Hiking
The Dakota Prairie Grasslands offer a range of hiking and backpacking opportunities, from shorter day hikes on established trails throughout the grasslands to multi-day backpacking adventures along the Maah Daah Hey Trail or the North Country Trail.
Visitors can enjoy the open prairies for stargazing and bird watching or explore the amazing trails that weave through unique, breathtaking landscapes.
Recreation opportunities abound and are listed below. There are a few highlighted recreation areas of interest listed on the Epic Adventures page.
Search for Hiking Opportunities
Bennett Campground
Site Open
Bennett Campground offers a peaceful, first-come, first-served camping experience within the Little Missouri National Grassland. The campground features 13 campsites suitable for tents or RVs, each…
Blacktail Trailhead
Site Open
The Blacktail Trailhead is in Pasture 9 on the Grand River National Grassland. It is the starting point for the 6.84-mile Blacktail Trail, a non-motorized trail that offers hiking, mountain biking,…
Buffalo Gap Recreation Area (and Campground)
Site Open
Buffalo Gap Recreation Area (and Campground) offers a rustic camping experience with easy access to the Buffalo Gap Trail. The campground features 35 paved campsites, flush toilets, shower…
Burning Coal Vein Campground
Site Open
Burning Coal Vein Campground is a remote campground in the Little Missouri National Grassland near Medora, North Dakota. It offers a peaceful, scenic camping experience with eight spacious sites. The…
CCC Campground
Site Open
The CCC Campground is a rustic campground in the Badlands that offers a classic camping experience. It features 38 campsites with picnic tables, fire rings, and grills. The campground also includes a…
Coal Creek Campground
Site Open
Coal Creek Campground is an 11-unit fenced campground with two pull-through camping spurs, picnic tables, fire rings, parking areas, a potable water hand pump, and accessible toilets.
Denbigh Experimental Forest
Site Open
The USDA Forest Service established the Denbigh Experimental Forest in 1931 as part of a research project to determine what conifer or hardwood trees would survive in the area. Over the next 20+…
Elkhorn Campground
Site Open
Elkhorn Campground is a rustic, remote campground known for its scenic canyon views and proximity to the Maah Daah Hey Trail and the Theodore Roosevelt Elkhorn Ranch. The campground offers a sense of…
Hankinson Hills Campground
Site Open
Hankinson Hills Campground offers a prairie camping experience with 15 campsites in two loops. The first offers six equestrian campsites. The second loop offers nine campsites designated for campers…
Jorgen’s Hollow Campground
Site Open
Jorgen’s Hollow Campground offers a rustic camping experience in the oak savanna of the Dakota Prairie Grassland. It features 14 primitive campsites, seven designated for horse camping and seven…