Located in the heart of the North Dakota Badlands, Rough Rider State Park is just minutes away from the historic town of Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This park offers a quiet escape from these popular tourist destinations.
Rough Rider is the perfect spot for visitors seeking adventure. Horseback riding, hiking and biking are also popular activities. The park provides access to the 144-mile long Maah Daah Hey Trail, which traverses the Little Missouri National Grassland.
In the early spring, canoeing and kayaking the Little Missouri River is a popular activity. Traversing the 274-mile long Little Missouri River offers a unique perspective of the badlands from North Dakota’s only State Scenic River
Campsite Types
Modern Campsites
Price: $25-30 per night
Modern Group Campsites
Price: $25-30 per night, per unit
Modern Equestrian Campsites
Price: $25-30 per night
Modern Group Equestrian Campsites
Price: $25-30 per night, per unit
Primitive Campsites
Price: $15 per night
Primitive Group Campsites
Price: $15 per night, per unit
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Campground Map
- Campsites can be booked 95 days in advance from the date you wish to stay.
- Reservations can be made online or by calling 800-807-4723.
- Check-in is at 4:00 pm Mountain Standard Time on the first day of the reservation and checkout is at 3:00 pm Mountain Standard Time on the last day of the reservation.
- Pets are welcome but must stay on a leash. Most parks have off-leash areas or dog parks for your four-legged friends.
- Find answers to other common questions about reservations on our FAQs page.
Rough Rider State Park is one of North Dakotas designated horse parks. This park is set up with 66 corrals and additional amenities to accommodate equestrian users.
What you need to know
In addition to a park entrance fee, equestrian riders need to purchase a horse pass. Daily and annual options are available and are required per horse. Permits are available for purchase in the park or online. The money generated from these fees goes towards maintaining horse trails.
Daily fee: $6/horse
Annual fee: $30/horse
- Users are responsible for the upkeep of corrals and other impact areas. Please clean up hay and manure daily and before you leave, both in the park corrals and all use areas.
- Ride only on trails designated for horse use. Ask park staff for information about park areas that are closed to horseback riding such as, campgrounds, playgrounds, or picnic areas.
- Tie horses to corral posts or horse trailers, not to trees. The use of hobbles is prohibited.
- Close all gates after passing through.
- All North Dakota State Park and Recreation trail information is available on the OuterSpatial App.
- Bringing horses into North Dakota: Information on health certificates and tests can be found on the North Dakota Department of Agriculture's website, under Animal Import Permits.
- Canoe and kayak access
- Corrals
- Dump station
- Shower house
- Round pen
- Vault toilets
- Water hydrants
Trail Information
Bring your mountain bike, horse or hiking shoes to experience the Maah Daah Hey Trail, an epic 144-mile trail system containing eight unique segments, each with a distinct topography. Access the trail just northwest of the park entrance.
Heading north will take you to a crossing of the Little Missouri River and on terrain of varied elevations toward Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Heading south leads toward Bully Pulpit Golf Course and views of the badlands and Little Missouri National Grassland.
All North Dakota State Park and Recreation Area trail information is available on the OuterSpatial App.
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