Discover Medora through the places that shaped Theodore Roosevelt, from his ranching days in the Badlands to iconic park landscapes, historic landmarks, and remote trails, all rooted in the small town that helped define his life, values, and legacy.
South Unit Visitor Center
South Unit Visitor Center is the main gateway into the Badlands from Medora and a good place to get your bearings. Pick up trail info, check wildlife sightings, then head straight onto the scenic drive where bison and prairie dogs are often nearby.
See MorePainted Canyon
A quick stop with a big payoff just east of Medora. Layered Badlands formations stretch in every direction, and it’s one of the best places to understand how vast and rugged this landscape really is.
See MoreWind Canyon Trail
A short hike with steady elevation that opens up to wide views of the Little Missouri River. The geology here is unusual, with rock layers shaped by ancient water and wind patterns.
See MoreBuck Hill Trail
Named after Theodore Roosevelt’s ranch hand, this is the highest point accessible by road in the park. The view looks out over rolling Badlands and changing light that shifts dramatically throughout the day.
See MorePetrified Forest Loop
A more remote hike that feels quieter and less polished than other areas of the park. You’ll pass scattered petrified wood and stark terrain that shows just how raw this landscape still is.
See MoreMaah Daah Hey Trail
This legendary trail system cuts through some of the most striking sections of the Badlands. Even a short out-and-back from the Medora trailhead gives a real sense of the scale and isolation of the region.
See MoreChateau de Mores State Historic Site
The former home of Medora’s founder sits on a hill overlooking town and the river below. Touring the chateau adds context to how ambitious and fragile frontier life was in the 1880s.
See MoreElkhorn Ranch Unit - Theodore Roosevelt National Park
This quiet, remote site is where Roosevelt lived and ranched during some of the most formative years of his life. There are no grand buildings, just open land, river views, and a strong sense of place.
See MoreMaltese Cross Cabin
Roosevelt’s first ranch cabin near Medora, now preserved near the South Unit Visitor Center. You can see the original structure he lived in, giving a tangible connection to his early ranching life.
See MoreLittle Missouri River
A defining natural feature of the Badlands, perfect for scenic walks, photography, and quiet exploration. The river winds through the landscape Roosevelt once roamed.
See MoreTheodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
(opening July 4, 2026)
Set just outside town, the library will explore Roosevelt’s life through conservation, leadership, and the Badlands that shaped him. Its location alone makes it part museum, part landscape experience.
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