Distance is one measure of a hike. Elevation gain is the one that decides how your legs feel the next morning. We pulled every trail in North Dakota with a measurable elevation-gain tag — out of the 419 entries OutsideAtlas tracks here — and ranked them by total vertical. The result is a roster of climbs that punch above their mileage.
North Dakota's Badlands in the west and the prairie pothole country in the east define the state — quietly more scenic than its flat-state reputation. White Butte (3,506 ft) is the state high; vertical-gain rankings flag Badlands climbs in TRNP. Lightning on open prairie, rattlesnakes in the Badlands, and rapidly changing weather even in summer.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 419 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in North Dakota — but the data has limits worth being honest about. Elevation-gain figures depend on the surveyor and the digital-elevation model used. Some trails are missing this tag entirely and are excluded from the list. Treat numbers as approximate but directionally reliable.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #2. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Achenbach Trail
Achenbach Trail ranks #1 for vertical gain, sitting near Grassy Butte in McKenzie County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Achenbach Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Summit Trail
Summit Trail ranks #2 for vertical gain, sitting near Grassy Butte in McKenzie County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Summit Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your North Dakota trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for North Dakota. May-October is the practical window; winter is brutal and summer brings thunderstorms and ticks. Lightning on open prairie, rattlesnakes in the Badlands, and rapidly changing weather even in summer.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More North Dakota hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our North Dakota coverage continues below.
- Top 10 longest trails in North Dakota — Multi-day routes and through-hikes ranked by distance.
- Best beginner hikes in North Dakota — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in North Dakota — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in North Dakota — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in North Dakota — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in North Dakota — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in North Dakota — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in North Dakota last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
