Free — you'll pick up right here.
Watch this trail
Sign up to watch it — saving subscribes you to gate, closure and report changes.
North Dakota
3.0 mi
Distance
565 ft
Gain
1h 13m
Time
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Dakota Prairie Grasslands
2 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
Nobody's filed a report here yet — be the first.
Why you'll love it
Ice Caves
AI-suggested draft · review before you go
No permit or access details on file for this trail — check with the local land manager before you go.
The Ice Caves trail in North Dakota is a scenic 3.04-mile out-and-back hike that showcases the region's unique geological formations. This trail takes you through diverse terrain to explore natural ice cave features, offering a distinctive adventure in the badlands landscape. The moderate terrain and accessible distance make it an excellent choice for hikers seeking natural wonders without extreme technical difficulty.

Elkhorn Ranch Trailhead
~19 min drive
This is the trail head that leads to the spot where Theodore Roosevelt's Elkhorn Ranch once stood. The .7 mile trail weaves through cottonwood trees to the banks of the Little Missouri River where the cabin's foundation stones remain.
Maah Daah Hey - North Dakota
~14 min drive
Point-to-point badlands trail featuring dramatic formations and prairie views.
Summit Viewpoint
~30 min drive
Quick out-and-back hike to scenic viewpoint in North Dakota.

Caprock Coulee Trailhead
~35 min drive
The Caprock Coulee Nature Trail is a 0.8 mile section of the Caprock Coulee Trail in the park's North Unit. The nature trail trail shows the natural and geologic variety of the badlands. It also provides a rare look at a densely wooded area of the park.<br /> <br /> When you r…
Cottonwood
~16 min drive
13.86-mile out-and-back badlands hike with expansive prairie views.
Buffalo Gap Loop
~47 min drive
Easy 2.68-mile loop through North Dakota's scenic Buffalo Gap area.

Coal Vein Trail Post 1: Layers
~46 min drive
Each layer of rock has its own origin story, told by its color.<br /> <br /> <span style="color:#e74c3c;"><strong>Brick-Red</strong></span><br /> <strong>Clinker</strong> forms when coal veins catch fire and bake the rock above, changing it into this much harder, red rock.<br…
Bennett
~21 min drive
6.12-mile out-and-back prairie hike near Bennett, North Dakota.
Sather Lake
~53 min drive
Easy 0.4-mile lollipop walk around Sather Lake.

Coal Vein Trail Post 3: Bentonite
~46 min drive
Notice the sediment on either side of the trail. Fifty-Five million years ago, volcanoes in the Rockies spewed out ash that blew east. At that time, this area was a vast, tropical swamp. The ash settled in wet areas and became bentonite clay. <br /> <br /> Bentonite looks like…