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General Trail Information
Four fenced overnight campsites with hitching posts, potable water wells, vault toilets, and campfire rings are available along the trail. The Buffalo Gap Trail is a bike bypass trail around the South Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The trail name, "Maah Daah Hey", comes from the Mandan-Hidatsa Indians. In their language, one word or phrase can describe a picture, feeling, or situation. In this case, the phrase means "an area that has been or will be around for a long time." The trail uses a turtle as the trail marker. The turtle symbol comes from the Lakota Sioux, was honored because of its firm determination, steadfastness, patience, long life, and fortitude. The trail traverses an area of highly dissected badlands surrounded by large expanses of gently rolling prairie. This area of North Dakota provides prime habitat for a variety of mammals and birds. Mule deer, antelope, and coyotes are often sighted, while an occasional golden eagle or prairie falcon may be spotted soaring above. Bighorn sheep and elk have been reintroduced into the area and can be spotted by keen observers. In addition, bison and wild horses roam the range in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The trail is open for use all year, but at various times of the year, the trail may be impassable due to snow, ice, high water, and mud. Users of the Maah Daah Hey Trail share the same space with horseback riders, hikers, and bicyclists. Users are expected to respect the rights of others. Shared-use trails are successful when users cooperate and abide by the rules. The MDHTA has a photos of native plants that you might see along the trail. Refer to our Photo Gallery for these photos along with many others. We invite anyone to submit photographs of native plants, wildlife and landscape to include in our Photo Gallery. individuals providing photos should also include a statement providing permission for the Maah Daah Hey Trail Association to use photographs. Email MDHTA with any photos you would like to have included. Frequently Asked Questions
Trail Regulations
Area Weather Information
NDAWN weather sites. Provides weather data from automated weather stations located in nearby towns. http://ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu/daily-table-form.html Provides historic weather data and is updated daily. Real time information is available by phone for the following locations. Though these automated weather sites are not on the trail they can provide an idea as to weather conditions in the immediate area. Beach – 701-872-3016 Weather data is provided in the following order; rainfall since midnight, yesterday’s rainfall, current air temperature, minimum air temperature since midnight, maximum air temperature since midnight, wind direction, wind speed, relative humidity, dew point, and bare soil temperature. The caller can terminate the call at any time after the star (*) key is pressed.
Area Webcams
Webcam at Painted Canyon, Roosevelt National Park - http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/WebCams/parks/throcam/throcam.cfm View of the badlands at Painted Canyon updated every 15 minutes. Current weather conditions as well as air quality measurements are listed. This webcam is about 10 miles east of the Maah Daah Hey trail.
Emergency Contact Numbers
Links of Interest
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