Take a Stroll Along the Maah Daah Hey Trail

In our completely biased opinion, Watford City, North Dakota offers some of the most beautiful views in all of North Dakota. One of our favorite ways to explore and take in the scenery is on the Maah Daah Hey Trail! This location is the perfect spot to take an afternoon hike or bike ride. Whether you have been on the trail once or one hundred times, there is always something new to see!

The Maah Daah Hey Trail stretches 140 miles through North Dakota's Badlands. Four other trails connect to the Maah Daah Hey, including the Long X Trail, Cottonwood Trail, Summit Trail and Buffalo Gap Trail.

The trail begins about 20 miles south of Watford City, along Highway 85, at the US Forest Service CCC Campground and ends Sully Creek State Park in Medora. It is free to enter and hike or bike along the trails and pets are allowed. You can even horseback ride along the trail. Campgrounds, with restrooms, are spaced out about every 20 miles along the trail. Please note, bikes are not permitted on the trail in the stretch that passes through Theodore Roosevelt Park, but there are surrounding trails that offer a biking detour around this.

Not only are there scenic views of the Little Missouri River along the trail, but you are likely to encounter North Dakotan wildlife, too! You are most likely to encounter buffalo along the trail, but there is a chance that you will see skunks, porcupines and possibly snakes. The easiest way to deter these creatures is with a hiker's bell.

The trails was named by the Mandan Indians and means "an area that has been or will be around for a long time." We certainly hope this holds true! The Maah Daah Hey Trail is a North Dakota treasure, and we hope you have the opportunity to experience and enjoy it for yourselves! It is about a 25-minute drive from The Glen at Hunter's Run apartment homes to the trail entrance at CCC Campground.

What are your favorite spots along the trail or ways to use the trail? Share your thoughts with us on The Glen at Hunter's Run Facebook and Twitter pages! We look forward to your insights!

Sources consulted:
Maah Daah Hey Trail Association
North Dakota Legendary

Living Green in Watford City

Happy Earth Day! It's so easy to live day-to-day without thinking about how much water or energy we use, but it's actually pretty simple to "go green" not only on Earth Day, but each of the other 365 days a year, as well! If you don't know where to begin, we are here to help!

Going Green in Your Home
Whether you live at The Glen at Hunter's Run apartment homes or own your own home, there are simple changes you can make around the house to adopt a more eco-friendly lifestyle:

• Unplug "energy suckers"- These include large appliances like your television or microwave. If this is too tricky to remember to do, start small. You can begin by unplugging your phone charger when you disconnect your phone from it in the morning!
• Go paperless - Do you pay most of your bills online? Unsubscribe from receiving paper statements in the mail.
• The good, old-fashioned carpool - Chat with your neighbors to see if you work in the same area. If so, take turns driving to work!
• Laundry - Do full loads of laundry, and wash them in cold water! A half-load of laundry requires the same amount of energy as a full one, so make it count. The same goes for the dishwasher.

Around Watford City

• Take advantage of what nature has to offer - Want to read a book or magazine? Sit outside on your balcony or patio! 
• Play outside - Take the kids to one of Watford City's area parks for an afternoon of fun! Jacobson Park is only about a 5-minute walk away from The Glen at Hunter's Run!  Jacobson Park is located at 505 5th Ave. NE.
• Participate in the Watford City Pick Up the Patch on Saturday, May 2! We shared some information on this event in a previous blog post.
• Do you see litter on the ground as you're walking throughout the city? Pick it up when you can!

What are your favorite ways to be environmentally friendly in either your apartment home or throughout the community? These are some simple adjustments that will go a long way in reducing your energy output! Share your ideas on The Glen at Hunter's Run Facebook or Twitter pages! We look forward to reading your opinions!

Sources consulted:

Care2

Green Living Apartments

Watford City Pick Up the Patch

Now that the snow in Watford City has thawed and the flowers are beginning to bloom, you're probably doing some spring cleaning around your apartment home. But it's also time to do some spring cleaning along our city streets and highways. The fourth annual "Pick Up the Patch" events will take place April 26 through May 2, and your help is needed!

Pick Up the Patch is a collaboration among local businesses, community members, and oil company employees to collect litter along city streets and highways. Citizens of all ages are invited to participate in this event; however, younger volunteers will be assigned to areas in town and not along the highway for safety reasons.

Pick up events will take place throughout the week of April 26, but the big trash collection day will be on Saturday, May 2. Volunteers will meet at the Watford City Civic Center at 8 AM for sign in, and are then assigned areas and given safety vests, gloves and trash bags. Volunteers are welcome to stay for as little or as long as they like. Bottled water and snacks will also be available to keep volunteers hydrated and energized throughout the day. According to the McKenzie County Farmer, last year more than 8,000 tons of trash was collected and more than 100 volunteers participated in the event!

More than just a clean-up day, the program aims to bring a heightened sense of awareness to the community about the litter problem along the highway - something that isn't always visible from your car as you drive by.

