About
Length1 mi
ShapeLoop
DifficultyEasy
Elevation gain250 ft up
Typical time30 min
TrailheadPainted Canyon Visitor Center, Interstate 94
SurfaceSteep clay descent and climb
Best seasonTrail conditions may be dangerous or slippery due to inclement weather. Speak to a ranger for more details.
DogsNot allowed
AccessibilityPainted Canyon Nature Trail is an unpaved trail which includes uneven footing, steps, and potential slip hazards. Proper footwear is recommended. Service animals are allowed, but must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
What you'll see 🌄 Big views🦌 Wildlife

For visitors arriving from the east, Painted Canyon is a dramatic introduction to the badlands of North Dakota. Named for its vivid layers, it's also home to one of the most popular trails in the park, a 1-mile loop that drops down into the canyon. Winding through juniper and wildflowers, crossing cracked washes and showcasing ongoing erosion, the Painted Canyon Nature Trail offers a moderate challenge with massive rewards. Proper footwear is recommended. It is illegal to remove any resource from a national park. Leave any flower, stone, or other object where you find it so that other visitors can enjoy it as well. It is illegal to carve, paint, or otherwise alter anything in a national park.

Tips
The easiest introduction to the park if you are driving through. Steeper than it looks and the clay is slick when wet. Bison often graze right by the trail.
Location

Painted Canyon Visitor Center, Interstate 94

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
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