Theodore Roosevelt National Park – South Unit / Roundup Group Horse Camp
ND · Medora / South Unit Badlands
315 2nd Ave
Theodore Roosevelt National Park belongs in the North Dakota sheet because it brings a different caliber of destination energy to the riding story. The South Unit near Medora offers classic badlands scenery, wide-open backcountry travel, and the kind of landscape that feels iconic before you even tack up. For horse travelers, the key distinction is that this is not a typical front-country trail ride. The park’s backcountry is open to horse use, and Roundup Group Horse Camp is the dedicated place to base a horse-focused stay in the South Unit. That combination gives the destination a more adventurous, national-park tone than the state parks, while still preserving a practical place to camp with horses. It is an ideal inclusion for riders who want North Dakota’s most famous landscape to be part of the itinerary in a meaningful way.
Riding guide
Highlights
National-park badlands riding with a true backcountry feel and the cachet of camping where horses are actually welcome.
Riding
The riding here is all about backcountry atmosphere. Rather than a tightly managed front-country loop system, the South Unit gives horse users access to open badlands country, backcountry trails, and cross-country travel in one of the state’s most visually recognized landscapes. The mood is expansive, raw, and more exploratory than the typical campground-based ride. For riders who want the feeling of a real western journey rather than just a maintained trail network, this is where the workbook starts to feel genuinely iconic.
Trailer parking
Roundup Group Horse Camp is the park’s dedicated horse-camping base, and it is the right place to focus your logistics rather than the general campgrounds or picnic areas where horses are not allowed.
Horse regulations
The park’s horse rules are more specific than a standard state-park trailhead. Horses are allowed in the backcountry and at designated horse-camping locations, but not on roadways, nature trails, developed campgrounds, or picnic areas. Only weed-free hay or feed is allowed, and backcountry overnight travel requires a free permit. Because conditions, wildlife, and route-finding all matter more here, riders should review the current park guidance before arrival.
Getting here
Use the South Unit entrance at 315 2nd Avenue in Medora as your main planning address, then build your actual horse-camp logistics around Roundup Group Horse Camp, which is reservation-only and specifically intended for parties camping with horses. The park is clear that horses are not allowed in developed campgrounds, roadways, picnic areas, or nature trails, so arriving with the correct destination already mapped matters. This is one of those places where getting the logistics right upfront makes the whole trip feel smoother.
Planning your visit
This is a destination for riders who enjoy structure on the planning side and freedom on the trail side. Reserve Roundup early, carry the right feed, and think of the ride as a true backcountry outing rather than a quick scenic loop. If you want one North Dakota entry that feels especially storied, high-impact, and unmistakably western, this is it.
Where to stay
Roundup is the park’s only camping facility where horses are permitted, which makes it especially valuable for equestrian travelers. Reservations are required, and the campground is meant for horse groups rather than casual drop-in use. Horses are not provided, so riders need to arrive fully self-supported. The reward is a stay that feels distinctive and hard to replicate elsewhere: you are not merely near the landscape, you are camped within the national-park experience built around horse access.
Trails
No trails synced for this park yet.
Campgrounds
No campgrounds listed for this park.
Photos
Stay near this park
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