Painted Canyon Nature Trail

Badlands on Painted Canyon Trail

Quick Facts

Location:

Painted Canyon

Significance:

Start of Painted Canyon Nature Trail

Amenities

1 listed

Trailhead

The descent seen at this stop is the beginning of the Painted Canyon Nature Trail! This quick 1-mile hike is a great introduction to the various habitat types that are not only present in this area but also the park as a whole. As you walk the beginning of the trail, you will see a late-stage habitat type in the park, the Rocky Mountain juniper woodland. Forests are by no means the dominant habitat in the park but still serve an important function in the ecosystem. Mainly found on the cooler north face of the buttes, the junipers slow the effect erosion can have on the slopes they grow on. Not only is it good for erosion prevention, but the juniper woodland also serves many purposes for the park’s wildlife. Elk prefer to reside in the woodlands to either escape the summer heat or take shelter from the cold winter winds. The berries produced by the junipers serve as a prominent food source for several bird species in the park as well.

As you reach the bottom of the trail you will be presented with the most abundant habitat in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the grassland. Despite their very monotonous appearance, the grassland hosts a vast diversity of plants and animals. The numerous native grasses serve as a food source to many animals in the park, including bison, horses, elk, mule deer, prairie dogs, and a rich array of insects. The animals that rely on the grasses in turn attract predators. Animals such as badgers, coyotes, hawks, and eagles find a consistent food source in prairie dogs. Birds such as flycatchers and swallows’ prey on the insect species supported by the grass. The grasslands have some woodier species such as sagebrush and wild rose interspersed throughout them as well. The grassland serves as one of the most important ecosystems in the park.

Along the latter half of this loop trail you will also see a water-based ecosystem, known as seeps. As rain falls, much of it will soak or filter into the ground. Eventually, the ground has no more room for this water, meaning the ground is saturated. Saturated soil has nowhere for the rainwater to go, meaning the water will now “seep” on to the surface. A wide variety of wildlife, such as bison, horses, elk, and birds, drink from these water sources. They are essential for survival in a semi-arid land. Springs, seeps, and the waterways they feed may also provide conditions suitable for plants that have higher water requirements for survival. The amount of water present can determine how much water is visible from a seep. If it is dry enough the seep may have no visible surface water!