Cannonball Trail Project

Walking Trail in Mott

Mott is a great city to call home. Come walk the banks of the scenic Cannonball River and experience nature. Whether you enjoy bird watching, hunting, fishing or just crave the peace and quiet, you'll not be disappointed with our community.

The Cannonball Trail is a 1.5-mile natural walking path alongside the Cannonball River that flows through Mott. It is an out-and-back trail with the potential for a 3-mile hike (with planned extensions). It begins south of the car wash at the junction of highways 8 and 21 and follows the river across the bridge into and through the length of west Mott. West Mott has lured nature lovers, bird watchers and exercise enthusiasts and a path now exists for closer connection to the river and the pleasure of towering trees, the harmony of bird song and the serenity of nature. There are several benches along the trail. The trail can be accessed at several parking locations or from the south end of Main Street. Look for Glute Hill for a bit more strenuous climb to overlook the Cannonball River.

Cannonball Trail Expanded to 5 Miles by Luann Dart

With additional signage and mowing, the Cannonball Trail in Mott has been extended to a total of 5 miles, looping around the west end of Mott and through the Mott Watershed Dam area.

Signage will be placed this fall to show the two new loops on the trail.

“We’re going to extend it with signs. It’s not like we’re building a path, but there’s going to be more mowing and signage and mapping, so people know,” said Paula Anderson, with the Mott Visionary Committee.

The new loop west of Mott will continue from the current end of the trail, then cross the bridge. It will then continue behind the courthouse, north to the watershed dam for that loop.

Walkable entrances are already in place at the dam, along with a mowed path. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the path.

The loop then brings walkers back along the east side of Mott, with a crosswalk at the C-store, then following a sidewalk to the four-way stop sign. At the four-way, a paved path extends to the football field as well.

The addition adds 3.5 miles to the existing trail.

“People were already walking that loop. It’s just a good way to make it longer and more interesting,” Anderson said of the trail extension.

The Mott Visionary Committee and Mott Hikers partnered to map and sign the trail.

“That watershed dam loop is kind of the exciting part,” Anderson said. The watershed dam area is maintained by the Hettinger County Water Resource District, which agreed to mow the walking trail area after being approached by  Peggy Fiedler, Mott, an organizer of the local hiking group, the Mott Hikers.

Under the leadership of the Mott Visionary Committee, and with input from the Mott Hikers, the original 1.5-mile nature trail was completed in 2020.

The original portion of the Cannonball Trail is a 1.5-mile natural walking path alongside the Cannonball River that flows through Mott. Walkers and hikers could complete the out-and-back trail with the potential for a 3-mile hike. It begins south of the four-way stop at the junction of highways 8 and 21 and follows the river across the bridge into and through the length of west Mott, according to N.D. Tourism.

“West Mott has lured nature lovers, bird watchers and exercise enthusiasts and a path now exists for closer connection to the river and the pleasure of towering trees, the harmony of bird song and the serenity of nature,” N.D. Tourism states.

The land is owned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) but is city-controlled, allowing for development of the trail. The trail has been used regularly, with organized walks during local events.

Memorial benches are also placed along the trail for resting stops.

The trail is listed by N.D. Tourism, as one of its top walkable places, listed at No. 12, just behind the Little Missouri National Grasslands.

“The Cannonball Trail is a 1.5-mile natural walking path alongside the Cannonball River flowing through Mott. Nature lovers, bird watchers and exercise enthusiasts get a closer connection to the river and the towering trees,” the Tourism site states.

Amenities like walking trails help attract and keep residents, Anderson said, as visitors sometimes query an area’s “walkability score.”

CUTLINES:
No. 2325
A mowed path guides walkers through the Cannonball Trail extension in the Mott Watershed Dam area.

No. 2328
An extension of the Cannonball Trail makes the trail 5 miles long.

No. 2704
A view of Mott from the extended Cannonball Trail.

No. 2732
A map of the Cannonball Trail in Mott details the path and walking surfaces. The yellow trail is the original trail. The orange is the extension, with two loops.

Mott Visionaries

The Mott Visionaries are working hard to make the Cannonball trail a friendly and enjoyable place to walk, either alone or with family and friends. Our work is not done. We have plans to extend the trail.

If you are interested in helping and would like to donate time, talent, or money, please contact:

Mott Visionary Committee
Phone: 701-563-7213
Email: mvc@ndsupernet.com
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If you would like to donate please send your donation to:
Mott Visionary Committee
307 Brown Ave.
Mott, ND 58646