Maah Daah Hey 5-Day Singletrack Expedition
RIDING TYPE
Intermediate | Advanced
DURATION
5 Days
SEASON
September
Maah Daah Hey 5-Day Singletrack Expedition
Conquer the Legendary Maah Daah Hey IMBA Epic
Unleash your adventurous spirit on Western Spirit’s premier Maah Daah Hey Singletrack bike tour, a 5-day, fully supported expedition through the raw, untamed beauty of North Dakota’s Badlands. This isn’t just a ride; it’s an immersive North Dakota Badlands cycling experience on one of the most iconic and remote singletrack bike trips in the United States. Prepare to be captivated by dramatic landscapes, abundant wildlife, and the thrill of conquering an IMBA Epic trail.
The legendary Maah Daah Hey Trail stretches over 100 miles, connecting units of the vast Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Its name, meaning “grandfather,” perfectly encapsulates the ancient, enduring spirit of this land—a true “painted desert” landscape. This trip is designed for those with singletrack mountain biking experience, offering a rewarding challenge amidst breathtaking scenery.
Advanced Challenge, Geological Wonders & Full Backcountry Support
This Guided North Dakota Badlands Trip is tailored for Intermediate/Advanced riders seeking a challenging outdoor escape, featuring:
Iconic IMBA Epic: Conquer the legendary Maah Daah Hey Trail, marked with the turtle symbol of steadfast determination.
Technical & Exposed: Ride the eye-widening Devil’s Pass and exposed sections, navigating challenging rough singletrack through grass and clay.
Historical Immersion: Explore lands near Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch and follow the Buffalo Gap Trail to the historic town of Medora.
Unique Geology: Pedal through a “painted desert” landscape of mesas and buttes, viewing fascinating scoria (red sediment from coal fires) and petrified wood.
-DAY-BY-DAY
Itinerary
After meeting in Bismarck, we will shuttle northwest to the heart of the North Dakota Badlands.
We will start our Maah Daah Hey Trail trip on singletrack, where each small grunt is rewarded by an equally twisty downhill.
The trail is marked with large posts emblazoned with a turtle, symbolizing determination and fortitude.
We’ll camp tonight at Magpie Camp and enjoy a delicious dinner.
We’ll begin our riding by going over the famous Devil’s Pass, an eye-widening ride across a narrow wall of clay dropping sharply on both sides.
The trail eventually leads us right to the banks of the Little Missouri River. A refreshing wade across cools us off before we climb back up through the riverside bluffs.
We’ll have a hawk’s eye view of Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch site.
The trail is etched into the off-camber bluff as we descend, reinforcing the “look where you want to go” technique.
Today brings us the best section of the Maah Daah Hey. We’ll ride south, climbing steep switchbacks for great views of the multicolored sediment.
From our vantage point, we’ll see the red scoria sediment (result of underground coal fires).
After lunch, we’ll continue south until we are just north of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, passing impressive chunks of petrified wood.
We’ll camp at Wannagan Camp, which has scenic views of massive buttes.
Today we’ll say goodbye to the Maah Daah Hey and hop on the Buffalo Gap Trail to circumnavigate the park.
The trail swoops around formations that have the appearance of giant sandcastles. Whole herds of antelope are known to blast through the area at breakneck speeds.
We’ll ride a few road miles right into the historic town of Medora.
Tonight’s camp is at Sully Creek Camp, where coyotes are often heard howling from the adjacent ridge.
Our last day takes us further south to ride the Deuce Trail. This fun section features more thrilling Badlands up-down-up-down singletrack.
We’ll continue riding through intermittent sections of grasslands and exposed rock formations as we make our way up and over the short but challenging climbs.
We’ll be rewarded with a fun downhill section to end the ride, where we’ll have lunch and shuttle back to Bismarck.
-TRIP NOTES
The fine print
Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety and other factors which may affect the logistics of the adventure.
