Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND.

View from Painted Canyon at I-94 Turnout.

I stayed at the Badlands Motel in Medora, ND for two nights when exploring the Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP). My route from Bowman, ND took me across the Great Western Cattle Trail.

I was traveling on route I-94 to Medora and stopped at the TRNP Painted Canyon car and truck rest stop turnout. This is a non-vehicle entrance into that section of the park without a fee. And, where the Painted Canyon Trail trailhead is located (a hike that was on my to do list).

The TRNP lies in western North Dakota, where the Great Plains meet the rugged Badlands. A habitat for Bison, Wild Mustangs, Prairie Dogs, and more. The sprawling park has 3 sections linked by the Little Missouri River. The park is known for the South Unit’s colorful Painted Canyon with a Scenic Loop Drive winds past several overlooks and many trailheads. The Elkhorn Ranch Unit was closed when I visited the TRNP.

**Painted Canyon car and truck rest stop turnout.**

Click above phot to view 4 second Bison movie.

Driving down Coal Vein Road to view 60-million-year layers of rock which tell a story of the geologic history of the Badlands. From ancient swamps to recent coal fires, this landscape is constantly changing.
Black layer is Coal which is the remains of ancient plants and animals that lived in Everglade like swamps. There was an area I drove by of coal burning which had started after being struck by lightening!
When the coal layer has burnt out it collapses changing the landscape above.
There are copies of a brochure available at the Coal Vein Traihead describing the color layers seen.
Link to a copy of this brochure — https://www.nps.gov/thro/planyourvisit/upload/Coal-Vein-508.pdf