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"The farther one gets into the wilderness,
the greater is the attraction of its lonely freedom."
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Theodore Roosevelt
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 Wildlife watching tips
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North Unit Hikes Along the park road are a number of trail heads. Some are self-guiding nature trails. The descriptions will give you an idea of what to expect. Any trail will help you gain an understanding of this land and its wildlife, so go for a hike, whether it be a short one or a long one. Take time to get to know the park. Little Mo Nature Trail - This self-guiding nature trail, which begins at the Juniper Campground, goes through river woodlands and badlands. Length: 1.1 miles. A shorter trail, 0.7 mile, is wheelchair accessible. The Trail Guide is available on line in PDF format and at the trail head. Achenbach Trail - Also beginning at North Unit Campground, this trail climbs from river bottomland up through the Achenbach Hills, drops to the river again, climbs to Oxbow Overlook along the way by a spur trail, and returns along the river bottom to the campground. Inquire about the condition of the river crossings before departing. Length: 16 miles. Caprock Coulee Nature Trail - About 1.5 miles west of Juniper Campground is the start of a self-guiding trail through badlands coulees-dry water gulches-and breaks-interruptions in the grassy plains. Length: 1.6 miles roundtrip. Upper Caprock Coulee Trail - This is a continuation loop from the self-guiding portion of the Caprock Coulee Nature Trail bringing you back to the trailhead. Length: 3.3 miles; as loop with the nature trail: 4.1 miles. Buckhorn Trail - This loop trail can be reached from the Caprock Coulee Nature Trailhead. You come to a prairie dog town about one mile from its beginning. Of the five varieties, only the black-tailed prairie dog lives within the park. Remember that prairie dogs are wild animals, that they can inflict severe bites, and that they often carry disease. Do not feed them or get too close. Length 11 miles. Sperati Point - The trail from Oxbow Overlook, which is a portion of the Achenbach Trail, leads to the narrowest gateway in the badlands. The flow of the Little Missouri River once continued north from this point, ultimately draining into Hudson Bay. Blocked during the Ice Age, the river had to find a new course and finally broke through the gap between this point and the Achenbach Hills on the other side. The Little Missouri now drains into the Gulf of Mexico via the Missouri-Mississippi system. Near this point it leaves its old bed and follows a newer channel. Length: 1.5 miles roundtrip. NORTH
UNIT TRAILS
Maah Daah Hey Trail Information |
