Along the northern edge of the Little Missouri Valley, rugged Badlands stretch beside the North Unit scenic drive; with a little luck, you may spot bison and bighorn sheep. The North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park is in McKenzie County. Its 14-mile scenic drive follows the northern edge of the valley. The Little Missouri shapes more than just the landscape: the Maah Daah Hey Trail also crosses it twice.
Badlands and Trails with Distinctive Character
Hiking options in the North Unit range from short walks and nature trails to day hikes and backcountry routes. Visitors can choose from different types of trails, rather than limiting a visit to a single kind of hike. The Little Mo Nature Trail is accessible. For a longer route, the Maah Daah Hey Trail is suitable for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. At its northern end, it connects the CCC Campground with the Burning Coal Vein Campground at its southern end and crosses the Little Missouri River twice.
The trail's name also gives it a cultural dimension: Maah Daah Hey comes from the Mandan Tribes and means “land that will be around for a long time.” Its northern end lies across the Little Missouri River from the entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The Long X Trail offers a different experience: from the CCC Campground, it follows the floor of the Little Missouri River valley before climbing along the Long X Divide. Its route follows the historic trail once used for cattle drives. The two trails therefore connect different landscapes and historical associations, without sharing the same route or character.
History in Exhibits and Buildings
The Long X Visitor Center provides general information and is also home to a fossilized bald cypress stump. It weighs 17,000 pounds and is 60 million years old. The McKenzie County Heritage Park & North Dakota Oil Museum offers a different perspective on history, focusing on the oil industry, its past, and its future, including a full-scale replica of a drilling and workover rig. Admission is free; donations are welcome.
The three-story brick building of the Lewis & Clark Trail Museum of Alexander housed a school from 1914 to 1967. Today, the museum includes a Lewis and Clark section with exhibits and artifacts about the Corps of Discovery. Other themed rooms explore daily life and work, including an old general store, a schoolroom, and a saddle room. The building's historic use and its themed rooms offer two different ways to explore local history.
The Grassy Butte Historic Post Office Museum adds to these insights with a building dating to 1912, constructed from logs and sod. It housed Grassy Butte's post office from 1914 to 1963. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and is considered one of North Dakota's last known examples of Ukrainian-influenced log and clay-plaster architecture. Its construction, use as a post office, and architectural classification each reveal a different part of its history.
Practical Information for Visiting the Park
Reservations are required for all sites at Juniper Campground. You need a free permit to camp in the North Unit backcountry. Since procedures may change, check park guidance on reservations and permits before your trip.
Discover More Destinations
Watford City, Alexander, Traill County, Ramsey, Williams County, Pierce County, Morton County, Stutsman
For the main travel overview: North Dakota.
