Diane Gabriel Trail

The Diane Gabriel Trail ventures into the remote backcountry sections of Makoshika State Park, rewarding those willing to cover more ground with solitude, panoramic badlands overlooks, and exceptional pronghorn viewing in the grassland zones bordering the eroded coulee terrain. Named in honor of a dedicated park volunteer, the trail exemplifies the spirit of community commitment to preserving this remarkable landscape for future generations.

The route climbs to exposed ridgelines where the full scope of the park badlands becomes visible, a vast dissected plateau of eroded sediment stretching toward the Yellowstone River and the North Dakota border beyond. Pronghorn, the fastest land animal in the Western Hemisphere, are commonly encountered at speed crossing the open grassland sections, their distinctive white rump patches flashing as they bound away from approaching hikers. Prairie dogs maintain colonies in suitable flat areas near the park margins, and the raptors that prey on them, including ferruginous hawks and prairie falcons, patrol the colony edges. The clay soils in the lower coulee sections become extremely slippery when wet, so hikers should check weather forecasts and avoid this trail immediately after significant rainfall. Early morning starts are rewarded with the best wildlife activity and the most dramatic low-angle light on the badland formations.