This Might Just Be The Most Beautiful Hike In All Of North Dakota
By Leah|Published April 11, 2017
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Leah
Author
Leah moved to North Dakota when she was 12 years old and has traveled from the Red River Valley to the badlands and many places in between. She loves small-town life and currently enjoys living on a small farm in the ND prairie. She's always had a passion for writing and has participated in novel writing challenges such as NaNoWriMo multiple times. Her favorite part about this job is recognizing small businesses that deserve a boost and seeing the positive affect her articles can have on their traffic, especially in rural areas that might have otherwise gone overlooked.
If there is one place in North Dakota that is a favorite for hikers from all over, it’s the badlands. Throughout the Little Missouri National Grasslands in the western region of the state, trails criss-cross through the unique landscape. The Maah Dah Hey Trail, for instance, is a trail system in the area over 90 miles long. But if you’re looking for what most people consider the most beautiful, scenic, and memorable hike there, then this is the one for you:
One of the most notable and photographed places in North Dakota is the Painted Canyon in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This vibrantly colored canyon attracts thousands of visitors.
While many people only drive up to the available overlook and see it from there, you can go one step further - or many steps, in this case - and actually hike down into the canyon on the Painted Canyon Nature Trail.
This loop trail is only about 1.1 miles long and considered an easy to moderate trail in skill level. It will take you along a path that gives new perspectives on the famous landscape.
When you reach the overlook again after finishing the trail, you will be reminded just how beautiful this part of North Dakota is and why this trail is one of the top trails in the entire state.
The Painted Canyon Overlook and the nature trail can both be accessed from the main road going through the South Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The entrance can be found just outside of Medora, North Dakota. For more information about the park and its trails, click here.
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