Maah Daah Hey

MEETING TIME AND PLACE

This trip meets at 8:00am CST at the Expressway Inn and Suites, 200 Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, North Dakota, 701-222-2900. We will load the van and drive 2 1/2 hours to the trailhead. You will need to spend the night before in Bismarck, and we recommend staying at the Expressway Inn and Suites. You may meet us in Medora, ND, if this is more suitable to your travel plans. We need to arrange a special shuttle, so it is critical that you let us know in advance if you plan to be in Medora. Meet at Dakota Cyclery, 275 Third St., Medora, 701-623-4808, at 9:00am MST. There is a one hour time difference to Bismarck. Parking is available.

ENDING TIME AND PLACE

We will return to Bismarck between 4:00-5:00 pm on the last day.

ITINERARY

TRIP DAY 1

After meeting in Bismarck, we will shuttle west and north to the heart of the North Dakota Badlands. Here we will unload our bikes and ride a short doubletrack before we hit the Maah Daah Hey Trail. China Wall is our initiation to the trail's exposure as it cuts through the colorful slopes of the Badlands. A sweeping downhill and a couple of tight switchbacks deliver us to our lunch spot. The name of the trail comes from a Mandan Indian phrase that means "an area that has been or will be around for a long time," and it has also been interpreted to mean "grandfather" in the Mandan language. The trail is marked with large posts emblazoned with a turtle, symbolizing firm determination, steadfastness, patience, long life and fortitude---all good qualities that will come in handy along the way. 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 camp tonight on a beautiful grassy knoll. TOTAL MILEAGE - 14 miles

TRIP DAY 2

After a hearty breakfast we will head out through the rolling hills, passing the roaming cattle and prairie dogs. After each small granny gear grunt we are rewarded by an equally twisty downhill. The Badlands were formed by the cutting action of thousands of small streams and rivulets over millions of years. The water travels through layers of fine grain clays and silts of every imaginable color. From short-grass prairie to sagebrush hillsides to small forests, today we will get a sampling of the Badlands scenery first hand. Our route takes us through 20 miles of remote singletrack as we head south towards Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We'll stop and explore a bluff where we'll find intact seashells and crustaceans, evidence of the 70 million year old seabed deposit. After lunch we make a short detour to the old ice caves where ice still forms today. Back on the main trail, some sections are smooth and buffed while others are wild and rugged, but you're assuredly always going up or down. Today's cumulative climbing is about 1,200 feet with the final hurrah just before camp. Tonight's camp is perched atop the famous Devil's Pass, a narrow wall of clay dropping away sharply on both sides. TOTAL MILEAGE - 20 miles

TRIP DAY 3

Today is the big day, which we'll start with an eye widening ride across Devil's Pass. Many of the original roads through this twisty turny section were created for the extraction of natural gas. From Devil's Pass, the Maah Daah Hey Trail is carved tightly into the hillside. Through many turns and switchbacks, the trail eventually leads us right to the banks of the Little Missouri River. The river is usually just a trickle at this point, but it's still a little too deep to ride, so 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, established in 1884. The ranching efforts failed when harsh winters doomed the cattle and the ranch was converted to a hunting lodge. As we descend, the trail is etched into the off camber bluff, reinforcing the "look where you want to go" technique. We'll have lunch in a shady grove and fuel up for more great singletrack this afternoon. We camp tonight on a beautiful promontory overlooking the badlands. We call it the "Sound of Music" camp. TOTAL MILEAGE - 24 miles

TRIP DAY 4

Today brings us the best section of the Maah Daah Hey. We'll ride south through prickly peared valleys and more Badlands landscape. We'll climb some steep switchbacks to the best view of the colors of sediment. 70 million years ago, this region was a vast inland sea which deposited sediment and laid down the many colored layers visible in the landscape. Wind, water and erosion have created the jagged buttes, rolling hillsides and rugged rock formations. The red sediment, called scoria, that we see from our vantage point is the result of underground coal fires. After lunch we continue south on the trail until we are just north of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Here we say goodbye to the Maah Daah Hey and hop on the Buffalo Gap trail to circumnavigate the park. Tonight's camp is called the Camel Hump Camp and we'll likely hear coyotes howling from the adjacent ridge. TOTAL MILEAGE - 23 miles

