Today, we’re visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park which is located off of Interstate 94 in the southwest corner of North Dakota. We started out our visit at the Painted Canyon Visitors Center where you’ll get a lovely view of the badlands as you look north. The Painted Canyon Nature Trail takes you down into the valley below the visitors center, and provides views of wild flowers, rock formations, and the occasional critter.
Next, we headed approximately 8 - 10 miles west to the South Unit Visitor Center and took the Scenic Loop Drive. Throughout the drive, there are areas to hike, pull off the road for some pictures, or take in the views at one of several “overlooks”. Our favorite stop along the route was the Boicourt Trail. This relatively flat trail leads you to a rocky outcrop where you’ll have a birds eye view of the entire valley. From our perch, we were lucky enough to catch a herd of buffalo grazing down below. If you like hiking and wide open spaces, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a must see.
