Sheyenne River Valley Pioneer Trail

This forgotten pioneer route follows the original ox-cart trail through the Sheyenne River Valley’s rare hardwood forests — an oasis of oak and elm in endless prairie. The track passes the crumbling Kathryn Cemetery where Norwegian homesteaders rest under tilted headstones, then drops into technical creek crossings where the old wooden bridge footings still jut from muddy banks. Spring runoff turns these crossings serious, demanding careful line choice through loose rock and clay.

Moderate trail requiring 4WD for the creek crossings and muddy bottomland sections. Best season runs late May through September when water levels drop and the mosquitoes calm down slightly. You’ll need bug spray and patience — this is slow going through thick timber and boggy spots. Worth it for the solitude and surprising beauty of North Dakota’s hidden forest country. Lisbon has the last services before you disappear into the timber.