Riding the Enchanted Highway North Dakota – A Perfect Western ND Day Trip
We finally decided to stop just talking about the Enchanted Highway North Dakota and actually ride it. At 175 miles one way from Williston, it’s the kind of “day trip” that quietly turns into an all-day ride. The Passenger Princess was loaded up, the bike was ready, and the destination was set.
The Ride South from Williston
North Dakota summers can go one of two ways — perfect riding weather or a slow roast. We lucked out on the temperature, but it was windy. Not knock-you-over windy, just steady enough that you feel it all day. After 175 miles, that constant push gets a little exhausting. The morning started off cool enough to appreciate a light layer, but as we headed south on Highway 85, the sun did its thing and warmed everything up without turning the ride into a slow bake.
We made our usual stop in Belfield for gas, a restroom break, and something resembling a snack. If you ride in western North Dakota, you already know — you top off when you can and you don’t overthink it. Highway 85 was doing what Highway 85 does: steady traffic, plenty of oilfield trucks, and the occasional reminder to stay alert. The roads are good, but this isn’t a “set the cruise and zone out” kind of ride. You keep your head on a swivel out here.
From Belfield we jumped onto I-94, headed east past Dickinson, and took Exit 72 toward Regent — which is where the Enchanted Highway officially begins. If you’ve never been, it’s a 32-mile stretch of road south of the interstate lined with seven massive scrap metal sculptures created by Gary Greff. And when I say massive, I don’t mean “that’s kind of neat.” I mean you see them from a long way off and immediately think, “Well… that’s different.”
Before you even turn south toward Regent, you’re greeted by “Geese in Flight” sitting just off the westbound side of I-94 near Exit 72. You can’t miss it. It’s massive. Naturally, this is the one sculpture we didn’t take pictures of. I’ve said it before — I’m terrible at remembering to take photos because I get caught up in the moment. We saw it. We appreciated it. We just didn’t document it like responsible content creators. The rest of the sculptures? I’ve got video. This one? You’ll have to trust me. I did manage to capture video of the rest of the sculptures — you’ll see them below as we go.
The Sculptures Along the Enchanted Highway
Once you turn south off I-94, the Enchanted Highway settles into a quiet stretch of road that feels very western North Dakota — wide open, rolling land, and not a whole lot competing for your attention besides the next giant metal creation in the distance. Each sculpture has its own pull-off area, and if you’ve ridden out here before, you already know what that means: scoria. It’s a western ND staple. Sometimes it’s packed down and fine. Sometimes it’s loose and wants to remind you who’s in charge. If you’re not confident handling your bike on uneven or soft surfaces, take it slow. A few of the pull-outs had ruts and potholes, so this isn’t the place to come in hot trying to look cool.
The rhythm of the ride became pretty simple: cruise, spot something massive on the horizon, pull in carefully, park, walk around, repeat. “Deer Crossing,” “Grasshoppers in the Field,” and “Fisherman’s Dream” each have their own personality, and seeing them from a motorcycle adds a different perspective. You’re not just driving past them — you’re arriving at them.
“Deer Crossing” honestly might mess with you a little if you weren’t expecting it. The way the deer are positioned makes it look like they’re running straight toward the road. In broad daylight it’s impressive. At night, if you’re unfamiliar with the area and a little tired? I could see that getting your attention real quick.
@bad_attitude_on_2_wheels North Dakota’s Enchanted Highway. If you like giant metal sculptures, this is the place for you! #enchanted #highway #westernskies #harleydavison ♬ Western Skies - Chris LeDoux
“Grasshoppers in the Field” might be the most unexpected — giant metal grasshoppers rising out of the prairie like something out of a low-budget sci-fi movie.
@bad_attitude_on_2_wheels Stop 2 on ND Enchanted Highway #enchanted #highway #westernskies #harleydavison #adventure ♬ Western Skies - Chris LeDoux
“Fisherman’s Dream” is just bold — big, detailed, and definitely worth stopping for. There’s even a boat set up for photos, which of course we took advantage of because if you’re going to commit to the stop, you might as well commit all the way. I grabbed a quick video of it as well.
“Pheasants on the Prairie” might have been my favorite, mostly because pheasants are practically part of the North Dakota identity. If you’ve spent any time out here, you’ve seen them darting through ditches and fields year round. Seeing them turned into towering metal versions just felt fitting. I’ve got video of this one too.
“Theodore Roosevelt Rides Again” is another one that hits differently if you understand how much Teddy Roosevelt is woven into North Dakota history and legend. It’s hard not to appreciate that one. There’s a short clip of this sculpture as well.
And then there’s the “Giant Tin Family,” which honestly gave me strong vibes of some kind of oversized kids’ robot show. Slightly awkward. Slightly futuristic. Completely committed to the theme. And yes, I got video of this one too.
Rolling into Regent
By the time we reached Regent, the ride had settled into that relaxed, satisfied feeling you get when a plan comes together exactly how you hoped it would. Regent isn’t a big town, but that’s kind of the point. It’s quiet, welcoming, and fully aware that the Enchanted Highway is its claim to fame.
We honestly didn’t expect anything to be open. The last time we’d been through, everything was closed up, so when the gift shop lights were on it caught us off guard. Even better? They had ice cream. The Passenger Princess was thrilled. We collect Christmas ornaments from places we ride, so since we didn’t have one from Regent, that problem got solved pretty quickly.
After the gift shop stop, you’re not quite done. It’s less than a mile down the road to reach the Enchanted Castle Hotel and the final sculpture, “The Dragon and the Knight,” but it still feels like the proper finale. The castle and the sculpture sit right next to each other, which feels fitting — a knight guarding a castle just makes sense. We parked, walked around, and took it all in. The woman at the gift shop mentioned there are plans to eventually have the dragon breathe actual fire. If that happens, we’ll be making another ride down. No question.
@bad_attitude_on_2_wheels The Enchanted Highway ends in Regent, ND with the final sculptures being a Knight and Dragon. The dragon is due to be finished this year and is supposed to breathe fire. I guess we’ll have to come back #enchanted #highway #adventure #knight #dragon ♬ original sound bad_attitude_on_2_wheels
As a day ride, riding the Enchanted Highway North Dakota is absolutely worth it. It’s simple, it’s different, and it’s one of those places that reminds you not every good ride has to involve mountain passes or ocean views. Sometimes it’s wide-open prairie, scrap metal the size of small buildings, and a small town that leans fully into its identity. And honestly, I know plenty of people who were born and raised here who have never driven it. Whether you’re on a motorcycle or loading the family into the truck for a road trip, it’s worth seeing at least once. We’d ride it again without hesitation — and next time, maybe we’ll actually remember to take a picture of the geese.
If you’re looking for another solid ride out here, we also mapped out a 220-mile western North Dakota motorcycle loop from Williston.
