Achenbach Trail Loop

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Unit (Watford City)

The Achenbach Trail loops through the western end of the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, mostly within designated wilderness according to North Dakota Tourism. The NPS lists it at 18 miles, with “steep climbs and descents and two river crossings,” and estimates 10 to 12 hours.

Every trip account we found describes the same challenges: fords of the Little Missouri, almost no reliable water, and bison on the trail.

The hike

Most accounts start at Juniper Campground or at Oxbow Overlook at the end of the Scenic Drive. The NPS splits the trail into North Achenbach (4.6 miles to Oxbow Overlook) and South Achenbach (10.4 miles to Oxbow Overlook, with two river crossings). McWilliams’s 2025 loop, described below, linked them using parts of the Buckhorn and Caprock Coulee trails.

Backpacker’s Ken Ilgunas describes the loop west from Juniper. The first ford comes at about mile 0.5. The trail then climbs through buttes and coulees to a hilltop near mile 5.9; Achenbach Springs, a pool just north of the trail, is at mile 5.7. The route drops off the butte to ford the river again at mile 8.1, then, in his description, leaves the trail to follow the river east toward Sperati Point before rejoining it and reaching the Scenic Drive near mile 15.5, about 2.1 miles from Juniper by road. North Dakota Tourism also notes the roughly 2-mile road gap and suggests a second car or a hitch.

Rob McWilliams, who backpacked the loop counterclockwise from Oxbow Overlook in September 2025, logged 19 miles and called the route “erratically marked in less trafficked places”; he relied on a GPS app and got scraped in “dense, prickly scrub” after losing a faint path past the first ford. Hiking Project’s contributors warn that sagebrush hides the markers, game trails confuse the route, and wet bentonite clay is very slippery. Backpacker adds that bison have knocked over many markers.

Water dominates the planning. The NPS says no backcountry source is approved for drinking. Ilgunas says the river “resembles chocolate milk” and will likely clog a filter. Outdoor Pilgrim’s group, hiking in a 95-degree heat wave in August 2020, found Mandal Spring “100% dry” and turned back to the car after dark. A ranger told them to carry at least a gallon per hiker.

Bison set the pace on most trips. McWilliams detoured around a bull lying on the trail; Unnamed Adventures had two pass within about 10 yards of their tents in May 2018. Unnamed Adventures also reported heavy ticks in tall grass and gnats in the river bottom, and Outdoor Pilgrim met swarming mosquitoes by the river.

For a longer Badlands trip, the Maah Daah Hey Trail ends just across the river at the CCC Campground.

Tips

Start at Oxbow Overlook. McWilliams and Outdoor Pilgrim both suggest it so you can refill at Juniper Campground midway.
Cross the river at daybreak, as the NPS advises, and check depths at the visitor center first.
Bring sandals or water shoes for the fords; Unnamed Adventures recommends sandals.
Wear long pants. Hiking Project warns that sharp vegetation can cut your legs badly.
Treat clothes with permethrin. Unnamed Adventures counted about 40 ticks on one hiker’s legs.
Tell the park you’re back by stopping at a visitor center or calling (701) 623-4730 ext. 1422 (NPS).

Camping

A free backcountry permit is required; get it at the North Unit Visitor Center with your itinerary, vehicle information, and an emergency contact (NPS). There are no established sites. Camp at least a quarter mile from roads and trailheads, 200 feet from any water source, and out of sight of roads and trails. Groups are limited to 10 people without horses, stays to 14 consecutive days. Open fires are banned; use a self-contained stove, which may be restricted during high fire danger. Pets, bicycles, and motorized equipment are prohibited. Pack out all trash, including toilet paper.

Inside Intel: Backpacker’s Ken Ilgunas recommends camping on the dried-mud benches between miles 5.9 and 6.9 from Juniper, overlooking the Little Missouri, “if weather allows.” McWilliams camped beside bluffs off the Buckhorn Trail, about halfway around. Unnamed Adventures chose a spot midway down a bluff to stay out of flash floods and away from lightning on top.

Trail facts

Distance: About 18 miles (NPS); 16 to 19 miles by other sources
Route type: Loop, plus about 2 miles of road walking from Juniper
Difficulty: Strenuous
Campsites: None established; camp anywhere that meets park setbacks
Water: None approved in the backcountry; Juniper Campground faucet; springs unreliable; river water clogs filters
Permits: Free backcountry permit from the North Unit Visitor Center
Fires: No open fires; stoves only
Dogs: Not allowed
Trailhead: Juniper Campground or Oxbow Overlook, North Unit Scenic Drive
Last verified: October 11, 2026

The Lowdown

Two Little Missouri fords on the Achenbach:

The NPS lists two Little Missouri River crossings on this loop and advises crossing at daybreak after checking depths at the visitor center. Our five tips cover timing, footwear, and when to turn back.

Get the five tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.