Why the Maah Daah Hey Is Closed to Motors
The Maah Daah Hey Trail is a favorite way to experience North Dakota’s Badlands, but it is not an ATV or UTV route. Its narrow, nonmotorized tread is intended for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. This guide explains why motors are excluded, how to avoid accidentally riding onto the trail, and where to look for legal motorized riding nearby.
Why the Maah Daah Hey Trail Is Closed to Motors
It was designed as a nonmotorized trail
The Maah Daah Hey is a long-distance trail through the Badlands, not a motorized trail system. Its narrow, winding path is made for people traveling on foot, bicycles and horseback. An ATV or UTV would not simply be a larger version of another trail user: its width, weight and speed change how the route works and how safe it feels for everyone sharing it.
The trail’s character is part of the reason people come. Riders on a mountain bike and hikers on foot can move through tight turns and uneven ground at a pace that suits the terrain. A motor vehicle has very different stopping distances, noise and handling. Even a careful driver could surprise someone coming around a blind bend or spook a horse.
So the restriction is not a judgment about responsible OHV riders. It reflects the type of trail the Maah Daah Hey is meant to be. If your trip is focused on riding a quad or side-by-side, plan a separate motorized outing rather than treating the Maah Daah Hey as a route to explore by machine.
The Badlands landscape is vulnerable to damage
The Badlands can look tough and rugged, but the ground is not equally durable everywhere. Narrow trail tread, steep slopes and exposed soil can be damaged when tires leave the intended surface or churn through soft ground. Water and wind then have an easier time carrying loose material away, and damage may remain visible long after a vehicle has passed.
This matters especially after rain. Sticky clay can cling to tires, while wet trail surfaces can rut or break apart under traffic. A route that looks dry from a parking area may still be soft in shaded or low-lying sections. For general advice on timing and conditions, see North Dakota Riding After Heavy Rain.
The trail’s nonmotorized designation also helps keep it usable for people who came for a quieter, slower experience. Noise travels across open country, and encounters between motorized and nonmotorized users can be uncomfortable or unsafe. Keeping vehicle traffic on routes designated for it protects both the trail surface and the kind of experience the route is intended to offer.
Nearby public land does not mean open cross-country access
A common point of confusion is seeing a broad expanse of public grassland around a trail and assuming an ATV can travel anywhere that looks passable. That is not a safe assumption. On national grasslands, motorized travel is generally limited to routes shown as open for that purpose. A visible track, an old two-track, or a gap in a fence is not automatically an authorized OHV route.
The same distinction applies near the Maah Daah Hey: a legal road or trailhead access route may be close to the nonmotorized trail, but that does not make the trail itself open to motors. Plan your route based on official motor-vehicle designations, not on how close a line appears on a general map. North Dakota Cross-Country Travel Is Banned explains why staying on authorized routes matters.
How to Plan a Visit Without Riding the Maah Daah Hey
Identify the route you are actually following
Before heading out, decide whether your outing is a hike, bike ride, horseback trip or motorized ride. That sounds obvious, but it prevents a frequent planning mistake: seeing a trail name in a map app and assuming it is suitable for every kind of recreation. The Maah Daah Hey is a destination for nonmotorized travel. An OHV route needs to be identified separately.
If you are using a mapping app such as onX Offroad to plan an ATV or UTV ride, use it to research possible routes and understand the surrounding area, but confirm motorized access with the appropriate official map or land manager. App layers can help you orient yourself; they should not be treated as permission to drive a route that has not been designated open to motor vehicles.
Pay attention to the line type and route description, not just the location. A road that appears to connect two places may be closed to public motorized travel, seasonally restricted or managed for a different use. If you cannot establish that the route is open to your vehicle, choose another route or check with the land manager before you go.
Use official grassland maps for motorized routes
The Little Missouri National Grassland includes roads and routes with different access rules. The most useful starting point is the official motor vehicle use map for the specific area you plan to visit. These maps identify routes designated for motorized use and can show restrictions that are not obvious on a general road map. Start with North Dakota Grassland Motor Vehicle Use Maps and Reading a Grassland Vehicle Use Map.
A practical planning routine is:
- Mark your intended staging area and destination.
- Find the relevant official motor vehicle use map.
- Confirm that each road or route between those points is open to your vehicle type.
- Check for seasonal closures, gates or other restrictions.
- Save an offline copy of the map and carry a backup.
A tool such as onX Offroad can make it easier to compare your proposed route with the surrounding terrain and find your position while traveling. Still, use the official map as the deciding reference for whether a route is authorized. If the app suggests a shortcut across open ground, do not assume that shortcut is legal.
