Cross Ranch State Park Backcountry Road

The Cross Ranch preserves 6,000 acres of original mixed-grass prairie along the Missouri River, where primitive ranch roads dating to the 1920s snake through terrain that looks much like Lewis and Clark saw in 1804. The main backcountry road follows the Missouri River breaks for 12 miles, passing ancient buffalo wallows and the remnants of Mandan earth lodges. The trickiest section navigates the steep coulees leading down to the river, where loose shale and washouts demand careful line choice.

Easy to moderate difficulty suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, though the coulee descents require attention during spring runoff. The gumbo clay becomes treacherous when wet, so avoid the route after storms. Best from May through September when prairie wildflowers peak and the cottonwoods turn gold. Day-use only with no camping permitted within the preserve, but primitive camping available at adjacent sites. You’ll experience one of the last intact tallgrass prairies in North Dakota, complete with the soundtrack of meadowlarks and the occasional coyote pack.