North Dakota · Hiking

Oak Leaf

Oak LeafPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
4.6 mi
round trip
160 ft
climb
1,074 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Oak Leaf open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Dakota Prairie Grasslands.

As of · Source: USFS · Dakota Prairie Grasslands. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Oak Leaf is a 4.6-mile out-and-back hike in the Sheyenne Ranger District of the Dakota Prairie Grasslands in North Dakota, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is rated moderate, with a total elevation gain of 21 feet, and it sits at about 1,070 feet, with the high point at 1,074 feet and the low at 1,048 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.8 miles in, with a grade of about 5 percent. The trail is gravel and allows both horses and bikes. It is open year-round, and the closest stop is Jorgens Hollow campground, about 0.2 miles away. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 82°F with lows near 60°F, while winter highs stay in the teens and 20s.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Oak Leaf

    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.

    1. Jan

      19° / -1°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      24° / 3°

      4 wet

    3. Mar

      38° / 17°

      4 wet

    4. Apr

      55° / 31°

      5 wet

    5. May

      69° / 45°

      8 wet

    6. Jun

      78° / 56°

      9 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 60°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 57°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 48°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 34°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      39° / 20°

      4 wet

    12. Dec

      25° / 6°

      4 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mc Leod 3 E, ND, 9.2 mi away at 1,075 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Sheyenne National GrasslandPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Sheyenne National Grassland

~4 min drive

0.51-mile out-and-back trail in Sheyenne National Grassland, North Dakota.

HIKE

Red River Valley Provisional Route

~44 min drive

24-mile out-and-back trail through Minnesota's Red River Valley.

HIKE

Kathryn To Clausen Springs

~1h 6m drive

4.21-mile out-and-back trail in North Dakota with 1,826 ft gain

Valley CityPhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Valley City

~1h 21m drive

2.84-mile out-and-back trail in Valley City, North Dakota with 2,908 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Hankinson Hills

~51 min drive

15.84-mile loop trail in North Dakota with 504 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

North Clausen

~1h 11m drive

6.98-mile out-and-back trail in North Dakota with 435 ft gain

HIKE

North Country National Scenic - North Dakota

~19 min drive

2.98-mile point-to-point trail in North Dakota with 88 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

The Biesterfeldt Site

~27 min drive

0.59-mile out-and-back trail at The Biesterfeldt Site in North Dakota.

HIKE

North Dakota Veteran'S Home

~40 min drive

0.90-mile out-and-back trail in North Dakota with 99 ft gain

HIKE

Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park

~41 min drive

0.35-mile out-and-back trail at Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park in Minnesota.