Trails / North Dakota / Eastern North Dakota

North Country Trail: Sheyenne National Grassland

Sheyenne National Grassland, Sheyenne Ranger District (Lisbon)

About 30 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail cross the Sheyenne National Grassland in southeastern North Dakota, according to the Forest Service. The American Hiking Society describes the grassland as sand hills left by an ancient river delta, “now covered by tallgrass prairie, oak savanna, as well as central hardwood forest.”

North Dakota Outdoors called this a “nicely signed” segment and described its soundtrack as wind, cattle, gates, and western meadowlarks.

The hike

The Forest Service lists three trailheads, West, Middle, and East, all reached from Highway 27 by county roads; its map adds the Ekre Trailhead at the far eastern end. Hiking Project’s contributors describe the route in pieces.

From the West Trailhead, a 6.4-mile section heads northeast through a swing gate, crosses a long puncheon boardwalk over a wet area, passes stock tanks and a two-track road, and reaches a grove of planted ponderosa pines and hardwoods near a livestock corral. It then skirts a large wetland and runs through prairie-covered dunes to a swing gate on Highway 27. Hiking Project asks hikers to watch for poison ivy near the grove and for the endangered western prairie fringed orchid along the way.

The longest section, 13.5 miles, runs between the Middle Trailhead on County Road 53 and the East Trailhead on County Road 23 beside Jorgen’s Hollow Campground. Hiking Project describes a mix of oak savanna and open prairie, a bridge over Iron Springs Creek that makes a shady picnic spot, sand hills, and swing gates in the fences. It warns that cow trails lead off the main route in a few places; follow the angle-topped wooden posts with the trail emblem.

Near Jorgen’s Hollow, a short spur leads to the shared Oak Leaf and North Country tread; the Oak Leaf Trail is a 4-mile loop through tallgrass prairie and oak savanna (Forest Service). From the loop, Hiking Project’s 1.3-mile segment continues east through “hilly oak savanna and flat, open tallgrass prairie” to the grassland boundary, and the trail then runs about 3.5 more miles, including about a mile of private land open to the public, to the Ekre Trailhead.

Cattle are part of the experience. Hiking Project says they’re usually curious but will move aside; don’t get between a cow and her calves. One contributor’s photo caption describes cattle standing and lying on the trail as “a little tense (they’re big!).” The Forest Service asks hikers to close every gate.

West of the grassland, the trail continues toward Fort Ransom and the Sheyenne River valley. In central North Dakota, it crosses the Lonetree Wildlife Management Area.

Tips

Don’t camp at trailheads. The Forest Service map says all trailheads are day-use areas, closed to overnight camping.
Close gates behind you. Livestock may be grazing anywhere along the route.
Expect sheep and guard dogs in summer. The North Country Trail Association says grazing sheep and their guard dogs rotate between mileposts 10 and 31 (maps ND-071 to ND-075) from May 1 to Oct. 1, and suggests calling the Sheyenne National Grassland office at 701-683-4342 to ask where they are. The current Forest Service map lists 701-404-8950.
Carry water. Stock tanks vary through the season, and none is described as drinkable.
Avoid deer rifle season. Hiking Project says hikers unofficially stay off the trail then.
Leave the motor at home. The North Country and Oak Leaf trails are closed to motor vehicles year-round.

Camping

The Forest Service’s trail map says dispersed camping is allowed across the grassland except in day-use areas, which include every trailhead. The Dakota Prairie Grasslands dispersed-camping page allows stays of 14 days in any 30-day period and asks campers to stay 100 to 200 feet from lakes and streams and away from livestock tanks and wells. Jorgen’s Hollow Campground has 14 primitive sites, seven for campers and seven for horse camping, first come, first served, each with a table and fire ring. Shooting is prohibited within 150 yards of any campground, trailhead, or occupied area. Check fire restrictions and firewood rules before you go.

Inside Intel: A Hiking Project contributor says the planted grove on the west section, past the first stock tank and a two-track road, “could be a campsite (no water).” No other camper accounts of specific sites were found.

Trail facts

Distance: About 30 miles (Forest Service); 32 to 33 miles by other sources
Route type: Point to point, West Trailhead to Ekre Trailhead
Difficulty: Moderate
Campsites: Dispersed away from trailheads; Jorgen’s Hollow Campground at the East Trailhead
Water: No drinking water listed by the Forest Service; seasonal stock tanks; a pump at Jorgen’s Hollow per two sources
Permits: None found
Fires: Check Dakota Prairie Grasslands alerts
Dogs: No rule found
Trailhead: West, Highway 27, Middle (County Road 53), East (County Road 23), or Ekre
Last verified: October 17, 2026

The Lowdown

Tallgrass camps on old sand dunes:

Pitching a tent on the Sheyenne means open prairie, wind, and sandy ground among the oak savanna. See the backpacking tents reviewers like for exposed sites.

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Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.