It didn’t always have this nice fancy sign or benches or interpretive signage, but this trail has been around for a long time. In many ways it’s more scenic than the paved trails that wind around the Bismarck-Mandan area. It’s one of Mandan’s more entertaining features, since it’s got use all year long. Cross country skiers always got the most use out of this trail, until mountain biking took off. Runners use it too; I’ve had many of them pass me while I’m out taking wildlife photos here.

This trail splits into wandering forks in a couple of places, but all lead to the trail head just north of Interstate 94 by the refinery. To get there you need to take I-94 into east Mandan, then hook a quick right by the Bonanza restaurant. Follow the road back and around until you drive under I-94, and hook the first right. There’s the trail head.

The trail has various little offshoots that take you to the banks of the Missouri. There are interpretive signs and lots of wildlife. This particular day I had a beautiful Mallard drift by, but of course I had a short lens on the camera. That old adage about having multiple lenses (that you always have the wrong one on the camera) has held true for me on many occasions.

The other end of the trail is just to the north of the closed-for-now Memorial Bridge. The way to get there is exit the I-94 / Expressway loop by the Raging Rivers park (or Moritz Sport & Marine) and head north along the river. The trail starts on private land, but is signed and people are welcome to use the trail. It ventures over to and under the railroad bridge, the Grant Marsh bridge, and along to river over to the other trail head.

This trail also gets you close to the backwaters along the Missouri, where I’ve recently spotted bald eagles, great blue herons, and lots of other various wildlife species too.

So while there may be snow for the cross country skiers right now, soon this will turn into a nice spot for a spring walk. All summer it’ll be a great mountain biking route, or just a nice place for a jog. If you walk the trail, make sure to bring a camera.