Nelson 80 Trail
- 1.3 mi
- loop
- 154 ft
- climb
- 1,376 ft
- high point
- Loop
- route
- May–Oct
- best months
Nelson 80 Trail is a short, easy loop in Fort Ransom State Park in North Dakota, managed by State Park and Recreation. The trail is about 1.3 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 154 feet and a total loss of 273 feet, making it a low-effort outing that can be done in about half an hour. The route starts at roughly 1,226 feet and reaches a high point of 1,376 feet before descending. The steepest stretch comes early on, with a 13% grade at about 0.1 mile. The trail is a loop, so you return to your starting point. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Lisbon, about 14 miles away, show July highs around 82°F with lows near 58°F, while winter highs stay in the teens and 20s. Several other trails sit close by. Oak Ridge Trail is about 0.2 miles away, Ridge Line Nature Trail about 0.3 miles, and The Spur Trail and North Fork Trail are each about 0.4 miles off. For fishing, the Sheyenne River is about 2.7 miles away.
Best time to go · May–Oct
Best time to visit Nelson 80 Trail
Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
18° / 0°
5 wet
Feb
24° / 3°
4 wet
Mar
37° / 16°
5 wet
Apr
54° / 29°
7 wet
May
67° / 42°
10 wet
Jun
77° / 54°
11 wet
Jul
82° / 58°
10 wet
Aug
81° / 55°
8 wet
Sep
72° / 46°
7 wet
Oct
56° / 32°
7 wet
Nov
39° / 19°
5 wet
Dec
25° / 7°
5 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lisbon, ND, 14 mi away at 1,149 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
