Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Bar X Ranch - Medora, North Dakota

 Another ranch where Google Maps failed us and took us in the wrong direction, so to help anyone else who needs to find their way.

When you get to River Road, you will have to turn left over the railroad tracks. Just before that turn, there is a wooden sign on the right of the word that says 'Bar X Ranch' and a left arrow.


As you go down River Road, look for this white log on the left side of the road.
Make a left turn on 35th St SW - this road isn't marked on Google Maps...Google calls it "unknown road".
After you make the turn, there will be a worn wooden sign on the left that tells you to just follow the road to the campground.
If you look up on the left, you will see the Bar X symbol.
The campground is very similar to Hay Creek Ranch, you have electric hook up only. There is an RV dump and the campground shares a single water source. The hose that is provided is leaky and broken.
Horses are in uncovered pipe corrals, no shade. Corrals are 10 ft by 10 ft.
Campsites are shady. Some picnic tables and fire rings, but the place is a bit unkempt.
There are rental cabins as well as public toilets and showers.
No laundry.
There is a small group area for BBQs. 
There is a camp host who is very friendly and provides guidance on trails and helps you settle in your campsite.

You have direct access to the Maah Daah Hey Trail right from the campground. No need to trailer out. There is a stock trailer available for rent, if you want one.
We rode the Maah Daah Hey Trail one day and on the ranch land the next day.

The Little Missouri River runs through and around the property. It is an easy water crossing.

When you are riding on the ranch property, there are signs along the trail advising that only Bar X guests are allowed on the trail.
Ari's Verizon service worked fine at this campground, so we used his cell phone as a hot spot during our stay here.
 I thought the ride on the private ranch land was nicer than the Maah Daah Hey Trail.
It hit 102 degrees, so we went to the Medora City Pool - about 15 minutes away from the campground. If you go after 7pm, it isn't that crowded and it is really pleasant. I was even able to swim some laps.




Our next stop is Sully Creek State Park to allow us to ride a different section of the Maah Daah Hey. Sully Creek State Park is only a couple of miles as the crow flies from the Bar X, but as you can see from Google Maps, it requires a HUGE detour to get from one place to the other. This is why it is called the Badlands, because the terrain makes it challenging just to get from Point A to Point B.

















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