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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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47.00707°N / 103.50536°W |
Route Type:
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Hiking |
Season:
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Spring, Summer, Fall |
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Difficulty:
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Hike |
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Overview
Big Plateau TrailBig Plateau Trail branches off of Maah Daah Hey Trail on top of a grassy plateau. It heads southeast and quickly drops 140 ft to a lower plateau that houses a big prairie dog town. It then continues in a southeasterly direction to the edge of the lower plateau where it drops another 270 ft to cross Little Missouri River (no bridge, you must ford the river). The trail ends at Peaceful Valley on the banks of the river near the park main road.
Mike Auney Trail
Mike Auney Trail branches off of Maah Daah Hey Trail on top of a grassy plateau (0.6 miles to the north of Big Plateau Trail). It heads northeast going to the edge of the plateau where it drops 470 ft to reach Little Missouri River. After crossing the river (no bridge, you must ford the river), the trail goes up the hills on the east side of the river 150 vertical feet or so to end at Roundup Horse Camp Trailhead.
Getting There
Peaceful Valley Trailhead gives access to Big Plateau Trail. It is well marked on the park’s main road (see map).Roundup Horse Camp Trailhead gives access to Mike Auney Trail. From Park’s main road, turn north onto East River Road (a well graded dirt road) and go a little more than a mile to reach Roundup Horse Camp Road. When I was in the area, the gate on Horse Camp Road was actually closed with a sign saying open for group reservations only (see map, I actually hiked the road as part of a long one way hike on many trails in the park). The trailhead is 1.1 miles from this gate.
Big Plateau Trail
All distances are per my GPS.Big Plateau Trail branches off of Maah Daah Hey Trail on top of a grassy plateau and goes down roughly 150 vertical feet to a lower plateau.
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The lower plateau houses a large prairie dog town.
 Prairie dogs |
 Big Plateau |
The trail then reaches the edge of the lower plateau and goes down a hilly area.
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Little Missouri River. When I crossed the river in September of 2016, it was knee deep. At times of high water, the river may be deeper making the crossing difficult. Check with park service. On the east side of the river, the trail goes a short distance to end at Peaceful Valley parking area.
 Fording Little Missouri River |
 Fording Little Missouri River |
Wild TurkeyMike Auney Trail
All distances are per my GPS.Mike Auney Trail branches off of Maah Daah Hey Trail on top of a grassy plateau. For the first half mile or so, the trail remains on top of the plateau. A beaten path may not be seen but you can follow wood posts that mark the trail. At the edge of the plateau, the trail becomes apparent.
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The trail goes into the hills and ultimately drops more than 450 vertical feet to reach Little Missouri River.
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This guy stared at me from a distance.
Little Missouri River. When I crossed the river in September of 2016, it was knee deep. At times of high water, the river may be deeper making the crossing difficult. Check with park service.
 Fording Little Missouri River |
 Fording Little Missouri River |
On the east side of the river, the trail goes up the hills to end at Roundup Horse Camp Trailhead.
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