Jones/Lower Talkington/Lower Paddock Loop

This is the South Unit's big loop — the one that earns you bragging rights at the campground. You'll string together three creek drainages into a roughly half-day circuit through some of the most remote badlands terrain most visitors never bother to see. The route drops into Jones Creek's cottonwood-lined bottom, traverses exposed ridgelines with sweeping views of eroded buttes and hoodoos, then threads through Lower Paddock Creek where bison herds often graze unbothered by humans. The trail surface alternates between packed dirt, loose scoria, and creek crossings that can range from bone-dry to ankle-deep depending on recent rain. Navigation requires attention — junctions aren't always obvious and social trails can mislead. This loop rewards hikers who want Theodore Roosevelt's landscape on its own terms, without the drive-by crowds at the scenic overlooks.