Where a President Was Made and 230 million Acres Were Saved

Theodore Roosevelt National Park preserves the North Dakota Badlands that transformed a young New York politician into America's greatest conservation president. In September 1883, a 24-year-old Roosevelt arrived to hunt bison and was so captivated by the landscape that he invested in a cattle ranch on the spot. He later wrote, "I never would have been President if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota." After witnessing firsthand how overhunting and overgrazing were destroying the land, he went on to protect 230 million acres of American wilderness during his presidency. The South Unit's 36-mile Scenic Loop Drive winds through the very terrain that shaped him: pyramid-shaped buttes banded in red, orange, gray, and black, carved by the Little Missouri River from sediments laid down over 65 million years ago. Underground lignite coal seams still smolder in places, baking the clay above into the brick-red "scoria" that caps the ridges. Roughly 700 bison roam freely across the park, alongside 200 wild horses, reintroduced elk, bighorn sheep, and sprawling prairie dog towns. The loop road was fully reopened in November 2025 after a $51 million reconstruction, and the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, a striking 96,000-square-foot building designed by Snohetta, opens on a bluff above the Little Missouri on July 4, 2026.

Key Stops

Painted Canyon Overlook Seven miles east of Medora off I-94 (Exit 32), this is most visitors' first glimpse of the Badlands: a sweeping panorama of multicolored hills in grays, reds, browns, and greens stretching to the horizon. A seasonal visitor center, nature trail, and picnic area sit behind the overlook. Free to access without a park entrance fee.

Medora Visitor Center and Maltese Cross Cabin The loop's starting point, with a 17-minute orientation film, museum exhibits, and a bookstore. Behind the visitor center stands Roosevelt's original 1883 Maltese Cross Cabin, where he lived during his first years in the Badlands. Ranger-guided tours of the cabin are available.

Prairie Dog Towns Multiple colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs line the scenic drive, particularly near Skyline Vista and Buck Hill. Over 10,000 prairie dogs inhabit the park. They are easily observed standing sentry at burrow openings, barking alarm calls as you pass.

Skyline Vista One of the first major overlooks on the loop. A short, accessible 0.1-mile walk leads to a viewpoint illustrating how the plateau in the distance was once connected to where you stand, before the Little Missouri River eroded the intervening land into the Badlands below.

Scoria Point Overlook Named for the red porcelanite ("scoria") formed when underground lignite coal seams burned, baking the overlying clay into hard, brick-like rock. The overlook provides views of distinctive red-capped buttes and ridges that give the Badlands much of their color.

North Dakota Badlands Overlook Wide-ranging views of the classic broken terrain: buttes, ravines, and plateaus in layers of sediment stretching to the horizon. Interpretive signs explain the geological forces still actively sculpting the landscape.

Coal Vein Trail A 0.8-mile loop through the site of an underground lignite coal fire that burned from 1951 to 1977, baking the surrounding clay into red and orange formations. The trail illustrates how burning coal veins have shaped the Badlands landscape for millennia and created the distinctive "scoria" visible throughout the park.

Buck Hill A steep but very short climb (0.1 miles) to 2,860 feet, providing 360-degree panoramic views of the surrounding Badlands. The coal vein beneath Buck Hill burned from 1951 to 1977. One of the must-do stops on the loop.

Boicourt Overlook One of two accessible trails on the scenic drive. A 15-to-20-minute walk leads to sweeping views of the rolling Badlands extending beyond park boundaries. Roosevelt described the view from vantages like this as "a land of vast, silent spaces."

Wind Canyon Trail A 0.4-mile loop climbing to a ridge with what is widely considered the finest overlook of the Little Missouri River in the South Unit. The rocks have been dramatically sculpted by wind erosion into smooth, flowing forms. A top-tier stop.

Wild Horse Viewing The South Unit is home to roughly 200 feral horses, descendants of domestic horses that escaped or were released decades ago. Sightings occur throughout the loop and are never guaranteed, which makes spotting them part of the adventure. Early morning and late afternoon offer the best chances.

Peaceful Valley Ranch A historic 1880s cattle ranch near the end of the loop, now on the National Register of Historic Places. The tall central section of the ranch house dates to approximately 1885. Trailheads for longer backcountry hikes depart from this area.

Medora The gateway town founded in 1883 by the Marquis de Mores, a French aristocrat with grand plans for a beef-packing empire. The Chateau de Mores, his 26-room summer residence, is now a state historic site with original furnishings and free "History Alive!" programs on summer weekends. The Medora Musical at the Burning Hills Amphitheatre has been a tradition since 1965: a high-energy variety show celebrating Roosevelt and the American West, running nightly from June 3 through September 12, 2026 ($63–$86 per adult). The Pitchfork Steak Fondue, held on a hilltop overlooking the Badlands before each show, is a signature experience: cowboy chefs load steaks onto pitchforks and dunk them in barrels of hot oil.

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library (Opening July 4, 2026) A 96,000-square-foot building designed by Snohetta, perched on a bluff above the Little Missouri River. The library will explore Roosevelt's life and legacy through the themes of conservation, leadership, and citizenship. Built to the Living Building Challenge standard, it is expected to be one of the most significant cultural openings in North Dakota history.

Driving Tips

• The South Unit Scenic Loop Drive is a paved, two-lane road in excellent condition following the $51 million reconstruction completed in November 2025. Drive counterclockwise (east to west) for the standard sequence of overlooks.
• Entrance fee is $30 per vehicle for 7 days, covering both the South and North Units. Free entrance days in 2026 include Theodore Roosevelt's birthday (October 27).
• No gas stations, restaurants, or services within the park. Fuel up and eat in Medora.
• Cell coverage is extremely limited to nonexistent within the park. Download offline maps before entering.
• Wildlife has the right of way. Bison regularly block the road and will move when they are ready. Stay at least 25 yards from bison and horses, 100 yards from other wildlife.
• Sunrise and sunset offer the best light for photography and the most active wildlife viewing. The colorful sediment layers glow in golden hour.
• The North Unit (14 miles one way to Oxbow Overlook, off US-85) is a worthwhile half-day addition, with fewer visitors, bighorn sheep, and a dramatic oxbow bend in the Little Missouri. Note: the North Unit operates on Central Time; the South Unit on Mountain Time.
• The Elkhorn Ranch Unit (Roosevelt's "home ranch," 35 miles north of Medora) requires a high-clearance vehicle and a river ford. Check conditions at a visitor center before attempting.
• Summer temperatures reach the 80s and 90s°F with little shade. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. Spring and fall are more comfortable for hiking.
• Portions of the scenic drive may close in winter due to snow and ice. Check conditions at nps.gov/thro before visiting.
• For more information visit: Theodore Roosevelt National Park (NPS)