2026 MAAH DAAH HEY 100
Racer Guide
Dear MDH Mountain Bikers,
Welcome to the world-famous Maah Daah Hey 100 in the breathtaking North Dakota Badlands!
Whether you're tackling the 13, 25, 50, 75, or legendary 100-mile race, you're about to experience one of the most rugged and rewarding mountain bike adventures anywhere.
Our entire team has spent the past months preparing the trails, coordinating volunteers, and fine-tuning every detail to give you an unforgettable experience.
This guide contains everything you need to know before arriving in the Badlands.
Ride hard.
Ride smart.
And above all...
Enjoy the adventure.
NEW FOR 2026
Finish Line at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
One of the biggest changes in MDH100 history is here.
For the first time ever, all races will finish at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
After more than a decade of incredible memories at the Family Fun Center, we're excited to begin a new chapter with what we believe will become one of the most spectacular finish-line venues in endurance mountain biking.
Your finish line now includes:
● Beautiful Badlands overlooks
● A world-class visitor destination
● More room for spectators
● Easier parking
● Better post-race experience
● The newest Trailhead to the Maah Daah Hey Trail
● As previously emailed, please feel free to use the code: MDHTR2026 for a discount to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and use the code: RACESERIES15 for the Medora Musical and Pitchfork Streak Fondue.
Please study the updated Racecourse Map carefully before race weekend.
Registration Changes
Race distance transfers and registrations can be completed through your RunSignUp account until the published deadline.
Event Website
Visit MDH100.com for:
● Schedule
● Maps
● Results
● Live Tracking
● GPX Files
● Racer Updates
Interactive Racecourse Map
The MDH100 Google Map is your best friend.
Study it before race weekend.
Use it to:
● Locate every event location
● Learn every checkpoint and aid station
● View mileage between aid stations
● Locate parking
● Find the NEW finish line
Please do not rely solely on Google Maps or Apple Maps for SAG driving directions.
Packet Pickup
Attendance Required: Every participant is obligated to attend the Packet Pickup on Friday. Bring your DROP BAGS, zipped, labeled, and ready to go.
MDH 13, 25, & 50: Join us from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM MT at the NEW Finish Line venue in the TRPL East Wing.
MDH 75 & 100: Check-in is between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM MT (6:00 PM–8:00 PM CT) at the Roosevelt Inn & Suites in Watford City. You will receive your live tracker here, make sure to secure it to your bike or yourself before the race! Be sure to turn your tracker on at least 1 hour before the race starts.
Pro Tip: All official race timings and trail events are on Mountain Time (MT). Since Watford City operates on Central Time (CT), please adjust your watches accordingly!
Race Start
All MDH100 races begin at 6:00 AM Mountain Time on Saturday, August 1. Please remember that while Watford City observes Central Time, all race schedules and start times are listed in Mountain Time (MT).
Please arrive early and allow plenty of time to park, prepare your bike, and check in.
Before the start, every racer should:
● Check in at the Starting Line between 5:00–5:30 AM MT.
● Attend the mandatory pre-race meeting approximately 15 minutes before the start, where we'll cover final course updates, safety information, and last-minute announcements.
● Ensure your GPS device, bike computer, phone, and lights (if applicable) are fully charged before arriving at the start line.
● Download the official GPX file to your GPS device and review the Interactive Racecourse Map before race day. While the course is well marked, a GPS track provides an extra layer of confidence, especially on long, remote sections of the course.
● Remember: The race begins promptly at 6:00 AM MT. Please be staged and ready to roll before the start countdown.
Pro Tip: Don't rush race morning. Have your nutrition packed, bottles filled, tires checked, and GPS loaded the night before so you can enjoy a calm, stress-free start to your Badlands adventure.
Checkpoints & Aid Stations
Our checkpoints and aid stations are strategically located throughout the racecourse to keep you fueled, hydrated, and moving safely through the North Dakota Badlands. Their locations, mileage, and cutoff times can be found on the Interactive Racecourse Map and in the official race schedule.
Water & Hydration
Every Checkpoint (CP) is stocked with drinking water for refilling bottles and hydration packs.
Every Aid Station (AS) provides:
● Cold drinking water
● Tailwind Nutrition sports drink
● Ice (weather permitting)
Food
Aid Stations offer a variety of snacks and quick fuel to help keep you moving. While selections vary by location, racers can expect items such as fruit, chips, cookies, candy, salty snacks, and other endurance-race favorites.
Please don't rely solely on aid stations for your nutrition. Every racer should carry enough food and fluids to comfortably reach the next aid station.
