The North Dakota Trail With Views And Geography You Just Can't Beat
By Tori Jane|Published July 26, 2023
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
North Dakota is one of those places where just about everywhere is a destination. Every park, every lake, every trail… it all seems to beckon us closer, doesn’t it? And, wouldn’t you know it, I just so happened to find one of the downright best hikes in North Dakota – it’s filled with natural wonders, amazing views, and just about everything else you could possibly want in a trail. Check it out!
The Big Plateau and Ekblom Trail is an amazing hike through the impeccably perfect Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
It's just over five miles long, and I promise it's worth every single step! You're about to transport yourself to a whole new universe (that's still here in North Dakota).
In that five miles, you'll encounter all sorts of proof that North Dakota is the most beautiful place there is. There is no direction to look that's not photogenic.
The broad array of landscapes you'll wander through make the whole thing worth it, but there's more to it than just the jaw-dropping landscape: The blue sky is endless, and it perfectly complements the rest of the experience.
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Besides, which part of said landscape am I supposed to focus on?
Every single part is to die for; you'll get incredible, vista views of valleys and canyons. You'll encounter the beauty of the pristine Little Missouri River, and you'll have ample opportunities to dip your toes in. It's always the perfect temperature (well, okay - unless it's winter, but you get me).
When you're not enjoying the coolness of fresh water or looking over the entire world from a vista, your eyes will feast upon views of gorgeous valleys and prairie.
Big Plateau is the ultimate height you'll reach on this hike - and I swear the sweat will be so very worth it. Thankfully, once you're up there, the terrain is fairly flat...
...with absolutely jaw-dropping geography along the way (I'm starting to sense a pattern here).
Well, it's the geography AND the geology; the two dance with one another on this trail, and it's awesome for anyone with even a passing interest in the natural world and its processes.
Come out to the Big Plateau and Ekblom Trail and experience North Dakota like never before.
...unless, of course, you've hiked this trail before, which is understandable. Once you've done it once, you'll want to keep coming back time and time again.
For more photos and info about this amazing hiking trail in North Dakota, check out its official AllTrails listing. Are you hopelessly obsessed with North Dakota’s trails? Same. In that case, you’ll definitely want to do the famous Caprock Coulee Loop. You’re not a North Dakota hiker until you’ve done that one!
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