Dayhiking the Badlands of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Highlights
- Explore stunning scenery on challenging day hikes
- Enjoy abundant wildlife
- Discover the vibrant North Dakota Badlands
Includes
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Inspiring camera-clicking views
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Highly rated meals in cozy campgrounds
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A night at the famous Medora Musical
Overview
The Trip
The Little Missouri River Badlands is a beautiful landscape of eroded buttes, valleys, and canyons accented with lush vegetation. Rolling prairies and high plateaus add to the visual enjoyment during classic day hikes in remote Theodore Roosevelt National Park where wildlife is abundant and the hiking often challenging. It is common to see bison in the backcountry, sometimes blocking trails, and there are chirping prairie dogs by the thousands. The park is home to wild horses, elk, pronghorn, coyotes -- who may be heard howling near our camp at night -- and hundreds of species of birds, including eagles, falcons, and hawks. Rattlesnakes, too.
Of the park’s 70,000 acres, almost half are in a wilderness area, where most of our hikes lead. There are few improvements on these trails where a compass is occasionally required because bison keep knocking down trail signs and markers
The Trip
The Little Missouri River Badlands is a beautiful landscape of eroded buttes, valleys, and canyons accented with lush vegetation. Rolling prairies and high plateaus add to the visual enjoyment during classic day hikes in remote Theodore Roosevelt National Park where wildlife is abundant and the hiking often challenging. It is common to see bison in the backcountry, sometimes blocking trails, and there are chirping prairie dogs by the thousands. The park is home to wild horses, elk, pronghorn, coyotes -- who may be heard howling near our camp at night -- and hundreds of species of birds, including eagles, falcons, and hawks. Rattlesnakes, too.
Of the park’s 70,000 acres, almost half are in a wilderness area, where most of our hikes lead. There are few improvements on these trails where a compass is occasionally required because bison keep knocking down trail signs and markers. None of the rivers and streams are bridged and may require knee-deep crossings. All of this adds to the adventure of wilderness day hikes, an effort that is rewarded by many camera-clicking vistas. Each afternoon we return to a cozy, car-accessible campsite for cold drinks, a hot meal, and, possibly, a campfire.
We will be car-camping in two national park campgrounds and shuttling to trailheads each morning. On a layover day in the middle of the week, our location changes from the North Unit of the park to the South Unit, 70 miles away.
A night at the Medora Musical is included in the trip price. This two-hour musical review in the open-air Burning Hills Amphitheatre -- less than 10 miles from our campsite -- is a kaleidoscope of entertainment enjoyed by as many as 2,900 people each summer night.
Theodore Roosevelt credits his time here for creating his interest in conservation. Later as president, he established five national parks, 18 national monuments, 150 national forests, and dozens of federal reserves -- 230 million acres in all. America’s legacy to preserve and protect special places didn’t start here, but it influenced a president who did more of it than any other.
Participants on this trip have been enthusiastic about the experience:
- “Meticulously planned trip in every aspect.”
- “Great leaders. Good food, interesting hikes, good base camps, well organized, and a great group of people.”
- “Everything -- especially hikes and meals was well chosen, and with great attention to detail. It was a fabulous trip overall!”
- “I thought this was an excellent trip, a wonderful place to visit. Love the hiking trails, the wildlife, and the landscape. Glad we did the Medora Musical -- it added to the cultural experience.“
Join us for this popular Sierra Club trip to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in far western North Dakota to wander and wonder in a remote, uncrowded place. Walk through prairie dog towns and detour cross-country around herds of bison. Hike out of a steep canyon to a flat plateau that stretches for miles. Wade across a knee-deep stream. Enjoy long views of the Little Missouri River. Imagine an ancient forest, now petrified. This trip is not for everyone, but if you want a hiking vacation in a sometimes challenging but beautiful place, Day Hiking in the Badlands of Theodore Roosevelt National Park may be the right place for you.
Itinerary
Day 1: Our week in the Little Missouri River Badlands begins midafternoon in Juniper Campground in the Northern Unit of the park. The group campsite is a grassy area with plenty of shade. We bring a large tarp to cover picnic tables and another to protect our elaborate kitchen. Orientation, a reception, and the first of the week’s tasty meals cap the day.
Day 2: The first hike leads into the wilderness on the hilly side of the Buckhorn Trail, 6.2 miles, and features deep canyons, rolling open prairies, and a large prairie dog town.
Day 3: Today’s six-mile hike will explore park wilderness, either from the Oxbow Overlook or on the South Achenbach Trail
Day 1: Our week in the Little Missouri River Badlands begins midafternoon in Juniper Campground in the Northern Unit of the park. The group campsite is a grassy area with plenty of shade. We bring a large tarp to cover picnic tables and another to protect our elaborate kitchen. Orientation, a reception, and the first of the week’s tasty meals cap the day.
Day 2: The first hike leads into the wilderness on the hilly side of the Buckhorn Trail, 6.2 miles, and features deep canyons, rolling open prairies, and a large prairie dog town.
Day 3: Today’s six-mile hike will explore park wilderness, either from the Oxbow Overlook or on the South Achenbach Trail.
Day 4: The Caprock Coulee Trail is a 4.2-mile loop that begins as a nature trail but soon becomes more challenging. Part of the hike hugs a ridgeline with long views of the Little Missouri River Valley. After the hike and lunch in the campground, we’ll pack up and drive to Cottonwood Campground in the Southern Unit where a sturdy open-sided picnic shelter anchors our campsite. There will be time for sightseeing in Medora or to enjoy views on the Scenic Loop Drive. After dinner, be amazed at the Medora Musical in the Burning Hills Amphitheater, included in the cost of the trip.
