North Dakota's badlands in the western part of the state are the state's most dramatic terrain, and they are accessible to OHV riders through one of the best off-road trail systems in the northern Great Plains. The Maah Daah Hey Trail in the Little Missouri National Grassland runs through the heart of the badlands country, providing multi-day riding through carved buttes, sagebrush flats, and colorful badlands formations that rival any western trail system.
North Dakota OHV Laws
North Dakota requires OHV registration through the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department for operating on public land. The registration decal must be displayed on the vehicle. North Dakota OHV registration is annual and required for all public trail access.
North Dakota requires helmets for OHV riders under 18. No adult helmet requirement for off-road use. No driver's license is required for off-road OHV operation. Riders under 12 must be directly supervised by an adult on public OHV trails.
Where to Ride in North Dakota
Maah Daah Hey Trail (Medora)
The Maah Daah Hey Trail is a 144-mile multi-use trail system running through the Little Missouri National Grassland in the North Dakota badlands between Medora and the Burning Coal Vein area north of Amidon. The trail was originally designed as a hiking and horseback trail but was expanded to include designated OHV sections. The designated motorized sections pass through the iconic badlands terrain of banded buttes, gumbo clay, and sagebrush flats that define western North Dakota's visual identity.
For electric dirt bike riders, the Maah Daah Hey is a range-planning challenge. The trail is remote, with access points spread across a long corridor and no services between staging areas. The Altis Omega's 75-mile range makes day rides on extended sections practical, but riders planning point-to-point sections need vehicle shuttles and clear battery management. Download offline maps before leaving pavement.
Little Missouri National Grassland (Dispersed)
Beyond the Maah Daah Hey corridor, the Little Missouri National Grassland has designated OHV routes on grassland and badlands terrain adjacent to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. These routes provide access to the broader badlands landscape outside the park boundary. The terrain is open and remote, with navigation by GPS essential. The North Unit and South Unit of TRNP are not open to OHV use, but the surrounding grassland corridor is.
Practical Tips for North Dakota Riding
North Dakota badlands riding season is May through October. The gumbo clay soils of the badlands become dangerously slick when wet, making rain events a significant safety and practicality issue. Check weather carefully before any badlands OHV trip and avoid riding on gumbo terrain during or immediately after rain. Summer heat in July and August can be significant on the exposed badlands. Spring and fall are the most comfortable and most visually dramatic seasons for badlands riding.
The Right Bike for North Dakota
The Maah Daah Hey's distance and remote character require maximum range capability. The Altis Omega is the appropriate choice for serious exploration of the North Dakota badlands trail system. VoroMotors is available seven days a week by phone, chat, or email to help you plan battery management and route logistics for North Dakota riding.