When hikers ask which trails in North Dakota are worth a full day — or several — the conversation always circles back to the same handful of routes. Below we've ranked the ten longest hiking trails in North Dakota by total mapped distance, drawing from the 419 trails OutsideAtlas currently tracks in the state. Each entry includes the distance, what makes the route distinctive, and an honest note on who should actually attempt it.
North Dakota's Badlands in the west and the prairie pothole country in the east define the state — quietly more scenic than its flat-state reputation. The Maah Daah Hey Trail dominates long-distance mileage; the North Country Trail enters the state's northeast corner. May-October is the practical window; winter is brutal and summer brings thunderstorms and ticks.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 419 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in North Dakota — but the data has limits worth being honest about. OpenStreetMap distance tags are crowd-sourced and inconsistent. A route may appear longer or shorter than the official measurement, especially when long-distance trails (like state and national scenic trails) are tagged in segments rather than as a single relation.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Maah Daah Hey Trail
At 0.10 mi, Maah Daah Hey Trail tops the list — a route built for hikers who plan in days, not hours. Expect 0.10 mi on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Maah Daah Hey Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Dinosaurs on the Prairie Threshing Machines
Dinosaurs on the Prairie Threshing Machines earns the #2 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect unpaved surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Dinosaurs on the Prairie Threshing Machines trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. North Country National Scenic Trail
North Country National Scenic Trail earns the #3 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect dirt surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the North Country National Scenic Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Pedestrian crossing 800 Block 3rd Street Northeast
Pedestrian crossing 800 Block 3rd Street Northeast earns the #4 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Tagged easy in OpenStreetMap. Compared to similar trails in North Dakota, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Pedestrian crossing 800 Block 3rd Street Northeast trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Buffalo Gap Campground Connector
Buffalo Gap Campground Connector earns the #5 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect unpaved surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Buffalo Gap Campground Connector trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Old East Entrance Station Trail
Old East Entrance Station Trail earns the #6 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect dirt surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Old East Entrance Station Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Little Missouri Nature Trail
Little Missouri Nature Trail earns the #7 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect unpaved surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Little Missouri Nature Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Nordic Ski Trail APPROXIMATE
Nordic Ski Trail APPROXIMATE earns the #8 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect unpaved surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Nordic Ski Trail APPROXIMATE trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Lone Tree Spring Loop Trail
Lone Tree Spring Loop Trail earns the #9 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect unpaved surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in North Dakota, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Lone Tree Spring Loop Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Petrified Forest Loop Trail
Petrified Forest Loop Trail earns the #10 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect unpaved surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Petrified Forest Loop Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your North Dakota trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for North Dakota. May-October is the practical window; winter is brutal and summer brings thunderstorms and ticks. Lightning on open prairie, rattlesnakes in the Badlands, and rapidly changing weather even in summer.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More North Dakota hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our North Dakota coverage continues below.
- Steepest trails in North Dakota — Hikes with the most elevation gain in the state.
- Best beginner hikes in North Dakota — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in North Dakota — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in North Dakota — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in North Dakota — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in North Dakota — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in North Dakota — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in North Dakota last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
