Theodore Roosevelt National Park · North Dakota

Wind Canyon Trail

0.5 mi of trail, end to end · about 50 ft of climbing · 2,339 ft–2,395 ft

Exhibits

2,347 ft 2,341 ft · 0.4 mi high 2,395 ft

Along the way Wayside Exhibit - "Carved by Wind and Water"

Trailhead Wind Canyon Trailhead 2,348 ft Drive there

Hike Wind Canyon Trail the Park Service's write-up

5-30 Minutes · no dogs · season Trail conditions may be dangerous or slippery due to inclement weather. Speak to a ranger for more details.

Start Wind Canyon Trailhead

A bend in the river and a trail above it are seen at sunset. Buttes and prairies line the river.
Wind Canyon Trail. Photo: NPS Photo/W. Archer

There are many beautiful vistas in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, but perhaps none are more dramatic than the view from Wind Canyon trail. This short loop trail travels along wind eroded cliffs above the Little Missouri river, before climbing up to a dramatic lookout point.

A perfect place for a short hike or to watch the sunset over the badlands, no trip to Theodore Roosevelt National Park is complete without stopping here.

Hikers should wear proper footwear and keep away from steep cliff edges.

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.

Pets Pets are welcome in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. However, they are only allowed in certain areas. Leashed pets may be walked along roads and road shoulders, sidewalks, parking areas, and in campgrounds and picnic areas. More information: Visiting with Pets .

Accessibility Wind Canyon Trail is an unpaved trail which includes uneven footing, steps, and potential slip hazards. There is a very small seating area approximately halfway along the trail. Proper footwear is recommended. Service animals are allowed, but must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 34 trails in Theodore Roosevelt National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.