Lower Paddock Creek

Theodore Roosevelt National Park consists of 70,446 acres of land located in the badlands of western North Dakota. The park was named for U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt who lived and worked at a ranch in the area and was instrumental in getting the area established as a national park. TRNP has three separate units: The North Unit, the South Unit, and the Elkhorn Ranch Unit.  The South Unit is adjacent to the historic town of Medora and it is the most accessible and frequently visited section. It features a 36-mile Scenic Loop Drive offering panoramic views of the Badlands, the Little Missouri River, and abundant wildlife such as bison, wild horses, prairie dogs, and elk. Notable sites include Painted Canyon, Wind Canyon, Buck Hill, and the historic Maltese Cross Cabin, which Theodore Roosevelt used during his early ranching days 

We hiked in the park’s largest unit in the South which is located near I-94 and has an entrance at the small town of Medora, North Dakota. The Little Missouri River flows through all three units of the park, but water is scare in the backcountry and should be carried on any day or overnight hike.  On our trip, we started at the Halliday Well Trailhead near the Park Loop Road at mile 28.5 and followed Lower Paddock Creek through a valley and ravine to the Badland Spur Junction at mile 14.5 on the road. There is wide open scenery on this Trail and lots of wildlife. We saw bison, wild horses, and many prairie dogs on the hike. Backcountry camping is permitted anywhere that is out of site from the main trail – but you need to get a permit from the visitor’s center before you head out.