Hi there!
So you are going to Theodore Roosevelt National Park!
Yes, the South Unit Scenic Drive is THE scenic drive to do in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park!
Well, it is basically the only main road that you can drive through the South Unit.
There are 3 main areas of the South Unit that you can drive to.
By navigating to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Visitor Center, you will find yourself on the South Unit Scenic Drive.
It’s the South Unit Scenic Byway!
I did a drive along the South Unit Scenic Drive, and this is what you need to know!
Best stops on the South Unit Scenic Drive
You will start by passing some smaller scenic overlooks like Medora Overlook and Skyline Vista Trail that will give you views of civilization including views of the town of Medora and I-94.
Then you will keep going to get deeper into the North Dakota badlands!
You can drive all the way to the Badlands Overlook, and this will be the last stop. And then you will turn around and drive back the way you came.
There are 3 major overlooks to note on the Scenic Drive of the South Unit.
These 3 overlooks are all a short walk from a parking area that’s directly off of the South Unit Scenic Drive.
It’s mostly maybe a 5 minute or so walk, with options to go out further another 5-10 minute walk for more sweeping views.
1. Wind Canyon Trail
The short Wind Canyon Trail leads to one of the popular overlooks in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
You can walk around for 5-10 minutes to take in the views of Wind Canyon and the Little Missouri River.
Wind Canyon Trail is also known as a sunset spot in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
2. Boicourt Trail
Right near the Boicourt Overlook, you’ll see a sign for the Boicourt Trail.
There’s a paved trail that you can walk out for a few minutes to get views of the North Dakota badlands.
At the end of the paved trail, there’s a dirt trail.
You can take this dirt trail to go further for more views of the badlands.
You will be hiking with views of the badlands! It’s just a few minutes until you reach the end of the ridge trail.
3. Buck Hill Overlook
Buck Hill is another one of the popular overlooks in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
There’s a short but steep hill to get to the top of Buck Hill from the parking lot.
Once at the top, you can see vast views of the North Dakota badlands.
You can also take the trail to walk out further to get more vast views of the badlands.
You will be hiking with views of the badlands!
🌞
South Unit Scenic Drive BUFFALO!
I saw buffalo off in the distance in the fields, and I also saw the buffalo walking along the Scenic Drive.
In regular people terms, bison and buffalo are the same thing.
What the National Park Service wants you to know about buffalo:
Bison may seem slow, but they can turn in an instant and surprise you with speed.
With a flick of a horn they can toss you in the air
Bison are unpredictable.
They are powerful, wild, and dangerous!
Further is safer.
More wildlife to see driving the South Unit Scenic Drive
And you will also pass by some prairie dog towns as you are driving.
If you see tons of mounds of dirt in an open field, it’s a prairie dog town!
Roll your windows down so that you can hear the prairie dogs!
You might even see some horses as you are driving!
While it’s possible to see wildlife from your car while driving, if hiking to potentially seeing wildlife sounds like your idea of a good time in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, then you also might like Old East Entrance Trail to hike to a prairie dog town.
And on the Jones Creek Trail you have a chance to see prairie dogs, horses, and buffalo… maybe!
How to (maybe!) see wildlife in Theodore Roosevelt National Park:
- Cottonwood Campground… maybe see buffalo?!
- Ekblom Trail… maybe see buffalo?!
- Jones Creek Trail… maybe see buffalo, horses, and prairie dogs?!
- Badlands Spur Trail… maybe see horses?!
- Old East Entrance Trail… maybe see prairie dogs?!
- North Unit Scenic Drive… probably see buffalo!
How long is the South Unit Scenic Drive?
The South Unit Scenic Drive is an out-and-back drive that is listed as 48 miles round trip.
In its current state, the South Unit Scenic Drive is an out-and-back drive because there is a portion of the South Unit Scenic Drive that is closed.
It previously was a 36 mile scenic loop drive in the South Unit.
It is now listed as a 48 mile drive round trip.
The National Park Service was officially recommending giving yourself around 1.5 hours to drive the 36 mile scenic loop drive.
So for a 48-mile out-and-back drive, you may want at least 2 hours.
But of course, that does depend on how many stops you make and what you want to do along the way! With stops, you will want to add in a possible 1-2 hours.
If you see something you like (and there’s parking nearby!) then you can stop the car, get out, and walk around and you might find rock formations that you like!
👆 There is one bathroom located near the end of the Scenic Drive. You can make it a short walk to these rock formations near the South Unit Scenic Drive bathroom.
👆 Caprocks along the South Unit Scenic Drive: How to walk to the hidden caprocks in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Cost to drive the South Unit Scenic Drive
The South Unit Scenic Drive is within the paid entry area of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
So the cost to drive the South Unit Scenic Drive is the national park entry fee.
This cost is $30 per car. This will get you a 7-day pass for Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and it will be good for all units of the national park. See current fees.
If you plan to visit at least 3 national parks within a year, you may consider getting the annual national park pass.
You can just drive through the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park!
