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Buckhorn Trail Loop
Enjoy a short hike through a prairie dog town, or continue on a longer loop.
Plan Around Buckhorn Trail Loop
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Buckhorn Trail Loop Details
The long Buckhorn Trail loops around the northwest section of the North Unit, starting at the Caprock Coulee Nature Trail. There are other access points to this trail, which makes it easy to walk small sections at a time, but Caprock Coulee is a popular starting point. At the start of the Caprock Coulee trailhead, walk to the right to access the Buckhorn Trail. At the next junction, if you head north first on the loop, you will pass through a prairie dog town fairly quickly. The hike comes close to the border of another prairie dog town further down the trail, but does not go through it like this one. The first dog town is a great spot to see the entertaining prairie dogs as they dart around and yip to each other in warning of predators. Buckhorn Trail then leads up eroded banks to a plateau and across open prairies that offer far-reaching views of the ravines and wilderness. Bison travel in this area and have established their own routes, so be sure to keep an eye on the trail markers to stay on Buckhorn Trail. Some of the terrain is steep, such as the descent from the plateau, but overall it is not too challenging.
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
5.7 miles
Estimated time
6-8 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Buckhorn Trail Loop
Compare nearby parks around Buckhorn Trail Loop when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Buckhorn Trail Loop
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Buckhorn Trail Loop while the map context is still fresh.
0.8 mi away
Longhorn Pullout
Catch a glimpse of Texas longhorn steers grazing in the sagebrush flats.
0.9 mi away
North Unit Visitor Center
The main visitor facility for the park's North Unit is open year-round, but Friday through Monday only.
1.1 mi away
Slump Block Pullout
An example of badlands erosion that's also known as "mass wasting."
2.5 mi away
Cannonball Concretions Pullout
Ancient spherical sandstone formations decorate the ground and weathered cliffs here.
2.6 mi away
Little Mo Nature Trail
An easy stroll along the Little Missouri River, plus a picnic area.
