Theodore Roosevelt National Park guide · 1 min read
South Unit Scenic Drive and Accessible Overlooks
The South Unit Scenic Drive is a 24-mile out-and-back route, and it gives you a practical way to see much of the area from your car.
Pull-outs and parking lots line the way, so you can stop for a view whenever something catches your eye. Bison, feral horses and elk roam the grasslands and badlands along the route, so keep your eyes open as you drive.
The road is paved and runs in two lanes. Most of the paved lots and pull-outs along it have accessible parking, though the bike racks at those stops may not be accessible. Skyline Vista and Boicourt Overlook are the two trails along the drive that are accessible. Service animals are welcome too, as long as each one is held on a leash of six feet or less.
Skyline Vista Trail sits just over four miles into the South Unit and is a short accessible walk with a round trip of one-tenth of a mile. The views reach toward the western horizon. Boicourt Overlook is a pulloff about 16 miles in, on the south side of the road. Its parking area fits cars and RVs, including accessible spaces. The path begins just south of the lot, where a trailhead sign marks the start.
Wind Canyon Trail is a short loop starting about 10.5 miles into the South Unit, on the west side of East River Road. It runs beside wind-carved cliffs above the Little Missouri River, then climbs to a lookout point. The Buck Hill trailhead sits about 18 miles into the South Unit, at the end of a one-mile road that leaves the scenic drive and finishes at a small roundabout. The hike up is steep but short, and the summit gives a panoramic view that reaches for miles.
