Little Missouri River

The Little Missouri River is the wild, winding river that carved and defines the North Dakota badlands — flowing some 560 miles from Wyoming through Montana and South Dakota into North Dakota, where over eons it sculpted the colorful badlands of Theodore Roosevelt National Park before joining the Missouri at Lake Sakakawea. A North Dakota State Scenic River, it is the lifeblood of the badlands country.

Slow and shallow much of the year but swelling with spring snowmelt and rain, the ‘Little Mo’ winds through cottonwood bottoms, beneath badlands buttes, and through the wild country traversed by the famous Maah Daah Hey Trail. Visitors canoe and kayak it in the brief spring high-water season, fish, and explore its valley by trail and road. The wild, scenic artery of the badlands, the Little Missouri River is a treasured natural icon of North Dakota.

The Little Missouri River is enjoyed by canoeing and kayaking during the brief spring high-water season (the river is often too shallow to float later in summer), fishing, and exploring its badlands valley — by hiking and biking the Maah Daah Hey Trail and the trails of Theodore Roosevelt National Park along and across the river, horseback riding, wildlife watching and camping. Spring paddling through the badlands, and exploring the river’s valley by trail, are the signature draws. The combination of a wild scenic river and the dramatic badlands it carved makes the Little Missouri special.

Spring (roughly April to early June) is the prime time for paddling, when snowmelt and rain swell the river enough to float (it’s often too low later in summer); the badlands valley is also beautiful in fall with golden cottonwoods, and the trails along the river are best in spring and fall (summer is hot). The river’s flow is highly seasonal. Spring for paddling and spring/fall for hiking the valley are the highlights — check river levels before planning a float (the window is brief), and explore the badlands valley by trail in the milder seasons.

The Little Missouri River and its badlands are part of the homeland of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara and other Native peoples, and the river valley was where Theodore Roosevelt ranched in the 1880s, an experience that shaped his conservation legacy. The river was central to the open-range cattle era of the badlands. It is now a North Dakota State Scenic River, and its valley is traversed by the Maah Daah Hey Trail. The Little Missouri River preserves the wild artery of the badlands and its heritage, a treasured icon of North Dakota.

The Little Missouri River is the architect of the North Dakota badlands — over the last roughly 600,000 years (after the Ice Age glaciers diverted it), the river cut down rapidly through the soft sedimentary layers of clay, sand, lignite coal and volcanic ash, carving the colorful buttes, gullies and canyons of the badlands. The river continues to meander and erode its valley. The diverted, down-cutting river and the soft, colorful layered rock created the badlands and the river’s winding scenic valley.

The Little Missouri River corridor is rich in wildlife — its cottonwood bottoms and the surrounding badlands host bison, wild horses, elk, mule and white-tailed deer, pronghorn, beavers, and prairie dogs, with bald and golden eagles, wild turkeys, and prairie and riparian birds, while the river holds catfish, sauger and other fish. The river’s green corridor through the badlands is a vital wildlife haven. The Little Missouri offers fine wildlife watching, with bison, wild horses, elk and eagles among the highlights along its valley through the badlands.

The Little Missouri River is a free-flowing prairie river whose cottonwood-and-willow riparian corridor cuts a green, life-rich ribbon through the dry badlands and mixed-grass prairie, providing vital habitat and a wildlife corridor, and sustaining the badlands ecosystem it carved. As a State Scenic River, it is valued and increasingly studied, with water use, energy development and a changing climate as concerns. Protecting the river’s flow and water quality, its riparian corridor and the badlands sustains both the ecology and the wild beauty of the Little Missouri.

The Little Missouri River holds a treasured place among the icons of North Dakota — the wild, winding river that carved the badlands and the landscape of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a State Scenic River and the lifeblood of the badlands country where Roosevelt ranched. Its meandering course through the colorful badlands embodies the wild heart of western North Dakota. The Little Missouri River is a cherished natural icon of North Dakota.

The Little Missouri River flows through the badlands of western North Dakota, crossing Theodore Roosevelt National Park (both units) and the Little Missouri National Grassland, accessible from the town of Medora, the park, and various river crossings and access points along U.S. 85 and area roads. Paddling access and launches are limited and the season is brief (spring high water); the river is otherwise often too shallow. The Maah Daah Hey Trail follows the valley. Check ND Parks & Recreation, the National Park Service and the Forest Service (national grassland) for river levels, access and conditions before planning a float or hike.

North Dakota, the National Park Service and the Forest Service (Little Missouri National Grassland) protect the river and its badlands corridor. Visitors help by protecting the river’s water quality and flow, respecting wildlife (keeping a safe distance from bison, wild horses and other animals), staying on trails and established sites, packing out everything, and following all rules (and respecting private land along parts of the river). The river, its riparian corridor and the badlands wildlife are sensitive. Protecting the river, the corridor and the wildlife sustains both the ecology and the wild beauty of the Little Missouri.

The Little Missouri is a remote prairie river — paddle only in the brief spring high-water season (check levels; it’s often too shallow otherwise), watch for changing flows, snags, cold water and weather, and wear a life jacket. The badlands valley is hot in summer with little shade (carry water and sun protection), has rattlesnakes, and the dirt access roads turn to impassable gumbo when wet. Keep a safe distance from bison and wild horses. Cell signal is limited. Respect the seasonal river, the cold water and snags, the badlands heat and rattlesnakes, the muddy-when-wet roads and the wildlife.

Paddling and access follow park, grassland and state rules; wear a life jacket and check river levels (the floatable season is brief). Within Theodore Roosevelt National Park, follow park rules (distance from bison and wildlife, no collecting, designated camping). On the national grassland and state scenic river, follow Forest Service and state rules; respect private land along parts of the river. Pack out all trash; follow Leave No Trace. Do not drive dirt roads when wet. Check ND Parks & Recreation, the NPS and the Forest Service for river levels, access and rules before going.

The historic town of Medora, Theodore Roosevelt National Park (both units, which the river crosses), the Little Missouri National Grassland, the Maah Daah Hey Trail, and the badlands of western North Dakota lie along the river. The North Dakota badlands define the region. The Little Missouri River is the wild artery of the badlands, a centerpiece of a western North Dakota adventure, easily combined with Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Maah Daah Hey Trail and the town of Medora.

If you want to paddle the Little Missouri, plan for the brief spring high-water season (April–early June) and check river levels first — it’s often too shallow to float later in summer — and wear a life jacket and watch for snags and cold water. Otherwise, experience the river’s wild valley by hiking or biking the Maah Daah Hey Trail and the trails of Theodore Roosevelt National Park along it. Carry water and sun protection (the badlands are hot with little shade), avoid the dirt roads when wet, keep your distance from bison and wild horses, and base in Medora.