Medical Support
Our volunteers are trained to assist with many common race-day issues, including dehydration, heat illness, minor injuries, and other medical concerns. For serious or life-threatening emergencies, race staff will coordinate with local EMS. If you or another racer experiences an emergency, call 911 immediately if service is available, then notify the nearest race volunteer as soon as possible.
Mechanical Assistance
Aid stations are equipped to help with basic mechanical issues whenever possible, including access to common tools, tire inflation, and minor repairs. However, support is limited in these remote locations.
Every racer should be prepared to be self-sufficient by carrying spare tubes or tire plugs, a pump or CO₂ inflator, a multi-tool, chain repair supplies, and any other essentials needed to get back on the trail.
Drop Bags
Drop bags are available for $5 per bag and may be sent to any Aid Station. Clearly label each bag with your name, bib number, and destination Aid Station, then turn it in at Packet Pickup on Friday.
After an Aid Station closes, drop bags will be returned to the Finish Line for pickup.
Cutoff Times
Aid Station 1: Closes at 10:15 am
Checkpoint Bravo: Closes at 12:30 pm
Checkpoint Charlie: Closes at 1:45 pm
Aid Station 2: Closes at 3 pm
Checkpoint Delta: Closes at 4:15 pm
Checkpoint Echo: Closes at 5:45 pm
Checkpoint Foxtrot: Closes at 6:30 pm
Checkpoint Golf: Closes at 7:30 pm
Aid Station 3: Closes at 8 pm
Checkpoint Hotel: Closes at 10 pm
Checkpoint India: Closes at 11 pm
FINISH LINE: Closes at 12 am
See MDH100 Google Map for each location
Live Tracking
All MDH75 and MDH100 racers are required to carry a GPS tracker.
Family and friends can follow your progress online throughout the day HERE.
Racecourse Marking
The MDH Trail is marked with 4x6 wooden turtle posts.
The Buffalo Gap Trail uses 4x6 wooden buffalo skull posts.
For race weekend:
Follow the RED!
Watch for:
● Red arrows
● Red paint
● Flagging
If you're wondering where to go...
Follow RED.
Trail Conditions
Every July, the Maah Daah Hey Trail is transformed by an incredible team of SAVE THE MAAH DAAH HEY volunteers during our annual Big Push. Over the course of nearly two weeks, volunteers mow, string trim, prune, repair, and restore more than 180 miles of trail to provide the best possible race experience for every rider.
Even with hundreds of hours of trail work, this is still the wild North Dakota Badlands. Expect a true backcountry mountain bike adventure with constantly changing terrain and conditions.
Along the course, you'll encounter:
● World-class singletrack winding through the rugged Badlands
● Steep climbs and exhilarating descents that will challenge both your fitness and technical skills
● Prairie grasslands with wide-open views stretching for miles
● Clay soil that can become extremely slick and difficult to ride if wet
● Rough sections requiring focus and good line choice
● Creek and river crossings, depending on your race distance
● Fast, flowing trail mixed with technical, slower-speed terrain
● Wild horses, deer, cattle, prairie dogs, and other wildlife that call the Badlands home
● Some of the most breathtaking scenery you'll ever experience from the seat of a mountain bike
The Maah Daah Hey Trail rewards riders who stay alert, ride within their abilities, and take time to appreciate the incredible landscape around them. Respect the trail, respect the land, and enjoy every mile of the adventure.
Gates & Livestock
Respect all gates.
Make sure all Black Gates close behind you.
NEVER prop a black gate open!
Be patient around cattle.
Remember—you are riding through working ranches.
Watch our HOW TO open a MDH Black Gate video HERE!
SAG Information
The Maah Daah Hey Trail is one of the most remote racecourses in the country. A well-prepared SAG crew can make all the difference in your race experience.
Your SAG crew should:
● Study the MDH100 Interactive Racecourse Map before race weekend.
● Download and print the official turn-by-turn SAG Directions. Do not rely solely on Google Maps or Apple Maps.
● Download the Badlands area for offline use in Google Maps before arriving, as cell service is limited or nonexistent throughout much of the course.
● Carry plenty of extra water, food, ice, fuel, and basic tools for both themselves and their racer.
● Know your racer's approximate pace and plan which checkpoints and aid stations they'll meet at throughout the day.
● Expect long drive times between some locations. Always leave early—it is much better to arrive before your racer than after them.
● Obey all posted signs and stay on designated roads. Much of the route travels through working ranches and public lands.
● Be patient and courteous with other SAG crews, volunteers, ranchers, and trail users. Together, we help make this event safe and enjoyable for everyone.
● Watch our brand new HOW to SAG video HERE!
