Cannonball River Backcountry Trail

This forgotten trail winds 28 miles along the Cannonball River through some of North Dakota’s most isolated prairie country, where Lakota warriors once hunted buffalo and Lewis and Clark noted the strange round stones that gave the river its name. The route starts near Selfridge and follows old ranch roads and game trails through rolling grassland punctuated by dramatic breaks and coulees, passing the Cannonball Concretions fossil site where ancient sea creatures left their mark in perfect stone spheres.

Expect mostly easy driving on grass two-tracks with a few muddy creek crossings during spring runoff and after heavy rains. Stock 4WD with decent ground clearance handles it fine, though you’ll want recovery gear for the boggy spots. Best tackled May through October when the prairie is dry. No services for 50 miles in any direction, so fuel up in Selfridge and pack everything. The payoff is complete solitude in country that hasn’t changed much since the frontier days.