This prairie route leads you through some of the best of prairie-pothole country, offering a wealth of waterfowl, shorebirds, and other waterbird species. From Bismarck Expressway, on the southeast side of Bismarck, take Apple Creek Road E 10 miles to the first stop sign; turn N (left) on 158 Street for 1/3 mile, then E (right) on Highway 10 for 6 miles to the small town of McKenzie. Turn S (right) on 236 Street and continue for a total of 4 miles, which will lead you to McKenzie Slough Wildlife Area and through the wetland complex; turn E (left) on Lincoln Road and continue 6 miles to Highway 83.

Turn S (right) on Highway 83 and drive 5 miles to 102 Avenue, where you turn E (left) to access Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge. After 1 mile, turn S (right) and follow the track to the Refuge Butte, which provides a remarkable 360-degree view of the surrounding area, including Long Lake. Return to 102 Avenue, proceeding E (right) 5 miles, where you U-turn after crossing the lake; return 3 miles and turn S (left) on 375 Street 3 miles to the Refuge Headquarters. Continue 3/4 mile SE to the fishing corner, where you veer SW (left) on 128 Avenue and continue past the old stone refuge quarters, following the road as it turns S (right) on 375 Street. When you reach the "T" in the road about 1 mile S, turn W (right) and drive about 1/2 mile, where you turn NW (right) for about 1 1/2 miles. Finally, turn W (left) on 128 Avenue and continue 1 1/2 miles W to Highway 83.

At Highway 83, turn S (left) and drive 6 miles to 58 Street, where you turn W (right). Follow this road 7 miles, then 1 mile S (left), and 4 miles W (right) to Highway 1804. Turn N (right) and continue 9 miles where you remain on Highway 1804 as it turns W (left). About 4 miles W, you can turn S (left) into the McLean Bottoms for access to native floodplains woods and wetlands. A similar area can be accessed another 5 miles W on Highway 1804, where you turn S at Kimball Bottoms, which is quite extensive and has good riverbank and sandbar access. Return to Highway 1804 and continue 7 miles N along Highway 1804, past the University of Mary and the Bismarck Airport, back to Bismarck.