Day 5: Most of today’s challenging 9.6-mile hike is in the Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness within the park. The Lone Tree Loop presents many of the park’s scenic landscapes, including the Big Plateau. After climbing out of chiseled canyons, the Big Plateau looms flat as a plate to the horizon. We will cross the Little Missouri River twice and, depending on conditions, it could be ankle- to knee-deep.
Day 6: The Scenic Loop Drive will take us to the Lower Talkington and Jones Creek trails for a 4.5-mile point-to-point hike across rolling prairie below high ridges. Bison and wild horses are frequently in the area.
Day 7: A 45-minute drive to the remote northwest corner of the park will lead to a 10.3-mile loop featuring two sections of the Petrified Forest separated by several miles of rugged wilderness. The Petrified Forest has remnants of trees that were 12 feet in diameter and more than 100 feet tall. The trail follows the Big Plateau for a few miles, where bison, deer, and pronghorn graze.
Day 8: We will enjoy another morning of perked coffee and a hot breakfast before the journey home begins.
Note: As with all Sierra Club trips, the itinerary is subject to change depending on weather, trail conditions, wildlife, and other issues out of the leaders’ control.
Logistics
Getting There
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is composed of three separate units in an isolated corner of western North Dakota. The North Unit, where our trip starts, is 50 miles north of I-94 on U.S. Highway 85, about 15 miles south of Watford City and 70 miles south of Williston. The Williston airport has limited commercial service to Minneapolis and Denver. Amtrak stops in Williston.
The South Unit is adjacent to Medora along I-94. The closest airport is in Dickinson, about 45 minutes east of the South Unit but most people use the busier airport in Bismarck, about two hours east of the South Unit. The roster will be shared with participants to encourage car sharing. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leaders
Getting There
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is composed of three separate units in an isolated corner of western North Dakota. The North Unit, where our trip starts, is 50 miles north of I-94 on U.S. Highway 85, about 15 miles south of Watford City and 70 miles south of Williston. The Williston airport has limited commercial service to Minneapolis and Denver. Amtrak stops in Williston.
The South Unit is adjacent to Medora along I-94. The closest airport is in Dickinson, about 45 minutes east of the South Unit but most people use the busier airport in Bismarck, about two hours east of the South Unit. The roster will be shared with participants to encourage car sharing. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leaders.
Accommodations and Food
This is a car-camping trip with day hikes based at two national park group campgrounds. The campsites are grassy shaded areas with picnic tables under a tarp or open-sided shelter. Water is on-site and flush toilets are nearby. The trip price includes highly-rated meals, beginning with dinner on day one through breakfast on day eight. We provide all the cooking equipment, except for personal plates, bowls, cups, and utensils. One of the benefits of car camping is that the kitchen can be more elaborate, starting with percolated coffee each morning, in addition to other morning drinks, and including coolers of fresh food and cold drinks. The menu is vegetarian-friendly; however, if you avoid dairy products, grains, or nuts, this trip is not for you. We follow the Sierra Club tradition that everyone helps cook and clean.
Trip Difficulty
To appreciate this outing, experienced hikers should be in good physical condition and enjoy challenging day hikes that range from rolling prairie to rugged and steep. If conditions are dry, the Little Missouri River can be crossed on stepping stones. If it does rain, the river could be knee-deep and some of the trails may be impassable due to slippery bentonitic clay. Grazing bison may block a trail requiring an off-trail detour, which can include steep slopes and creek crossings. Prairie rattlesnakes make their home here and we give them a wide berth. Typical temperatures in early September range from the 70s to 80s, with overnight lows in the 40s and 50s, but conditions may be hotter, colder, wetter, and drier than expected.
Equipment and Clothing
Participants need their camping gear, including a waterproof tent, sleeping bag rated at 32 degrees or below, reliable rain gear, daypack, and well-broken-in, lugged-soled boots. Binoculars will be helpful to see distant wildlife. A detailed equipment list will be shared with the group.
References
- National Geographic/Trails Illustrated Map of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
- Novey, Levi, Explore! Theodore Roosevelt National Park. A Falcon Guide.
- Park website: https://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm/
- Medora Musical: http://medora.com/do/entertainment/medora-musical/
- Caraher, William and Bret Weber, The Bakken: An Archaeology of an Industrial Landscape.
Conservation
The boom, bust, and now partial recovery of oil extraction from the Bakken formation is on the doorstep of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The boom brought tens of thousands of jobs to the area with an increase in traffic, noise, and dust in the region. Gas flares and 24-hour operation contribute to light pollution obscuring the formerly nights of North Dakota. None of this is evident in the park -- there is no drilling in the park -- but this special place is not immune to the activity of neighbors and the potential environmental concerns that accompany fracking.
We will discuss these local environmental issues, as well as other national park threats and the Sierra Club's response.
Sierra Club National Outings is an equal opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.
Staff
Important Notes
- Carbon Offsets
- Carpooling
- Electronic Billing and Forms
- Electronic Devices
- Equipment
- Essential Eligibility Criteria
- How to Apply for a Trip
- Leader Gratuities
- Medical Issues
- Non-discrimination Statement
- Participant Agreement
- Seller of Travel Disclosure
- Single Supplements
- Terms and Conditions
- Travel Insurance
- Trip Feedback
- Trip Price
- Wilderness Manners