Painted Canyon

Painted Canyon is the spectacular first glimpse of the North Dakota badlands for many travelers — a sweeping, colorful canyon panorama at the eastern edge of Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s South Unit, reached right off Interstate 94 near Medora. From the rim overlook, the badlands spread out in a vast, banded expanse of eroded buttes, gullies and prairie in shifting hues of red, gray, gold and green.

The Painted Canyon Visitor Center and overlook offer one of the most accessible and breathtaking views in the park, often with bison grazing on the canyon floor far below. A nature trail leads along the rim, and a steeper trail descends into the badlands. A stunning, easily reached window into the badlands, Painted Canyon is a treasured natural icon of North Dakota.

Painted Canyon is enjoyed from its rim overlook and visitor center for the sweeping badlands panorama (and wildlife spotting), with a short rim nature trail and the steeper Painted Canyon Trail descending into the badlands for a closer experience, connecting to the park’s wider trail network. It is a popular, accessible stop along the interstate. Taking in the colorful canyon panorama from the overlook and hiking the rim or into the badlands are the signature draws. The combination of an accessible, breathtaking badlands view and trails makes Painted Canyon a beloved gateway to the park.

Late spring through fall is best, with the badlands colorful and the visitor center open in the warmer months (it’s typically closed in winter), and the canyon glowing most vividly at sunrise and sunset. Summer is warm with afternoon storms; fall brings crisp air and golden tones. The view is dramatic year-round (the overlook is accessible even when the center is closed). Spring through fall, and the golden hours, are the highlights — come for sunrise or sunset for the best light on the colorful badlands, and check visitor-center hours.

The badlands of Painted Canyon are part of the homeland of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara and other Native peoples, and lie within the landscape where Theodore Roosevelt ranched in the 1880s. The Painted Canyon overlook and visitor center were developed as an accessible gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park along the interstate, introducing countless travelers to the badlands. Painted Canyon preserves this breathtaking badlands view within the park, a treasured icon of North Dakota.

Painted Canyon shows the classic North Dakota badlands in cross-section — layers of soft sedimentary rock (clays, sands, lignite coal and volcanic ash) carved by erosion into colorful banded buttes and gullies, with the different layers and burning lignite (which bakes the clay into red ‘scoria’) creating the painted hues. The Little Missouri River system cut down through these layers, and erosion continually reshapes the soft rock. The layered sediments, the colorful layers and the rapid erosion created this painted badlands canyon.

From the Painted Canyon overlook and trails, visitors often spot bison grazing on the canyon floor, along with prairie dogs, mule deer, pronghorn, coyotes, and prairie and badlands birds, with golden eagles and hawks soaring over the canyon. The badlands and prairie support the park’s rich wildlife. Painted Canyon offers accessible wildlife watching, with the bison on the canyon floor and the soaring raptors among the highlights, set against the colorful badlands panorama.

Painted Canyon is part of the badlands-and-prairie ecosystem of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, where the eroded buttes, juniper draws and mixed-grass prairie support bison, prairie dogs and diverse wildlife. The fragile badlands soils and the prairie are sensitive to disturbance. Protecting the badlands, the prairie and the wildlife — and keeping the view and access sustainable — sustains both the ecology and the breathtaking scenery of Painted Canyon, the gateway to the park.

Painted Canyon holds a treasured place among the icons of North Dakota — the breathtaking, accessible gateway view of the badlands at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the first stunning glimpse of the badlands for countless travelers on Interstate 94. Its colorful, sweeping panorama embodies the wild beauty of the North Dakota badlands. Painted Canyon is a cherished natural icon of North Dakota.

Painted Canyon is at Exit 32 off Interstate 94 in western North Dakota, about seven miles east of Medora, at the edge of Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s South Unit. The Painted Canyon Visitor Center and overlook are right by the interstate (the overlook is free to view; the park entrance fee applies if you continue into the park or hike the connecting trails). The visitor center is seasonal. Trails lead along the rim and into the badlands. Check the National Park Service for visitor-center hours, fees and conditions before visiting.

The National Park Service protects Painted Canyon and the badlands. Visitors help by staying on trails and behind railings at the overlook (the canyon edges are steep and crumbly), keeping a safe distance from bison and wildlife on the trails, not disturbing the fragile badlands, packing out everything, and following all rules. The badlands soils, the steep edges and the wildlife are sensitive. Protecting the badlands, the prairie and the wildlife sustains both the ecology and the breathtaking scenery of Painted Canyon.

Stay behind railings at the overlook and on trails — the canyon edges are steep and the badlands slopes crumbly — and watch children. If hiking into the badlands, the trail is steeper and the terrain rugged; carry water (summers are hot with no shade), watch for rattlesnakes, and keep a safe distance from any bison (dangerous). Afternoon thunderstorms occur. Respect the steep edges, the crumbly terrain, the heat, the rattlesnakes and any bison on the trails.

The overlook is free; the park entrance fee applies to continue into the park or hike connecting trails. Stay on trails and behind railings; keep back from the steep canyon edges. Keep a safe distance from bison and wildlife. Pets are restricted on trails. Drones are prohibited. Collecting is prohibited. Pack out all trash. Check the National Park Service for visitor-center hours, fees and rules before visiting.

The historic town of Medora and the rest of Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s South Unit, the North Dakota badlands, the Maah Daah Hey Trail, and Interstate 94 across the badlands lie near Painted Canyon. The North Dakota badlands define the region. Painted Canyon is the accessible gateway to the badlands, a centerpiece of a Theodore Roosevelt National Park visit, easily combined with Medora, the park’s scenic loop and the badlands country.

Pull off Interstate 94 at Exit 32 for the breathtaking Painted Canyon overlook — come at sunrise or sunset for the most vivid color on the badlands, and scan the canyon floor for grazing bison. Walk the short rim trail, or hike the steeper Painted Canyon Trail into the badlands for a closer experience (carry water, watch for rattlesnakes and bison). Check the seasonal visitor-center hours, stay behind the railings at the steep edges, and continue into Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s South Unit from nearby Medora.