Where/what is it: The China Wall can be found along the eastern section of the MDH trail, spanning from Mile Post 128 to Mile Post 129. If you approach from the north, you will encounter a lengthy, moderately steep path leading to the ridge pass, where the wall becomes visible on the left side. The wall extends east to west for a a few hundred feet.
Length: From Bennett Campground – aprox. 4.5 to 5 miles out. 9 to 10 miles out and back.
Options to Start:
1) You could start at Bennett Campground and simply do the 10ish miles out and back.
2) Continue from the China Wall, backtrack aprox. 1 mile and continue south on the trail to meet the Cottonwood Trail and go back to the Bennett Campground – total of 16 to 18 miles
3) Start at Summit Campground (not visible on below map) and ride to the China Wall, then go to Bennett Campground. Approx. 22-25 miles. Would be a good day if you are bike packing as the next day you could ride to the next campground.
What to Expect: The trail is pretty easy to follow, however it is possible, depending on the time of year you go, to get sidetracked on cow trails. This is why it’s helpful to have offline navigation available and have a set up like a quad lock on your handlebars. You can also pick up a few ticks and get a few mosquito bites, so it doesn’t hurt to have some Deet or some permethrin to pretreat your clothes. It also can get very hot in the Badlands and there are some long stretches without any shade or cover, so bring plenty of water. Do not take that lightly, as you will be a long way from anyone and it could be days before you see another person. Definitely take an insulated water bottle or two and a backpack with a hydration bladder. Something from CamelBak or Osprey will work. But do not, I repeat, do not skimp on water.
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