SHEYENNE GRASSLANDS & RED RIVER PLAIN
Lisbon - Ft. Abercrombie, ND
Ransom and Richland Counties
66.5 mi total 25.0 certified 0.0 connecting 0.0 marked 41.5 bare
East of Lisbon, the Sheyenne Valley becomes less pronounced, and the trail enters the glacial plains surrounding the Red River plain. Except for a couple of brief goodbyes, the trail leaves behind the relative comforts and semi-sylvan walking of the middle Sheyenne Valley, and finish up North Dakota with a serious dose of plains walking. Farming and ranching are the keynotes of land use here, even in the Sheyenne National Grasslands, the centerpiece of this section. Population here, as elsewhere in North Dakota, is thin, especially so in the Grasslands. For the hiker, water planning is again necessary, but there should be at least one water source available each day. There are no prepared campsites or campgrounds, but camping is allowed at all locations in the Grasslands, except at trailheads. Little exists in the way of services, except at the endpoints of the section.
0.0 (0.0) JUNCTION OF SR27 AND SR32 IN LISBON, ND
SR32 is Main Street in Libson, and most of the services mention in the previous section (grocery, convenience stores, restaurants, etc.) are located along it. From the SR27 junction, the suggested route goes south 0.7 mile, jogging to the west slightly at a railroad track, and reaches Jackson Ave. E. (CR6) near a grain elevator.
0.7 (0.7) TURN EAST ON JACKSON AVE. E. (CR6)
The suggested route follows Jackson Ave. E. eastward for half a mile or so to the edge of town, crossing the river on the way; then the route bends to the southeast, turns to gravel and climbs out of the Sheyenne Valley. At the top of the climb, the route continues east across the level, mostly treeless plain for about a quarter mile.
2.1 (1.4) TURN SOUTH ON CR6
CR6 and the suggested route turns south for a mile, then both turn back to the east.
3.1 (1.0) TURN EAST ON CR6.
The suggested route continues east. After a mile, CR5 joins from the south; three miles farther, CR5 leaves to the north. After another mile CR6 and the route turn south for a mile, then turn back to the east for two miles, then south for another mile before turning east again. After another half mile, cross the Sheyenne River -- the first reliable water since leaving Lisbon -- then, half a mile after crossing the river, reach an unnamed road leading north.
14.1 (11.0) TURN NORTH ON UNNAMED ROAD
The suggested route leaves CR6 and turns north on the unnamed road, after half a mile, it reaches the Sheyenne River and follows it closely for another 0.6 miles, until reaching an unnamed road joining from the east.
15.2 (1.1) TURN EAST ON UNNAMED ROAD
The suggested route turns east on the unnamed road, atter 0.8 miles, it reaches CR54 (shown at CR3 on some maps, and as Milnor Road on others). The Sheyenne National Grasslands west trailhead is on the far side of the wide gravel road.
SHEYENNE NATIONAL GRASSLANDS is unique on the North Country Trail, though the US Forest Service operates other grasslands in the plains states. The graddlands contains 70.180 acres of federal land and 64,769 acres of private land. Once largely farmed, farms were unsuccessful on the sandy soil and were abandoned, then bought up by Soil Conservation Service for rehabilitation into grazing, then turned over to the Forest Service. Revegitation includes tall prairie grasses, and some stands of planted aspen and cottonwood along with native burr oak. North Dakota's only population of prairie chickens is located here, as is the nearly the only population of Western Prairie White-Fringed Orchid. The grasslands are also home to cattle -- up to 11,000 graze its rolling prairie. The grasslands have been fenced into various ranges, and the trail goes through 24 self-closing gates that keep the ranges separate. No trail treadway is maintained, the trail follows blue markers on 4x4 posts 100 to 200 yards apart, and, as in Lonetree NWR, are sometimes hard to see. The cattle are rarely a problems, although where the route follows cattle paths hikers need to watch their step. 1994 through-hiker Ed Talone reports that some areas have been illegally posted; if trail markers take you through a posted area, you are still on the trail, and the posting should be reported to the USFS office in Lisbon. There are a number of water sources at windmills and artisian wells, but as these are used by the cattle the water should be treated. The windmills are only operational June 1 through October 1. There are no designated campsites, but camping is permitted anywhere but the trailheads. Because of the prairie grasses fire safety is even more important here than elsewhere, especially in dry periods. The Hutchins Guide to certified sections of the North Country Trail has an excellent segment on the trail in the Sheyenne Grasslands, which goes into more detail than possible here; it's available from the North Country Trail Store. Note: Hutchins used a measuring wheel on his hike through here, and came up with a mileage slightly smaller than that certified. His mileages, rather than the "official" ones, are used here. For more information about the trail in the Grasslands, contact Sheyenne National Grassland, Custer National Forest, PO Box 946, Lisbon ND 58054 (701) 683-4342.