If you, your family or your company would like to participate in this event to beautify our town, you may contact Karen Holte at karen.49@hotmail.com or 701-570-9475.

Do you plan on participating? It's sure to be a fun day! If you live at The Glen at Hunter's Run apartment homes, the Civic Center is just a 6-minute walk away!


Sources consulted:
McKenzie County Farmer
North Dakota Oil Can

Why Pay High Property Taxes When You Can Rent?

The oil boom has driven many to relocate to Watford City. According to newly released census data, McKenzie County is the fastest growing county in the nation, in terms of population. With all of the new businesses, residences and people, the population isn't the only thing increasing - property taxes are, too. If you own property, whether business or residential, in Watford City, you may likely see an increase in your property value, and therefore, your property taxes. 

Each year on February 1, the city evaluates properties' values. One main determinant of your property's value is its location. For example, properties closer to downtown Watford City are going to be assessed at a higher value. 

Are you worried that your property's value and taxes are on the rise? According to Rita Olsen, city assessor, property owners whose values increased by more than 10% in the past year were notified by mail. However an increase in value doesn't necessarily mean an increase in taxes. From McKenzieCounty.net:

“Two months ago, I would have said we had a strong housing market. But houses are staying on the market a little bit longer. They’re still selling, but they’re staying on the market longer. I think next year at this time we’re going to be seeing a whole different picture. I think values will start going the other direction - they’ll start to come down a little. All of this, of course, is depending on what the oil and gas market is doing.”

One alternative to worrying about increasing property values and paying property taxes is to rent property instead. The population boom has lent itself to a housing boom, including rental properties like The Glen at Hunter's Run. Our one, two and three bedroom apartments offer home options for singles and small families, along with a host of amenities. Pets are also permitted, with some restrictions. Invest the money you could be spending on property taxes to put towards your brand new apartment home instead! Contact our offices to set up a visit today!

Take a Spring Hike

The snow is thawing, the sun is shining and we are ready to spend some time outdoors! North Dakota is filled with beautiful scenery to explore and enjoy. One of our favorite ways to do so is to take a hike on one of our state's trails. Weekend hiking trips are something that the entire family can enjoy. If you're looking for a new trail to tackle, North Dakota Legendary recommends these trails:

Parks and Historic Sites
Cross Ranch State Park 12 miles southeast of Hensler. Phone 701-794-3731.

Lake Metigoshe State Park 16 miles northeast of Bottineau. Phone 701-263-4651.

Icelandic State Park 5 miles west of Cavalier on ND Highway 5. Phone 701-265-4561.

Turtle River State Park 22 miles west of Grand Forks on US Highway 2. Phone 701-594-4445.

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park 7 miles south of Mandan on ND Highway 1806. Phone 701-663-9571.

Lake Sakakawea State Park 1 mile north of Pick City. Phone 701-487-3315.

Fort Ransom State Park 30 miles south of Valley City. Phone 701-973-4331.

Little Missouri State Park 19 miles north of Killdeer. Phone 701-764-5256.

Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site 1/2 mile north of Stanton. Phone 701-745-3309.

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site 24 miles southwest of Williston. Phone 701-572-9083.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit near Watford City and South Unit at Medora.

Wildlife Refuges
All 24 national wildlife refuges have opportunities for wildlife observation on interpretive foot trails. For more information, please call U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 701-250-4418.

Trails
North Country National Scenic Trail
The North Country Trail follows the shores of Lake Sakakawea and Lake Audubon and continues along the Garrison Diversion Project canals. Reaching the Sheyenne River, the trail route loops northward to Fort Totten State Historic Site near Devils Lake. Returning to the Sheyenne River, the trail follows its scenic forested valley southward to Fort Ransom State Park and Sheyenne State Forest. The trail is open to hiking, horseback riding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. 

Maah Daah Hey Trail
This 140-mile non-motorized trail is open for biking, hiking and horseback riding. The trail runs from the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park near Watford City through the Little Missouri National Grasslands and Medora to its southern teminus near Amidon. Biking within the two units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park is prohibited. Bikers must use alternative routes around park boundaries. The U.S. Forest Service, (701-225-5151) jointly manages the Trail with the National Park Service (701-623-4466) and the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, (701-328-5357).

Sheyenne National Grassland
ND Highway 27 east of Lisbon. Phone 701-683-4342.

Summer Only
Little Missouri National Grassland US Highway 85 north and south of Belfield . Phone 701-225-5151

Turtle Mountain State Forest 5 miles west of Lake Metigoshe. Phone 701-228-5422.

Check Out: 50 Great Day Hikes
Avid hiker Susan Wefald and her dog, Sandy, hiked trails throughout North Dakota. Susan shares her notes on 50 of North Dakota's best day hikes. Armchair and seasoned hikers alike will enjoy exploring North Dakota's diverse landscape with Susan and Sandy. Learn the locations of spectacular vistas. Expand neighborhood strolls into the great outdoors. Bring the dog! Pick up your copy of Spectacular North Dakota Hikes in the Tourism online Gift Shop.