Even just driving through Theodore Roosevelt National Park on the South Unit Scenic Drive will allow you to see scenic views of the North Dakota badlands… and you have a good chance of seeing wildlife too!
There are also quick stops to make as you are driving the South Unit Scenic Drive.
And you can also find some short walks and hikes to start off of the South Unit Scenic Drive too.
And, you have a good chance to see buffalo in Theodore Roosevelt National Park on the South Unit Scenic Drive!
You can also go camping with buffalo off of the South Unit Scenic Drive!
If you will be going to the main area of the South Unit (aka the national park entry), then it is a given to drive the Scenic Drive when you are in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
The scenic drive is the main road that goes through the South Unit!
So basically, just get yourself on the Scenic Drive!
It will be a scenic drive just driving through Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the South Unit.
List of stops on the South Unit Scenic Byway
1. South Unit Visitor Center
If you plan on doing any nature trails listed below and you are interested in learning more about the geology and plant life, then stop by to pick up the trail guidebook.
And then, it’s always good to stop by the national park visitor center in case there are any closures and such.
Also you can get a national parks passport stamp in the South Unit Visitor Center!
You will see the South Unit Visitor Center shortly after you go through the entry station.
You can also make this a bathroom stop! (There’s another bathroom stop coming up shortly if you want to avoid the crowds.)
2. Maltese Cross Cabin
3. Medora Overlook
The Medora Overlook is the first overlook that you will come across as you are driving the South Unit Scenic Drive.
4. Skyline Vista Trail
The Skyline Vista Trail is the first short walk that you will come across as you are driving the South Unit Scenic Drive.
This paved trail does give you vast views from above. But if you are short on time, you can skip this. Because those vast views also come with views of the interstate with cars and trucks driving by, which doesn’t really make you feel like you are truly in nature.
5. South Unit picnic area
Bring your own food, and you can make it a picnic in the South Unit!
There is a bathroom at the South Unit picnic area.
6. Cottonwood Campground
There is one campground in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and it’s the Cottonwood Campground.
You’ll make Theodore Roosevelt South Unit camping reservations at recreation.gov.
There is a regular bathroom and drinking water available, but there’s no electricity and there are no showers.
I see buffalo in the South Unit campground!
See more about this South Unit Scenic Drive overnight stop: Cottonwood Campground buffalo
7. Peaceful Valley trailhead
See more about this South Unit Scenic Drive stop: Ekblom Trail to see buffalo (maybe!)
8. Wind Canyon Trail
9. Upper Jones Creek trailhead
See more about this South Unit Scenic Drive stop:
- Walking around Upper Jones Creek trailhead
- Jones Creek Trail to see buffalo, horses, and prairie dogs (maybe!)
10. Boicourt Overlook
11. Boicourt Trail
12. Talkington trailhead
The Talkington trailhead will be for you if you want to go hiking in the South Unit to see unique rock formations!
This is located directly along the South Unit Scenic Drive, and this is one spot that you can start hiking the 16.4 mile East Loop Trail. This loop trail connects several hiking trails.
You can also make it a shorter hike by hiking only part of the Upper Talkington Trail.
I hiked the Upper Talkington Trail as a 1.5 hour round trip hike.
The Talkington trailhead is also a spot that you can park to go in search of some hidden caprocks.
13. Buck Hill
14. South Unit Scenic Drive bathroom
See more about this South Unit activity: Walking around the South Unit Scenic Drive bathroom
15. Coal Vein Trail
As a nature trail, there are numbered “stops” along the way that corresponds with a self-guided tour book so you can learn things as you walk!
There seems to usually be a tour book at the trailhead, but if you don’t want to chance it, that’s when you may want to stop by the visitor center on your way in.
16. Badlands Spur trailhead
The Badlands Spur trailhead will be for you if you want to go hiking in the South Unit!
This is located directly along the South Unit Scenic Drive, and this is one spot that you can start hiking the 11.4 mile West Loop Trail or the 16.4 mile East Loop Trail. Both of these loop trails connect several hiking trails.
You can also make it a shorter hike by hiking only the Badlands Spur Trail.
I saw wild horses by hiking the Badlands Spur Trail as a 1.5 hour round trip hike.
See more about this South Unit Scenic Drive stop: Badlands Spur Trail to see wild horses (maybe!)
17. Old East Entrance Station Trail to see prairie dogs (maybe!)
18. Badlands Overlook
And, you’ve made it to the end of the South Unit Scenic Drive!
The Badlands Overlook will be your turnaround spot.
And, from the Badlands Overlook, you do get vast views of the North Dakota badlands!
And those are some ideas for how to spend your time along the South Unit scenic drive!
If you are interested in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, you may also be interested in these activities:
- South Unit campground with BUFFALO!
- North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- Why visit the Elkhorn Ranch Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- Things to do in Badlands National Park for VIEWS (South Dakota badlands)
- Camping in Badlands National Park
- Things to do in Wind Cave National Park
- Places to visit in South Dakota for VIEWS
- Things to do in Toadstool Geologic Park (Nebraska badlands)
HAPPY DRIVING THE SOUTH UNIT SCENIC DRIVE!
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