Arguably the best park for trail riders in North Dakota, the Little Missouri State Park (www.ndparks.com/parks/lmbsp.htm). Located 50 miles north of the town of Dickenson in western North Dakota, the park is a paradise for trail riders. Wind, water, and sand sculpted this wildly rugged country, featuring North Dakota’s most awe-inspiring scenery.

The Sioux Indians called this place Mako Shika or “where the land breaks.” (For more on the area, contact North Dakota Tourism, www.ndtourism.com.)

Top-notch facilities feature manicured lawns, fire rings, and picnic tables. Some sites have electrical hookups. There are four picnic shelters, as well as a recreational-vehicle dump station. Best of all, most sites have terrific views over the canyon edge into the dazzling badlands below.

This park also offers thoughtful equine accommodations: Spacious, immaculate corrals sport rakes, shovels, and even wheelbarrows.

Enjoy this bonus photo album from our trip! (For more on Little Missouri State Park, see The Trail Rider, March ’09.)

Entrance sign to Little Missouri State Park.

Campsites at Little Missouri State Park are spacious and well designed. Some sites have electrical hookups.

Several shelters are available for picnics and gatherings.

Kent and Charlene Krones campsite at the northern end of the park campground.

Kent and Charlene Krones Missouri Fox Trotter geldings, Scout (left) and Buddy, enjoy the parks clean, comfortable corrals.

Kent Krone (aboard Buddy) and Charlene Krone (aboard Scout) at the north gate leading to trails in the badlands.

Trip leaders for the Krones guided ride through the badlands (left to right): Odell Krohn, Al Olson, and Chuck Webster.

Charlene Krone, Al Olson, and Marty Thiel ride though the badlands.

Kent Krone and Buddy on Thors Trail.

Kent Krone and Buddy on Thors Trail.

Kent Krone and Buddy on Thors Trail.

Charlene Krone rides Scout near the intersection of Travois and Thors Trails.

Charlene and Scout on the Wagon Trail.

Kent Krone and Buddy take a break to enjoy the views.

Kent Krone and Buddy study rock formations on the Indian Trail.

Charlene Krone and Scout study rock formations on the Indian Trail.