North Dakota's High Point - "White Butte"

North Dakota's High Point is White Butte at 3,506 feet. Located on private property, the high point is a butte near the town of Bowman, ND.

We made the drive from Wheeler Peak in New Mexico, stopping overnight in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The drive from New Mexico was quite unsettling as we drove across the flat plains in New Mexico and Colorado, watching dark thunder clouds in the sky and what seemed like small tornados forming in the distance (we were from the East Coast and had heard too many stories of Tornados in this type of area!).

The drive to the North Dakota highpoint seemed to take forever as we drove along quiet roads in the middle of nowhere. We arrived at the property and was supposed to ask for permission to visit the highpoint from the property owners in the green house but the area, and the house was abandoned and empty except for garbage and left over items. So we headed down the overgrown driveway to the small parking area near the trailhead for the summit of White Butte. It didn't seem like anyone had been in the area for days, or even months.

As it was already 5pm and the skies looked ominous like thunderstroms were brewing in the distance, we were in a hurry. We got out of the car, keeping an eye out for rattlesnakes (a big problem in the area). The hike to the summit and back was 2 miles, climbing 406 feet in elevation at the Butte. Slapping on some insect repellent, sunscreen and putting on gaiters, we headed to the summit continuously making noise to keep away the snakes. Within half an hour, we arrived at the summit which was marked with a register. The register told us someone had visited yesterday! A few photos and we were off keen to get out of the area (away from snakes, bugs and thunderstorms!). We were back at the car 15 minutes late. As we drove away, and towards South Dakota the sky lit up with lightning! Talk about timing!