Sacred Sites and Vision Quests in the Badlands

The rugged terrain is spread across three separate units in southwestern North Dakota. The park carries the name of Theodore Roosevelt, who hunted and ranched in these hills as a young man. Scenic drives usually turn up bison, prairie dogs and deer.

The Little Missouri River winds through the park, and its banks hold primitive campgrounds beneath cottonwood trees. For several miles, the Maah Daah Hey Trail runs beside the river before it enters the Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness. Hikers starting from the Ekblom Trail must cross the river before they reach the wilderness.

Trails range from short paved paths to rugged wilderness routes, and rangers sometimes lead hikes into the badlands. Buck Hill, in the South Unit, is a short walk uphill to a summit with a broad panorama. Many visitors time the climb for dawn or dusk.

The North Unit's 28-mile drive takes about an hour and a quarter without stops. It climbs toward River Bend Overlook and ends at Oxbow Overlook. In the South Unit, the 36-mile Scenic Loop Drive is paved and has pullouts with overlooks, including Boicourt Overlook, one of the park's best vantage points for the Badlands.

The park is open year-round, day and night. Once the sun goes down, the night sky is a draw in its own right, though light pollution in the area is increasing. Inside the park you will not find restaurants or hotels, so arrange meals and lodging in nearby towns.