—Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, Kenmare
Length—7.5 miles
Uses—walking, hiking, running
Web Site & Contact—Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, 8315 Highway 8, Kenmare, ND 58746, Ph. 701-848-2722, E-mail: Lostwood@fws.gov
Maah Daah Hey Trail
Location—western North Dakota Badlands with segments in Little Missouri National Grasslands, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, University and School Lands, and private land
Length—96 miles
Uses—Hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking (biking not permitted within Theodore Roosevelt National Park segment, use alternate trail route)
Web Site & Contact—Little Missouri National Grasslands, Medora Ranger District, 161 21st Street West,
Dickinson, ND 58601, Ph. 701-225-5151
Munch's Coulee Hiking Trail
Location—Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge, 1 mile west of Kenmare
Length—1 mile
Uses—Walking, birding, wildlife viewing
Web Site & Contact—Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge, PO Box 578, Kenmare, ND 58746, Ph. 701-385-4046, E-mail deslacs@fws.gov
Old Oak Trail
Location—Lake Metigoshe State Park, 14 miles northeast of Bottineau
Length—3 miles
Uses—self-guided nature trail, birding, wildlife viewing.
Web Site & Contact— Lake Metigoshe Trail map available online (PDF 314KB). Lake Metigoshe State Park, #2 Lake Metigoshe State Park, Bottineau, ND 58318, Ph. 701-263-4651, E-mail lmsp@nd.gov
Roughrider Trail
Location—South of Mandan, begins at the Fort Rice Campground then travels north on a old railroad bed, ending at Little Heart Bottoms
Length—16 miles
Uses—Off-highway vehicles.
Web Site & Contact— Roughrider Trail map available online (PDF 663KB). ND Parks & Recreation Department, 1600 E. Century Avenue, Suite 3, Bismarck, ND 58503, Ph. 701-328-5357, E-mail parkrec@nd.gov
Washburn Discovery Trail
Location—Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Washburn, ND
Length—2.2 miles
Uses—walking, interpretive trail
Web Site & Contact—Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, PO Box 607, Washburn, ND 58577, Ph. 701-462-8535, E-mail info@fortmandan.org
Wetlands & Waterfowl Trail
Location—Alice Waterfowl Production Area, 1 mile north and 2 miles east of Alice, ND
Length—1.25 miles
Uses—accessible hunting, wildlife viewing blinds
Web Site & Contact—U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service-Valley City Wetland Management District,
11515 River Road,
Valley City, ND 58072, Ph. 701-845-3466, E-mail valleycitywetlands@fws.gov
Wildwood Trail
Location—Icelandic State Park, Cavalier, ND
Length—3/4 mile
Uses—Walking, self-guided nature trail brochures available at trailhead or Pioneer Heritage Center
Web Site & Contact—Icelandic State Park, 13571 Highway 5, Cavalier, ND 58220, Ph. 701-265-4561, E-mail isp@nd.gov
