Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
This is the rugged country where a young Theodore Roosevelt came to ranch and grieve, and where his ideas about conservation took root. The Little Missouri River winds through colorful badlands, cottonwood bottoms and wide grassland, with bison, wild horses and prairie dogs often right beside the road. The park has two main units about an hour apart, each with its own scenic drive and short trails. Plan a full day for each if you can, and save evenings for wildlife.
TRAILS
1 OF 8
Caprock Coulee Trail
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
4.3 mi loop
Elevation gain
400 ft
North Unit · Caprock Coulee trailhead — The best hike in the North Unit. The loop begins as a nature trail through a dry wash lined with caprock formations, then climbs onto a grassy ridge with views over the river breaks and the scenic drive. On the far side it drops back through juniper draws. Do just the first 1.5-mile section for a shorter walk.
Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 8
Painted Canyon Nature Trail
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
0.9 mi loop
Elevation gain
250 ft
South Unit · Painted Canyon — The overlook here, right off the interstate, is many people's first look at the badlands, and this loop takes you down into it. The trail drops into the canyon among bands of red, tan and black rock, then climbs back to the rim. Wild horses and bison sometimes wander through the canyon below. The climb out is short but steep.
Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 8
Wind Canyon Trail
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.4 mi loop
Elevation gain
60 ft
South Unit · Scenic Loop Drive — A short loop past sandstone sculpted by wind into smooth hollows, ending at a high bluff above a big bend in the Little Missouri. It's the best river view in the South Unit and a classic sunset spot. Stay well back from the crumbly edge. Bring binoculars to scan the river bottom for bison.
Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 8
Sperati Point via Achenbach Trail
Difficulty
Easy
Length
1.5 mi
Elevation gain
100 ft
North Unit · Oxbow Overlook — From the end of the North Unit drive, follow the Achenbach Trail across grassland to Sperati Point, high above the spot where the Little Missouri bends east. The views over the river and the badlands below are wide and quiet. It's an easy add-on after the scenic drive. Late evening light on the cliffs is lovely.
Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
5 OF 8
Buck Hill
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.2 mi
Elevation gain
50 ft
South Unit · Scenic Loop Drive — A short, steep path to one of the highest points you can reach in the South Unit. From the top you get a 360-degree look over the badlands, with buttes stretching in every direction. It takes ten minutes and is best at sunrise or sunset. Wind can be fierce up top, so hold onto your hat.
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
6 OF 8
Ridgeline Nature Trail
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
0.6 mi loop
Elevation gain
100 ft
South Unit · Scenic Loop Drive — A short loop that climbs a ridge with stairs and moderate grades, with signs about how wind, water and fire shape the land. The views open up over the badlands as you go. It's a good leg-stretch early on the scenic drive, and the interpretive signs make it a nice one for kids.
Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
7 OF 8
Coal Vein Trail
Difficulty
Easy
Length
0.8 mi loop
Elevation gain
100 ft
South Unit · Coal Vein trailhead — A seam of lignite coal burned underground here for decades in the mid-1900s, baking the clay into red scoria and making the ground sink. This loop walks you through the scars of that fire, with stairs and signs that explain what happened. It's a great geology lesson in a short walk. The side road to the trailhead is gravel.
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
8 OF 8
Petrified Forest Loop
Difficulty
Hard
Length
10.3 mi loop
Elevation gain
600 ft
South Unit · Petrified Forest trailhead — A long day in the park's remote western wilderness, where big stumps of petrified wood sit scattered across the hills. The loop crosses open prairie and badland draws, with few other people and lots of room. Leave every piece of wood where it lies. The trailhead is reached on gravel roads from outside the park, so get directions at the visitor center first.
⚠︎ Gravel access roads can be impassable when wet. No water or shade on the trail.
Photo: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your Theodore Roosevelt trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.