Road Surface
Rough singletrack through grass and clay.
Overall Rating
Intermediate/ Advanced
Technical Difficulty
Moderate with advanced moments.
Physical Difficulty
Moderate to difficult.
Altitude
Biking Mileage
15-25 miles per day
Hiking Mileage
15-25 miles per day
–Travel Logistics
Getting there.
Bismarck, ND, 8:00 AM CST at Home2 Suites by Hilton, 1122 W Turnpike Ave, 701-751-3400. Ending time: return to Bismarck 4:00-5:00 PM last day. Getting there: at intersection of Route 83 and I-94; fly into Bismarck (BIS).
Lodging Before Your Trip
Home2 Suites by Hilton
1122 W Turnpike Ave
Bismarck, ND 58501
Radisson Inn
They have a van service for airport shuttles.
Super 8
Badlands Motel
Taxi 9000: 701-223-9000
PACKING
What we provide
- Meals
- Snacks
- Drinks
- Camp mugs & dining ware
- 1 cycling water bottle
- Camp chairs
- Solar showers
- Sunscreen & bug spray
- Bike stand
- Lube
- First aid kit
Bring or rent
- Bike
- Helmet
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Cycling & camp clothing
- Rain gear
- Personal items
- Tipping cash (10-20%)
Bring or rent
Bringing or renting
- Bike (rentals come with flat pedals)
- Helmet (gratis w
- Rental bike)
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
Cycling clothing
- Cycling shoes
- 3-5 pair cycling shorts
- 3-5 cycling shirts
- Long sleeve cycling shirt
- Long sleeve cotton shirt or solar sleeves
- Cycling socks
- Windbreaker
- Tights or leg warmers
- 2 pair cycling gloves
- Rain jacket & rain pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
- Warm layer
- Sunglasses
Camp clothing
- Camp shorts/shirts
- Warm socks
- Long underwear
- 2 pair warm long pants
- Fleece/sweater
- Pile or down jacket
- Warm gloves and hat
- Brimmed hat
- Bathing suit
- Hiking shoes
- Sandals
- Rain gear
Personal
- Toiletries
- Medication
- Towel
- Biodegradable soap
- Wet-wipes
- Flashlight/headlamp
- Sunglasses
- Optional day bag
- Stuff sacks
- Cash for tipping (10-20% of trip price)
Optional
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Favorite beverages
- Books
- Maps
- Portable USB charger
Need more information about our bike trips?
Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732.
Need more information about our bike trips? Check out what a bike trip is all about by visiting our camping page, FAQ page, what to bring page or be the first to know about new trips, last minute trip openings and future discounts by subscribing to our newsletter.
Need even more details? Send us a message or call and talk to one of our trip specialists at (435) 259-8732
Gallery
-A DAY WITH-
Western Spirit
Three chapters to every day on the trail. We sweat the details so you can simply ride, eat well, and look up.
Wake to cowboy coffee on the rim, fresh fruit, pancakes and granola. Unforgettable sunrises over the canyon — every single morning.
Learn More ↗
From the Rainbow Rim Trail to the White Rim Road in Canyonlands, our guides put you on the right line for breathtaking Grand Canyon views.
Learn More ↗
We pick camps for a reason. Rivers, lakes, sunset vistas — and a chef-prepared meal under one of the darkest skies in the lower 48.
Learn More ↗-More Trips Like This
Adventures cut from the same cloth.
View all bike trips
5 Days · Very difficult riding on narrow, steep mountain trails. High level of skill and fitness required. Expert. Physically demanding with big climbs requiring good endurance.
-
5 Days · Very difficult riding on narrow, steep mountain trails. High level of skill and fitness required. Expect riding along steep mountain ridges with exposure to falls. Expert
JOIN THE JOURNEY
Ready for your next
adventure?
Ready to explore breathtaking trails and create unforgettable memories? Join our community of passionate cyclists and be the first to discover bike tours across stunning destinations!
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
