Sully Creek State Park lies near the Little Missouri River surrounded by the picturesque Badlands of North Dakota only 85 miles south of Watford City.
This beautiful area, located just 2 miles south of historic Medora, offers guests breathtaking views of rocky terrain, hills, shrubs, and mixed grass prairie. Visitors to this North Dakota state park enjoy hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, kayaking, camping, bird watching, and picnicking.
Activities
Spend a few days exploring this rustic state park: paddle down the Little Missouri River; hike or ride along a portion of the 144 mile Maah Daah Hey Trail; and experience what it’s like to camp out in the backcountry.
Whether you plan for a day or stay for a week, you’ll enjoy your time spent within this peaceful area surrounded by rustic beauty and a variety of wildlife.
Here are some of the activities that you can do during your visit to Sully Creek State Park:
Boating at Sully Creek State Park
Bring your canoe or kayak and spend some time paddling on the Little Missouri River. This scenic river flows directly through the surrounding Badlands offering spectacular views along the way.
Hiking at Sully Creek State Park
Sully Creek State Park provides visitors with access to the Maah Daah Hey Trail. This extensive trail system spreads out over 144 miles of varied terrain and is open for hikers, mountain bikes, and horseback riders. North of the park, this serene trail crosses over the Little Missouri River on its path towards Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The south section winds near the Bully Pulpit Golf Course and exquisite views of the surrounding area.
Biking at Sully Creek State Park
Enjoy an exhilarating ride across the rustic Maah Daah Hey Trail and into the surrounding North Dakota Badlands. This extensive trail winds across 144 miles of varied landscape.
Horseback Riding at Sully Creek State Park
Sully Creek State Park offers guests traveling with their horses access to the extensive Maah Daah Hey Trail, a 144 mile trail that winds through the badlands and across the Little Missouri River. And since the park is also a state designated horse park, it features 66 corrals and other amenities designed to accommodate their equestrian guests.
While you’re planning your visit be sure to familiarize yourself with the park’s rules and regulations before arriving.
Fishing at Sully Creek State Park
Pack your angling gear and spend a quiet day fishing in the Little Missouri River during your visit to Sully Creek State Park. This rustic river contains carp, bullhead, and catfish. While you’re packing don’t forget to also pick up a North Dakota fishing license.
Birding at Sully Creek State Park
During your visit to Sully Creek State Park and nearby Theodore Roosevelt National Park you’ll have plenty of opportunity to observe a variety of bird species.
Be sure to bring your binoculars! Here you may observe Black-capped Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Great-horned Owls, Golden Eagles, Prairie Falcons, American Wigeon, Mountain Bluebirds, American Redstarts, Black-billed Magpies, Cooper’s Hawks, Bald Eagles, Sharp-tailed Grouse, and Wild Turkeys. A variety of goldfinches, robins, sparrows, kingfishers, terns, and warblers have also been observed within this part of the North Dakota Badlands.
Nature and Wildlife at Sully Creek State Park
The beautiful surrounding rustic landscape that makes up the North Dakota Badlands contains rocky terrain, hills, shrubs, and mixed grasslands. It creates a perfect protective habitat for a variety of wildlife. The Yucca, Prickly Pear Cactus and Gumbo Lily plants may be observed throughout the park.
While exploring this serene area you may also get a chance to see deer, rabbits, elk, bison, wild horses, prairie dogs, and Bighorn Sheep. Keep a close eye out! Rattlesnakes and other potentially dangerous creatures also live within this protective area.
Pets
Pets are allowed inside Sully Creek State Park as long as they are supervised and kept on a leash.
Camping
Spend a few peaceful nights under the stars surrounded by North Dakota’s rustic Badlands. This area inside and around Sully Creek State Park offers a true backcountry camping experience.
For guests interested in staying overnight, the park offers 10 campsites with electricity, 6 equestrian campsites with electricity, 12 primitive campsites, 10 group equestrian sites with electricity, and 2 primitive group campsites. All campsites have a picnic table and fire ring and access to vault toilets and drinking water. Water hydrants are located near the park entrance. Corral access is available at the equestrian sites.
Park Location
Sully Creek State Park
1465 36th St
Medora, ND 58645
Phone: 701.623.2024
Map
Video
Here is a short YouTube video with some drone footage of Sully Creek State Park:
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