Boicourt Trail is a short hike in the south section of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We liked this hike because it was flat, easy, and led to a really nice viewpoint of the park. However, there were a few steep drops, though none of them were so close to the trail as to be scary dangerous. Still, keep your little ones back from the edge if you are attempting to make it the half mile to the point (roundtrip).
There is a large parking lot at the Boicourt Trailhead, and the first one hundred yards are paved. It ends at a bench looking out across the valley. There are beautifully colored layers below as you gaze down from the bench on the top of the butte. This is a great trail for those who have wheels, but want to enjoy the views. You will have beautiful views from the bench.
A foot trail continues on from the bench along the Boicourt Trail. It is narrow, but not particularly close to the edge. It follows along the rim of the butte, and there are some great places to take pictures. Eventually, you come to a point that is the final destination. A ghost trail leads down a little further, but there is no need to continue.
From the point you get about a 345 degree view of the valley below the butte. It is like standing on the tip of the last piece of pie in a giant pie pan and looking all around you. It is not as dangerous as it sounds. The butte is not that steep in most places, but it is a really unique way to look out over Theodore Roosevelt National Park. From that point we could see both feral horses and the bison that make the park famous.
This hike will only take about 30 minutes roundtrip, including time to catch your breath at the end. The total distance is 0.8 miles roundtrip. The Boicourt Trail in Theodore Roosevelt National Park is easy and very enjoyable for families. For other hikes in this national park, check out our Theodore Roosevelt National Park Kid Hikes.
