North Dakota’s The Starting Point For One Of The Longest Hiking Trails In The U.S.

Now that the weather is nice in North Dakota, many of us are packing our bags, putting on our comfy shoes, and heading out to take in nature on the hiking trails. Something pretty cool that you might not know is that North Dakota has one trail that marks the starting point for a hiking trail that spans across the entire country - it's actually one of the longest trails in the U.S.

North Country National Scenic Trail

According to North Dakota Game and Fish, the hiking trail spans more than 4,600 miles and is twice the length of the Appalachian Trail. Once it is finished, it will be the longest hiking trail in the country, according to NPCA. 

It runs through EIGHT states, from Lake Sakakawea State Park to the Appalachian Green Mountain Trail in Vermont. 460 miles of the trail runs through North Dakota.

[Here's a map, that outlines the entire trail.]

So, where does this massive trail end? It looks like you run out of walking path in Crown Point, New York.

Fun fact: The oldest portion of the trail in North Dakota is in the Sheyenne River Valley.

The trail has been around since 1980 and was labeled a National Scenic Route by the United States Congress. There are only 11 National Scenic Trails in the country. It wasn't until 2023 that this trail became part of the National Park System.

Hikers, snowshoers, cross-country skiers, cyclists, and equestrians can enjoy the trail.

According to the source, some parts of this trail are walking paths; others are gravel roads or stretches of asphalt. Some parts of this trail run through parks and campgrounds.

Fun Fact: The longest hiking trail in the country is the American Discovery Trail, according to NCPA. 

You may be wondering how we maintain such a trail, especially one running across the country. The source explains that people from different NCT chapters volunteer to help take care of the trail, putting up markers, mowing, and doing whatever is necessary to clear the trail. The chapter that takes care of the trail throughout North Dakota is called The Dakota Prairie Chapter.