Separate trailhead access from riding access
You may be able to drive to a trailhead or nearby parking area without being allowed to ride your ATV or UTV on the Maah Daah Hey. Those are separate questions. A road can provide vehicle access to a place where people begin a hike or bike ride, while the trail beyond the parking area remains nonmotorized.
This distinction is worth making before you load the machine. If your group includes both riders and hikers, agree on where the vehicle will be parked and how the group will meet again. Do not ride down a hiking or equestrian trail just to save someone a walk, and do not use a trail as a connector between roads unless it is specifically designated for motorized travel.
For a broader overview of motorized opportunities around the state, North Dakota OHV Trails: All Four Riding Areas can help you compare dedicated riding areas with routes that are primarily roads. Those are different kinds of outings, so choose one that matches your group’s machine, experience and expectations.
Where to Look for Legal ATV and UTV Riding Nearby
Focus on designated roads, not the Maah Daah Hey tread
For motorized travel in the Badlands region, start by looking for roads explicitly shown as open to motor vehicles on the applicable official map. The grassland’s riding opportunities are often road-based rather than a continuous ATV trail network. That can still make for an enjoyable outing, but it calls for a different mindset: follow designated roads, respect closures and do not improvise a route across the prairie.
The guide Roads, Not Trails, on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands is useful context for understanding why a riding plan in this area may look more like a road tour than a dedicated OHV trail ride. For a sense of the broader route network, see North Dakota Grassland Road Mileage, then verify which specific roads are open before setting out.
If you are staying near Medora, the town can serve as a base for exploring the region, but its proximity to the Maah Daah Hey does not change the trail’s restrictions. North Dakota Riding Near Medora can help you think through the area as a starting point. Check route access and current conditions separately; being close to a trailhead is not the same as being permitted to ride on the trail.
Choose a dedicated OHV area when you want trail riding
If your goal is to ride purpose-built or established OHV routes rather than travel on designated grassland roads, compare the state’s motorized riding areas before you go. A dedicated OHV area may be a better match for a group expecting a more trail-focused day, while the Badlands grassland road network may suit riders who are comfortable navigating longer distances on authorized roads.
Look closely at the details that affect your machine: width restrictions, surface type, parking and trailer access, and whether the route is suitable for your experience level. A side-by-side that fits one riding area may be too wide for a different trail. A route that works for an experienced rider may not be the best first outing for a family or a new operator.
You can use onX Offroad to compare possible destinations and organize a route plan, then confirm access rules with the official managing agency. That two-step approach can help prevent the frustrating scenario of towing your machine for hours only to discover that the route you planned is closed or does not allow your vehicle.
| If your priority is | Better plan | Important check |
|---|---|---|
| Hiking, biking or horseback riding | Use the Maah Daah Hey as a nonmotorized trail | Check trail conditions and access before leaving |
| Exploring the Badlands by ATV or UTV | Use designated motorized roads in the grassland | Verify every route on the official motor vehicle use map |
| A more trail-focused motorized outing | Compare designated OHV riding areas | Confirm vehicle width, closures and staging access |
| Visiting with a mixed group | Park at a suitable access point and separate activities | Do not use the Maah Daah Hey as a motorized connector |
Avoiding Common Route-Planning Mistakes
Do not trust a line on a map without checking its status
Digital maps are helpful, but not every visible line represents an open public OHV route. A line may show a trail for hikers or cyclists, a private road, a closed route or a route intended for another use. This is one reason to compare a navigation app with the official motor vehicle use map instead of relying on a single map layer.
Before leaving service, download maps for offline use and save the route information you need. The Badlands can have areas with limited cell coverage, so do not count on looking up a rule or route in the moment. Cell Dead Zones in the Badlands covers the practical importance of planning for weak reception, while Carrying a Paper Map Into the Badlands offers a simple backup strategy.
If your app displays a route that seems to cross the Maah Daah Hey, stop and investigate rather than assuming it is a legal connector. A few minutes of checking at home is much easier than reaching a trail junction with a trailer, a group waiting and no clear way to proceed.
Treat signs, gates and closures as meaningful information
A gate, closure sign or blocked route is not an invitation to find another way around. It may mark a property boundary, a seasonal restriction or a route that is not open to public motorized use. Turning around is frustrating, particularly after a long drive, but continuing past a closure can create problems for land managers and other visitors.
Conditions can also change after heavy rain, flooding or maintenance work. Check for updates close to your trip, especially if your plan depends on one particular road or access point. If a route is closed, choose an alternate route that is confirmed open rather than attempting to bypass the restriction.
For a mixed-use visit, make the plan clear to everyone in the group: the Maah Daah Hey is for nonmotorized travel, and the ATV or UTV portion of the outing belongs on routes designated for motorized use. That simple distinction keeps expectations realistic and helps protect the landscape people came to enjoy.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
