Trail Description

Overview Map

(Updated: 5/26/10)

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(Updated: 6/8/2010)
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Updated: 1/03/2011
0.0 — The trail crosses ND Hwy 3 south of Harvey where the New Rockford Canal crosses under the road. The trail follows the Canal southwest to its western end just east of 19th Street, where it enters the Lonetree WMA. The trail follows along 19th Street to a small trailhead parking area, located about a mile and a half mile west of Hwy 3. GPS Coordinates: N 47°41′17.01″ & W 99°56′40.44″. After climbing a hill, the trail leaves 19th Street heading southwest through the prairie and generally paralleling the Sheyenne River. The terrain is rolling hills and views down into the river valley are frequent.

4.4 — After crossing through a shelterbelt planting, the trail reaches 18th Street, where a small parking area is located about 0.1 mile west of the crossing (GPS Coordinates: N 47°40′25.47″ & W 99°59′39.13″), and heads south again paralleling the river through a stretch of native prairie before crossing the Sheyenne River on 16th Street. Note: The road leading up to the box culvert was washed out following the 2009 spring flooding. As of July ‘09, hikers can scramble across with minor difficulty. The road is slated for repair Water may be obtained here. West of the River, the trail heads uphill northwest to 25th Ave. through native prairie. It follows 25th Ave. north for a short distance to bypass a wetland.

8.3 — The trail reaches the intersection of 24th Ave. and 17th Street. The trail follows 17th Street west and then heads south on 23rd Ave, on which it crosses the Sheyenne River. It then leaves the road heading west passing by the Game & Fish Department’s Faul Campground with water pump, tent pads, and a vault toilet. GPS Coordinates: N47°39′6.05″ & W100° 4′10.31″

11.1 — The trail reaches 22nd Ave. and then follows it north to 17th Street, crossing the Sheyenne River again. Here, the river looks like a wide, grassy marsh. Across from where the trail comes out on 22nd Ave. is a short side trail that leads to a historic site where a sod house was once located. The trail follows 17th Street west for a mile and third before heading northwest, crossing 20th Ave., and then coming out to 19th Ave, which it follows north to 18th Street.

15.7 — The trail reaches 18th Street again and then heads east for a short ways and then north along the eastern edge of Coal Mine Lake. The trail crosses over a dam at the lake’s outlet which releases water into the Sheyenne River. Note: During times of high water, hikers may want to follow an alternate route instead of passing over the lake’s outlet structure. Instead, follow 18th Street east to 21st Ave. heading north to the entrance road to the Coal Mine Lake Campground. The trail passes through the Game & Fish Department’s Coal Mine Lake campground. Here, hikers will find free camping, a water pump, and a vault toilet. GPS Coordinates: N47°40′42.49″ & W100° 8′19.62″. For the next 5 miles the trail follows close to the shores of Coal Mine and Sheyenne Lakes with abundant views of waterfowl and other wildlife.

18.7 — The trail comes out to 19th Street and follows it through the narrows between Coal Mine and Sheyenne Lakes. Here the trail lies within Sheyenne Lake National Wildlife Refuge, which is an easement refuge administered by the Audubon NWR further west. Before reaching Hwy 14, the trail climbs to the top of a round hill which contains remnants of tepee rings. Here, hikers will enjoy fine views in all directions and can easily see why Native Americans used to camp there in the summer.

21.1 — The trail crosses ND Hwy 14 and then within 0.5 miles passes by ND Game & Fish’s Jensen campground with water pump and a vault toilet. GPS Coordinates: N47°41′44.26″ & W100°14′21.77″.

22.8 — The trail comes out to 15th Ave, follows it to the north, and then follows 20th Street to the west. Here, the Trail is still paralleling the Sheyenne River and it can occasionally be seen in the distance along with several lakes. The trail leaves 20th Street heads up a short promontory point, then angles to the northwest across some patches of remnant prairie. The trail crosses 13th Ave. and swings to the southwest where it comes in close proximity to the Sheyenne River yet again. After passing Lonetree WMA’s boundary, the trail reaches the interesting outlet structure for the McClusky Canal. After climbing up a steep eroding road, the trail reaches a small trailhead parking area about 0.75 north of 19th Street. GPS Coordinates: N47°41′44.58″ & W100°20′8.97″. The trail then follows the east side of the canal heading south.

28.1 — The trail reaches 19th Street on which it crosses over the Canal, and then follows along the west side of the Canal.