Pro Tip: The MDH100 isn't just an adventure for racers—it's an unforgettable Badlands adventure for your SAG crew, too. Encourage them to explore the viewpoints, cheer on other riders, and enjoy the experience while supporting you.
Traffic & Parking Safety
The Badlands gravel roads remain open to public traffic throughout race weekend. Heavy truck traffic, ranch traffic, oilfield vehicles, and emergency vehicles may be encountered at any time. Please use caution whenever driving or parking along the racecourse.
Law enforcement will be actively patrolling the event, and all traffic and parking laws will be strictly enforced.
To help keep everyone safe, law enforcement requests that all SAG vehicles:
● Park on only one side of the roadway at all Checkpoints and Aid Stations.
● Use ditch parking whenever possible, keeping all travel lanes open.
● Never block roadways, gates, driveways, or intersections.
● Leave enough room for semi-trucks, ranch equipment, and emergency vehicles to pass safely at all times.
Your cooperation is essential to keeping the event safe for racers, volunteers, local residents, and emergency responders. Thank you for helping us be respectful guests on the public roads and private lands that make the MDH100 possible.
Weather & Heat
The North Dakota Badlands can be extremely hot.
Come prepared for:
● High temperatures
● Strong wind
● Thunderstorms
● Rapid weather changes
Hydrate early.
Eat often.
Respect the conditions.
Emergencies
For life-threatening emergencies:
Call 911 immediately.
For non-emergency situations:
Contact Race Headquarters or the number printed on your racer wristband.
DNFs
If you leave the racecourse for any reason...
Notify race staff immediately.
An unreported DNF may initiate a search and rescue operation.
Rain Plan & Weather Policy
The Maah Daah Hey Trail is one of the most beautiful mountain bike trails in the country—but it can also be one of the most unforgiving when Mother Nature doesn't cooperate.
The Badlands' clay-rich soils can become extremely slick and unrideable after significant rainfall. Riding saturated trails not only creates unsafe conditions for racers, but can also cause severe, long-lasting damage to the trail system that volunteers work so hard to maintain.
Because of this, race officials reserve the right to modify the event as necessary to protect both racer safety and the Maah Daah Hey Trail.
Delayed Starts
If weather conditions at the scheduled start are unsafe, the race start will be delayed in one-hour increments while we monitor trail and weather conditions.
Our goal is always to allow the race to proceed on the full course whenever it is safe to do so. We appreciate your patience while we make informed decisions based on the latest weather information and on-the-ground trail conditions.
Alternate Racecourses
If portions of the racecourse become unsafe or impassable, race officials may implement an alternate course. Depending on conditions, this could include:
● Modified race distances
● Alternate trail segments or road detours
● Out-and-back routes
● Changes to checkpoint or aid station locations
● Even moving the event to the next day, in very extreme circumstances
We have successfully adapted racecourses in previous years to provide a safe and enjoyable experience despite challenging weather.
Emergency Finish Locations
If weather or trail conditions deteriorate after the race has begun, the official Finish Line may be relocated to the nearest practical Checkpoint or Aid Station. This decision will only be made when necessary to protect the safety of racers, volunteers, and emergency personnel.
Trail Preservation
The Maah Daah Hey Trail is a world-class public resource that we are privileged to use. We are committed to being good stewards of this incredible trail system.
If weather creates conditions that are unsafe or cause unacceptable damage to the trail, race officials may delay, shorten, reroute, or, in extreme circumstances, cancel portions of the event.
While every effort will be made to provide the best possible race experience, Mother Nature ultimately determines what is rideable. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility if weather requires changes to the event.
Thank you for helping us protect the Maah Daah Hey Trail so it can be enjoyed by future generations of riders.
Volunteer Trail Work
The Maah Daah Hey Trail doesn't maintain itself.
Each July, SAVE THE MAAH DAAH HEY volunteers spend hundreds of hours mowing, trimming, repairing, and reopening the trail before race day.
If you enjoy riding this incredible trail, please consider supporting the nonprofit that keeps it rideable HERE.
Final Thoughts
The Maah Daah Hey isn't just another mountain bike race.
It's an adventure.
It's a challenge.
It's an opportunity to discover what you're capable of while riding through one of America's most spectacular landscapes.
Every volunteer, landowner, sponsor, and race official has worked tirelessly to make this event possible.
Now it's your turn.
Take in the beauty of the sunrise.
Smile through the suffering.
Celebrate every mile.
And when you roll across the finish line at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, know you've earned every inch of it.
We'll be cheering for you all the way.
See you in the Badlands.
Ride On!
Nick & Lindsey Ybarra
Your Badlands Race Directors