TRIP DAY 5

Our last day takes us further south through some really fun sections of the Buffalo Gap Trail. Some of the formations are like giant sandcastles with the trail swooping right around them. On occasion, we have seen whole herds of antelope blasting through this area at break neck speeds. With full trail grins on our faces we'll ride a few road miles right into the historic town of Medora. It is funny to think of what Teddy and his Rough Riders would have thought of the likes of us. TOTAL MILEAGE - 12 miles

TERRAIN

Riding Surface: Rough singletrack through grass and clay.
Technical Difficulty: Moderate, with advanced moments.
Physical Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult.
Altitude: 1,000 - 2,500 feet.

Please Note: This tour contains riding on narrow technical trails. Singletrack experience is highly recommended. We will be without vehicle support during all of the singletrack sections of the ride. Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety, and other factors which may affect the logistics of the adventure.

TRAVEL LOGISTICS

GETTING THERE

The North Dakota Tourism Department provides travel counseling at 800-435-5663.

-Driving
Bismarck is located at the intersection of Route 83 and Interstate 94. There is parking available at the hotel.

-Flying into Bismarck
Airport Code: BIS

TAXI SERVICE
Taxi 9000 701-223-9000

LODGING

It is a good idea to book your rooms ahead and these are our recommendations.

Expressway Inn and Suites
$85-110
701-222-2900

This is where the trip meets and they've offered you a special rate. Mention Western Spirit when you call. They also have a van service for airport shuttles.

Radisson Inn
$100-110
701-255-6000, 800-333-3333
They have a van service for airport shuttles.

Super 8
$50-90
701-255-1314

In Medora:
Badlands Motel
$125-135
701-623-4444, 800-633-6721

Above rates are approximate.

WEATHER

There are really just two kinds of weather: weather you like and weather you do not like. Come prepared for both and you won't care what the weather does.

If you have questions about temperatures for your specific trip please feel free to give us a call 800-845-2453 or email us at biking@westernspirit.com. We will be happy to give you packing suggestions and help you with ideas for things to do before and after your bike trip.

PACKING FOR YOUR TRIP
You will receive a tour packing list with your tour confirmation package. Be sure to bring everything on this list. Weather can be unpredictable so be sure to bring all the warm clothing and rain gear listed! When you arrive for your tour, we will give you a dry bag in which to pack your gear. If you have any questions about anything on the list, please call us.

SHIPPING YOUR BIKE

You are welcome to ship your bike to us in advance of your trip. For a moderate fee we will unpack it, build it, and ship it back home to you afterwards. Bikes can be insured to $4,000. Domestic shipping only. If you decide you want to go this route, you must call us in advance of your trip so we can inform the shop that your bike is on its way.

To ship your bike UPS, send it to Dakota Cyclery Inc., 275 Third St. Medora, ND 58645; 701-623-4808. It is critical that you include your name, "Western Spirit Cycling" and tour date on the outside of the box. Check with your local UPS people for the number of days needed for it to arrive in time. It is imperative to have your bike finely tuned and cleaned before your tour so you know it is in top running condition.

If you have any other questions about trip logistics, please feel free to send us an email or, better yet, to call us at 800-845-2453. We will be happy to try to help you answer any other questions you might have about our bike trips.

THINGS TO DO

BOOKS

Our favorite description of the area is in The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmond Morris, which you can find at http://www.amazon.com/.

MAPS

Your guides will have all the maps necessary for your trip. If you would like your own copy for a souvenir, here is all the info:

For Forest Service Maps of the Wetern Spirit routes go to store.usgs.gov. To get to the Forest Service maps go to "Featured Products" and then under "Go to product line" choose US Forest Service Maps. Phew... Choose the state of North Dakota and pick map 112905 Little Missouri NG Maah Daah Hey Trail

ACTIVITIES

If you have extra time in Medora, we suggest an afternoon or whole day in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Medora's musical is worth seeing in you're in the mood for some touristy entertainment.
The Native History Museum in Bismarck comes recommended.