Scenic Loop Drive

Imagine you have been driving for hours through North Dakota. The landscape is uncompromisingly flat and there isn't so much as a tree to obscure the horizon in any direction. Then, with no warning, the topography transforms. The prairie around you crumbles, dropping down into a series of immense ravines, gullies, and hills. What was endless monochromatic grassland becomes a multihued dreamscape of rock spires and painted hills and where before you were lucky to see a stray cow, you now find herds of bison, wild horses, and pronghorns grazing along the side of the road. The badlands of North Dakota in Theodore Roosevelt National Park are unexpected and startling.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is consistently described as "lunar," "unearthly," or "alien" and for good reason - the broken landscape feels like something out of a sci-fi novel. It takes some warming up to, but its worth getting to know.

As cool as the park is, you can pretty much see the highlights in one day by taking the Scenic Loop Drive through the South Unit of the park. If you happen to be driving through the Dakotas (like from Minneapolis to Glacier for example), this is a must see, it's so remote, I'm not sure it's a destination park. You'll enter the park in through the town of Medora, ND, a town striving to reenact some sad frontier history that never actually existed. Skip the town and head right into the park. Follow the winding road from the town and past the campground on the Little Missouri River to hit the Drive. Keep your eye out for wildlife even on this entrance road since its not unlikely you'll see bison and horses immediately upon entering the park.

The 32 mile drive loops through the park giving you access to Skyline Vista, Buck Hill, and Wind Canyon Trail. Even taking the time to hike every short spur trail along the loop, it will still probably take only a half a day to do the entire thing. Spend the rest of the day hammocking along the river, check out the nearby Painted Canyon, or trying one of the slightly longer hikes in the park. Finally, camp overnight in one of the awesome walk-in tent sites along the Little Missouri - just be prepared to navigate around the bison that hang out in the same area.

Be Prepared: Weather is extreme in North Dakota. If you visit in the Summer, be prepared for the possibility of extremely hot days - there is virtually no shade anywhere in the park. Spring brings the danger of flash floods and the park is generally inaccessible by car in Winter. None of these things, however, are a problem as long as you come prepared.