Theodore Roosevelt National Park is located in western North Dakota. The park is split into two sections: a north unit and a south unit. We visited this park on our way to Glacier National Park in Montana and stayed in the south unit the entire time. It is a smaller, lesser-known national park, so we weren’t quite sure what to expect. What we found was that the park was beautiful and diverse with a mix of badlands, painted desert, and grasslands. The old-western town of Medora, ND is located just outside the southern park entrance. It is absolutely worth a stop if you’re in the area.
Hiking
We kept our hikes in Theodore Roosevelt short for a few reasons: (1) we had limited time here as it was a stop along the way to our main destinations, (2) we knew we could cover more ground on a scenic drive than on a hike, and (3) it was incredibly hot at the time we visited (mid-August)! For the most part, we stopped at pull-offs and set out on short hikes of a mile or less to get out to a lookout for a better view. We did set out on a few short “official” hikes, and I’ll describe those below.
Painted Canyon Nature Trail
- Quick Facts
- Length: Approx. 1 mile
- Elevation Gain: Approx. 250 ft
- Trailhead/Parking: Theodore Roosevelt Visitor’s Center (Note that this visitor’s center is located off Interstate 94 a few miles before the exit to enter the south unit of the park.)
- Link to NPS Site
Although it was warm (lots of sun, little shade), this hike was a welcomed break from hours on the road. We did need to pay special attention to the fact that it was separated from the rest of the park. We needed to exit early at the visitor’s center to access the trailhead. Technically, you can reach this area via a longer hike from the south unit of the park, but due to the mid-day heat, we were looking for something shorter.
It was great to stop at the visitor’s center to get some park information (and pick up our park magnet). There were restrooms and a water bottle-filling station, which was perfect for the hot weather. I’d also like to note that there was ample over-sized vehicle parking. Since we were driving from one destination to another with our truck and travel trailer, this was important for us.
The hike itself was short, but had some steeper climbs and was somewhat overgrown at the time we were there. Being from Missouri, I always cringe a little at overgrown hikes because we need to be on the lookout for ticks, particularly on overgrown trails (in Missouri) during the summer months. We didn’t have any issues with ticks on this trail. The views and the rock formations made the hike worth it to us, but if you’re not in the mood to take a hike, there are some great overlooks outside the visitor’s center.
Wind Canyon Trail
- Quick Facts
- Length: 0.4 miles
- Elevation Gain: Approx. 50 ft
- Trailhead/Parking: Pull-off along E. River Rd, just before the turn off for the scenic drive.
- Link to NPS Site
This is a beautiful place to watch the sunset, and that is exactly what we did! To be honest, we hiked this trail twice. The first time was in the afternoon. Then we had the idea to hike it again to watch the sunset from the top of the highest point, which overlooks the Little Missouri River. It was a nice, short hike with views of the river. We had no problems getting there and hiking it in the afternoon, but everyone else had the same idea we did about watching the sunset from this trail, so we did struggle a little to find parking in the small parking area by the trailhead. Fortunately, we caught someone leaving as we were pulling up.
Scenic Driving
The south unit has a dedicated 36-mile “scenic drive loop”. Unfortunately, while we were there, the southern portion of this loop was closed for construction. Instead of making a loop, we drove out and back. We stopped at almost every pull-off along this scenic drive to take in the view and sometimes hike out a short distance to a better lookout point. Along this road, we saw buffalo and wild horses. At one point, we had to stop for a herd of wild horses to cross the road in front of us, so be aware that you may encounter animals along this road. The scenic drive is a great way to see a lot of the park if you don’t have the time or desire to hike some of the longer trails.
Things to See
Although it’s outside of the park, I would recommend stopping in the town of Medora. It was a unique place with an old-West feel. There were several restaurants and souvenir shops. We walked through the town the afternoon we arrived. We also stopped for some ice cream to cool off in the hot weather. I heard many recommendations to check out the “Medora Musical”. We just didn’t have time for this on our trip, but I’d like to check it out if we return sometime in the future.
Camping/Lodging
We stayed at Cottonwood Campground in the south unit of the park on our visit. There were no hookups (no electric, water, or sewer) at this campground. While there are some larger sites for RV’s, many of the sites are intended for smaller vehicles or tent camping. It is the only campground in the south unit of the park, so an advanced reservation is recommended if you’re set on staying here. Click here for more information on Cottonwood Campground. There is also lodging outside the park in the town of Medora.
When to Visit
We visited Theodore Roosevelt National Park in August 2022. It was very hot when we visited (90+ degrees) during the day, it cooled off nicely during the evening. We had no problem dry camping here without the A/C.
Wishlist
If we return to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, there are a few additional items on my list.
- Medora Musical
- Drive the entire scenic loop (assuming no construction at that time)
- Visit the north unit