Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit)
National park · North Dakota
The South Unit's 36-mile scenic loop near Medora crosses badlands banded in red and gray, with cottonwood groves along the Little Missouri River turning gold each fall. Bull elk bugle through the rut near Cottonwood Campground and Buck Hill, sometimes stopping traffic as they cross the road.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 4–October 8
Color builds from September 19 · mostly bare by October 26
Sampled at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit)’s own coordinates and elevation (693 m) rather than a regional average.
39 weather points cover North Dakota, and the model shifts their answer 6 days earlier, which is what it takes to match 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com. How the forecast works
When to go to Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit)
Good color holds through about October 15, giving you roughly 26 days from the first turn to past peak. At 2,274 ft, it turns before the lower ground nearby.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of North Dakota, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When does Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for October 4–October 8 (best estimate October 6). Color starts around September 19 and is mostly bare by October 26.
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