Maah Daah Hey Trail Photo Contest Celebrates Trail Expansion

The first-ever Maah Daah Hey Trail photo contest kicked off April 1 as part of the celebration for the completed Maah Daah Hey Trail, signifying 15 years of dedicated trail work to this system. The photo contest is sponsored by the USDA National Forest Service – Dakota Prairie Grasslands office, North Dakota Tourism and the Maah Daah Hey Trail Association.

Grand prizes of $100 each will be awarded in three categories: wildlife, scenery, and activities. Pictures may be submitted on the photo sharing website Flickr, and the contest runs through June 20.

Photo contest rules can be found at

http://www.ndtourism.com/sites/default/master/files/pdf/MaahDaahHeyflickrcontestrules.pdf

About the Maah Daah Hey Trail completion

Located in the North Dakota Badlands, the Maah Daah Hey Trail first opened in 1999 and attracts mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders. USDA National Forest Service – Dakota Prairie Grasslands office has been expanding the Maah Daah Hey Trail across the North Dakota Badlands for 15 years.

The US Forest Service has recently opened another 43 miles of non-motorized pathway. This addition marks the completion of the Maah Daah Hey Trail system, which totals 200 miles of interconnected non-motorized trails. These trails cut through the North Dakota Badlands from the CCC Campground near the North Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park to Burning Coal Vein Campground 50 miles south of Medora.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the last 43 miles of the Maah Daah Hey Trail is scheduled to occur on National Trails Day, which is Saturday, June 7. The event will be at Sully Creek State Park, south of Medora, and also will feature a blessing and barbeque. Various events are scheduled throughout the week following the June 7 grand opening. The agenda includes work projects, horse-packing demonstrations, displays, interpretive talks along various trail locations, and wilderness hikes that will be held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. The celebration week will culminate with participation in the Flag Day parade in Medora on June 14.

For more information on the grand opening of the Maah Daah Hey Trail expansion, contact Paula, Recreation Program Manager at the USDA National Forest Service – Dakota Prairie Grasslands office 701-260-5185.

For more information on the Maah Daah Hey Trail photo contest, call Mike Jensen, Outdoor Promotions Manager at North Dakota Tourism at 701-328-2509.

 

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