Sunset at Wind Canyon - Theodore Roosevelt National Park

We concluded our first day at Theodore Roosevelt National Park by watching the sunset over Wind Canyon in the South Unit. To reach the trailhead from the visitor center in Medora, drive 6.4 miles into the park on East River Road then turn left to continue on East River Road for another 3.8 miles to the paved parking area on the left. There are marked locations for eleven passenger vehicles and five recreation vehicles as well as one accessible spot.

The dirt trail leads ¼ mile to a rail fence denoting the end of the trail. The trail is over 150 feet above the Little Missouri River and fairly close to the edge of the bluff in a few places, so this is not the trail for someone with a fear of heights or for unsupervised children. If you hike out to watch the sunset, I strongly suggest you take a flashlight with you to follow the path back to the parking area as the trail is uneven and a wrong turn or step could have serious consequences.

We made the ½ mile trek during our August 2017 visit to the park.

Topographic map with GPS route

Sunlight highlights a rock formation

Trees in a side canyon are protected from the wind

This gully will one day be a side canyon

Looking up the Little Missouri River valley

A closer view shows a bald eagle watching the river

Ridgetop trail

Another view of the river

More of the trail

Looking back at the trail

Looking back at the river one more time

Steep drop off to the river

Reflections in the Little Missouri River

Sunset

A patchwork of jet contrails and clouds

An entrance fee of $25 admits all the passengers of a single vehicle for seven days to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Other entrance fee options include a Theodore Roosevelt National Park Annual Park Pass for $50, an Every Kid in a Park 4th Grade Pass for free and a variety of America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes providing access to most national park, national forest, and BLM fee areas

• Annual Pass for $80
• Military Pass for free
• Lifetime Senior Pass for $80 or $20 annually for those age 62 and older
• Access Pass for free for visitors with a permanent disability

An entrance fee is not collected at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center.

The park website is https://www.nps.gov/thro.