Place

Coulees

A rock face above a ravine with juniper trees and shrubs
Coulee

Coulees are steep, narrow valleys like the one you are about to enter. Although they are formed by water erosion, coulees are usually dry in summer, except during thunderstorms. In the 1800s French fur trappers began referring to these valleys as “coulée” meaning “flow.” Since then the name has stuck.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Last updated: September 2, 2025