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Painted Canyon Trail
This two-mile trail starts at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center.
Plan Around Painted Canyon Trail
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
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.
Painted Canyon Trail Details
The Painted Canyon Trail is a 4.0 mile-trail that starts at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center and ends when it meets the Upper Paddock Creek Trail. The trail is steep at the beginning as it descends the canyon wall. For a longer hike, you have the option to continue on the Upper Paddock Creek Trail, which you will find at the end of the Painted Canyon Trail. If you take a right at this junction, the Upper Paddock Creek Trail travels east toward the border of the park, then connects with the longer Upper Talkington Trail. If you turn left (or west) at the junction of Painted Canyon Trail and Paddock Creek Trail, you will hike toward the Scenic Loop Drive. Painted Canyon Visitor Center also has a separate guided nature trail loop that is accessed at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center near the picnic shelters. Painted Canyon Trail is 2 miles one-way; Painted Canyon Nature Trail is a .9-mile loop.
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
2 miles
Estimated time
1 hour
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Painted Canyon Trail
Compare nearby parks around Painted Canyon Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Painted Canyon Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Painted Canyon Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.1 mi away
Painted Canyon Visitor Center
The Painted Canyon Visitor Center is a small visitor center home to a spectacular panoramic view of the North Dakota Badlands.
2.2 mi away
Buck Hill Trail
A trail to the highest accessible point in the park.
2.3 mi away
The Coal Vein Trail
This rail follows a coal vein that burned slowly from 1951 to 1977.
3.0 mi away
Lower Paddock/Lower Talkington/Jones Creek Trail
A connection of trails that can be hiked in short or longer segments.
3.5 mi away
Upper Paddock/Upper Talkington Loop
A connection of trails that can be hiked in short or longer segments.