16.0 (0.8) SHEYENNE NATIONAL GRASSLANDS WEST TRAILHEAD
The trail starts out northeast across a broad grassy plain. Seven self-closing gates are passed through before reaching an operatonal windmill about a mile before reaching SR26. The first windmill reached, halfway through the section, is reportedly non-operational. Water might also be available at a stock tank along a two-rut road about two miles into the section. Shortly past the windmill, the route bends to the north, continues for about a mile, and emerges on SR26 at a railroad crossing.
22.4 (6.4) CROSS RR TRACKS AND SR26
The trail continues to the north, still across a broad, empty grassland; after about a mile and a half, there is an artisian well and stock tank. Half a mile or so farther, the trail bends to the east; a windmill is about a mile farther on. About a mile and a half further, reach CR53.
26.6 (4.2) CROSS CR53
The trail continues to the east after crossing CR 53, but after a mile or so veers to the north, then northeast, then northwest, before turning back to the east, covering about two and a half miles in the process. The countryside is more rolling now; scrubby burr oak and aspen are frequently seen on the hills. The trail then turns east for about a mile and a half, then turns north, dipping to cross a usually dry creekbed, then passing a windmill shortly afterward. About half a mile north of the windmill, the trail turns east, and continues for about two miles to Iron Spring Creek, entering Richland County on the way. Though not a developed campsite, Iron Spring Creek is the only place in the grasslands where it's possible to camp near a stream.
35.3 (8.7) CROSS IRON SPRING CREEK
If the dayhiker only has time for a short section of the Sheyenne, the stretch between Iron Spring Creek and the east trailhead is the best section of the Sheyenne Grasslands, in the opinion of local hikers. Rolling, with some trees, it gives a good taste of the place. The trail starts southeast out of Iron Spring Creek, but soon turns northeast. About two miles out of the creek is a high hill with a good view of the Sheyenne Valley, which the trail sees here for the last time. The trail continues north for another half a mile, then bends back to the east, then the southeast, passing through several gates along the way, until finally emerging on gravel CR23 and the east Sheyenne National Grasslands Trailhead.
39.7 (4.4) EAST SHEYENNE NG TRAILHEAD; TURN SOUTH ON CR23
From the east Sheyenne National Grasslands Trailhead on to the vicinity of Maplewood State Park in Minnesota is what probably is the toughest remaining routing problem on the North Country Trail, mostly because there is no obvious trail route. The land from here on into western Minnesota is in the Red River Plain, a flat, heavily agricultural area with few trees and watercourses, and virtually no cover. Original plans for the NCT involved following abandoned railroad grades southeast to Wahpeton, then east and back north to Maplewood; however, over the course of years, the opportunity to develop this route has been lost, and the prospective grades plowed up and planted. There has been a suggestion of continuing to follow the Sheyenne River northeastward to some point south of Fargo, but that still doesn't answer the Minnesota side of the question. In the absence of any alternative, the suggested route given here takes the course of getting across the Red River plains as quickly and directly as possible. Otherwise, it's a flat, straight walk with little else to commend itself. There are no water sources or services of any nature before reaching Colfax, except for a scattered handful of farmhouses strung out along the route.
The suggested route roadwalk starts out of the east Sheyenne National Grasslands trailhead on gravel CR23 heading in a southeasterly direction, but after about 0.6 mile, the road bends to the south and continues for another two miles until reaching CR4.
42.3 (2.6) TURN EAST ON CR4
The suggested route goes east on gravel CR4 for a mile, reaching an unnamed road that crosses. (CR 4 continues to the east for another 2 miles, joins SR18 for a mile, and then is rejoined; this route is taken in the interest of lighter traffic.)
43.3 (1.0) TURN SOUTH ON UNNAMED ROAD
The unnamed road is followed for a mile, until reaching an unnamed road heading east.
44.3 (1.0) TURN EAST ON UNNAMED ROAD
The unnamed road is followed eastward for two miles, until reaching SR18.
46.3 (2.0) CONTINUE EAST ON CR4
CR 4 rejoins at this point, now paved. After 3 miles, cross CR29; after another 3 miles, cross CR 3. After another 6.5 miles, reach the village of Colfax.
COLFAX, ND 58018 (Pop. 33). Restaurant, small general store, community pool.
58.8 (12.5) CONTINUE EAST ON CR4
After 2 miles, cross over Interstate 29; no services at exit. After another 4.1 miles, reach CR81.
63.5 (4.6) TURN SOUTHEAST ON CR81
After 1.8 miles, CR4 turns east into the village of Abercrombie.
ABERCROMBIE, ND 58001 (Pop. 260) Laundromat, small grocery, restaurant, general store.
65.3 (1.8) TURN EAST ON CR4
CR4 is followed through the village of Abercrombie. At the east end of the village is Ft. Abercrombie, a reconstruction of an 1860's fort built to protect emigrant traffic. The road passes right through the center of the fort, reaching the Minnesota state line at a bridge over the Red River. No camping permitted at the fort.
66.5 (1.2) MINNESOTA STATE LINE
Description of this segment ends at this point, ending 422.8 miles in North Dakota.