North Dakota · Hiking

Achenbach Trail

Achenbach TrailPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
10.3 mi
round trip
3,324 ft
climb
2,620 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Achenbach Trail open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

As of · Source: NPS · Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The Achenbach Trail is a 10.27-mile out-and-back hike in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, managed by the National Park Service. The route is rated expert, and the round trip climbs about 3,324 feet, with the high point at 2,620 feet and the low at 1,946 feet. The trail is rolling, and the steepest stretch comes at about 8.4 miles, with a grade of 22 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Watford City show July highs around 85°F with lows near 56°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. The trail is about 20.5 miles long, and the estimated time is 8.5 hours. A fee is charged. Nearby, the Caprock Coulee Trail and the North Achenbach Trail are both within about 3.5 miles. Ccc Campground and Bennett Campground are within 9 miles.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Achenbach Trail

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      24° / 2°

    2. Feb

      30° / 6°

    3. Mar

      42° / 18°

    4. Apr

      56° / 30°

    5. May

      67° / 40°

    6. Jun

      76° / 50°

    7. Jul

      85° / 56°

    8. Aug

      84° / 54°

    9. Sep

      74° / 43°

    10. Oct

      57° / 31°

    11. Nov

      41° / 18°

    12. Dec

      28° / 6°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Watford City 14s, ND, 8.6 mi away at 2,027 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Caprock Coulee TrailPhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Caprock Coulee Trail

~5 min drive

2.65-mile out-and-back hike in North Dakota's Caprock Coulee with 440 ft elevation gain.

Caprock Coulee TrailPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Caprock Coulee Trail

~6 min drive

0.35-mile out-and-back hike in North Dakota with 159 ft of elevation gain.

North Achenbach TrailPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

North Achenbach Trail

~6 min drive

5.53-mile out-and-back trail in North Dakota with 822 ft gain.

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EN (Eagle's Nest) Trail

~56 min drive

5.55-mile out-and-back trail in North Dakota with 1,237 ft elevation gain.

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Caprock Coulee Trailhead

~7 min drive

The Caprock Coulee Nature Trail is a 0.8 mile section of the Caprock Coulee Trail in the park's North Unit. The nature trail trail shows the natural and geologic variety of the badlands. It also provides a rare look at a densely wooded area of the park. When you reach the…

Little Missouri Nature TrailPhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Little Missouri Nature Trail

~9 min drive

0.6-mile out-and-back trail along the Little Missouri River in North Dakota.

Buckhorn TrailPhoto: MDuchek, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Buckhorn Trail

~11 min drive

11.23-mile out-and-back trail through North Dakota badlands and prairie.

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TX (Texas) Trail

~1h drive

6.99-mile out-and-back trail in North Dakota with 908 ft gain.

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Ice Caves

~34 min drive

3.04-mile out-and-back trail in North Dakota with 388 ft elevation gain

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Elkhorn Ranch Trailhead

~46 min drive

This is the trail head that leads to the spot where Theodore Roosevelt's Elkhorn Ranch once stood. The .7 mile trail weaves through cottonwood trees to the banks of the Little Missouri River where the cabin's foundation stones remain.

Route details

Distance
10.3 mi round trip
Climbing
About 3,324 ft
Summit
2,542 ft
Difficulty
Expert
Time
About 4 hours

Questions about this route

How long is the Achenbach Trail on Sperati Point?

About 10.3 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Achenbach Trail?

About 3,324 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Achenbach Trail?

It is rated expert.

How long does the Achenbach Trail take?

About 4 hours round trip.

Conditions and forecast on Sperati Point

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors