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Sight South Unit, Medora

Buck Hill

A sight in South Unit, Medora, free to visit and worth about 20 minutes. Best time to go: Late afternoon.

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Buck Hill in South Unit, Medora
Photo: Jeffrey River Niles · Google

Why go

One of the highest points in the South Unit with a short paved walk to 360-degree views.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Medora, alongside 3 activities, 2 places to eat and 2 sights. The closest of our other picks is South Unit Scenic Loop Drive, 2.0 mi away as the crow flies. At about 20 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Sight · Nature
Neighborhood
South Unit
Price
Free
Time needed
20 min
Best time
Late afternoon

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Medora, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    South Unit Scenic Loop Drive

    Paved drive through badlands with bison, wild horses and prairie dog towns.

    Activity · 2.0 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Painted Canyon Overlook

    Wide overlook of layered badlands just off I-90, often with bison below.

    Sight · 2.2 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Wind Canyon Trail

    Short 0.4-mile trail to a bluff above the Little Missouri River with wind-carved sandstone.

    Activity · 6.2 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Theodore's Dining Room

    Dining room in the restored Rough Riders Hotel, the best sit-down meal in town.

    Food · 6.4 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Little Missouri Saloon

    Western saloon in downtown Medora with a casual bar and grill.

    Drinks · 6.5 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Visitor Center

    Exhibits on Roosevelt's ranching years plus his restored Maltese Cross Cabin.

    Sight · 6.5 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Buck Hill is a stop on our Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Medora

Buck Hill is our only sight pick in Medora; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Medora guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Medora run from 29°F in January to 89°F in July; May is usually the wettest month. For Buck Hill itself, we suggest: Late afternoon.

Modelled monthly averages for Medora from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Medora weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Buck Hill, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Belfield, ND 58622, USA
Coordinates
46.92657, -103.38942
Destination
Medora, North Dakota

Buck Hill: quick answers

How much time do you need at Buck Hill?

Plan on about 20 minutes at Buck Hill. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Buck Hill?

Our pick: Late afternoon. Insider tip: Quick stop; very windy at the top.

Is Buck Hill free?

Yes, we list Buck Hill as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Buck Hill?

Buck Hill is at Belfield, ND 58622, USA, in South Unit. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Buck Hill?

Buck Hill appears on Dakotas Badlands & Black Hills, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Buck Hill to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Medora.

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Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.