Medora Hot Air Balloon Rally Returns To North Dakota Badlands

There is something pretty special about watching a hot air balloon slowly rise over the North Dakota Badlands. Add the early morning light, the rugged landscape and a handful of colorful balloons floating overhead, and you've got a pretty memorable way to start the day.

That scene will return September 12 and 13 when the Medora Hot Air Balloon Rally takes to the skies for its annual weekend of early morning launches.

Nine balloons are scheduled to launch at 6:30 a.m. each morning, giving spectators a chance to watch the colorful display against the backdrop of the Badlands.

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Hot Air Balloons

A Special Preview Flight

The fun actually gets started before the public rally.

A special preview flight is scheduled for Friday, September 11, with nine balloons expected to launch that morning. And two lucky winners will have the opportunity to experience the Badlands from above during the preview.

Those interested in entering can text the word "enter" to 701-495-6181. Winners will be selected ahead of time and notified before the Friday morning flight.

The preview begins around 5 a.m. outside the Badlands Motel, where pilots will release small test balloons to check wind speeds and patterns and determine whether conditions are suitable for flight.

Around 6 a.m., the balloons will gather west of Hotel 1883 as crews prepare for launch.

Hot Air Balloons

An Early Morning Worth Getting Up For

For anyone who has never watched a balloon launch, this is one of those experiences that can be worth setting the alarm a little earlier.

As the crews prepare the balloons, spectators can watch them gradually take shape before they lift off and begin drifting over the Badlands.

Employees from the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation and participating pilots will also be available for interviews during the Friday preview.

Of course, hot air balloon flights are at the mercy of Mother Nature. Wind and weather conditions can affect launch times and flight plans, so everything is subject to change.

Still, if the weather cooperates, the Medora Hot Air Balloon Rally should provide quite a sight over one of North Dakota's most recognizable landscapes.

So, if you're planning to be in the Medora area September 12 or 13, set that alarm. Nine balloons, the Badlands and a North Dakota sunrise? That's a pretty good way to start a morning.