A new national park created by the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation is offering access to a once-private stretch of North Dakota’s Badlands, inviting hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to experience the tribe’s ancestral lands while preserving its natural beauty.
According to an article by NJ.com, the Three Affiliated Tribes National Park spans 2,100 acres of rugged terrain along the Little Missouri River. Formerly a private ranch, the land now lies within the expanded boundaries of the Fort Berthold Reservation.
“This is just another strong move to reacquire some of our lands and then do something very effective with it, so to speak,” said Tribal Chairman Mark Fox, “to aid tourism and the economy through recreation.”
Park development is being approached with care to protect the fragile Badlands ecosystem.
“This place will be here in perpetuity, and it will be better when we are done than it was when we got it,” said Park Superintendent Ethan White Calfe.
North Dakota’s Badlands are known for their colorful rock formations, fossil-rich hills, and challenging terrain. The new park adds fresh foot-traffic-only access to this dramatic region, with hiking allowed by free online permit and a 10-mile trail system in development.
“We’re looking at it as: how do we help this area look like it did 300 years ago?” White Calfe said. “How do we help this area heal?”
Park officials aim to restore native prairies and remove invasive plants, while planning visitor infrastructure like a campground and center.
The land, though accessible by highway, conceals most of its dramatic interior from view—something hikers can now discover firsthand.
“It’s a beautiful and picturesque but deceptive and steep landscape,” said Mary Fredericks, director of the Parks and Reserve Program.
Oil revenues helped the MHA Nation acquire the land, but leaders stress that conservation is key.
“I’m very, very proud of our tribal council for having the foresight to buy this land with the intent of making it into a national park,” Fredericks said.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen 50 years from now… but we can preserve this part of it,” Fredericks added.
The park borders Little Missouri State Park and may serve as a gateway to other outdoor areas, including Lake Sakakawea and the Maah Daah Hey Trail. State park officials are collaborating on trail connections and shared goals.
The Badlands “kind of has that almost spiritual feel to it. It’s peaceful,” said Cody Schulz, Director of North Dakota’s Parks and Recreation Department.
“This is an opportunity to tell our own story, our own narrative from our own perspective in a place like this,” said White Calfe. “That’s pretty valuable.”
The creation of this tribal national park expands public access to North Dakota’s iconic Badlands, offering new hiking opportunities while highlighting Indigenous stewardship and sustainable land use.
Featured Image by Three Affiliated Tribes National Park via tatnationalpark.com