Theodore Roosevelt National Park CCC Road – South Unit

The old CCC Road splits off from the scenic drive near the visitor center and immediately drops into a landscape that hasn’t changed since Roosevelt rode through in 1883. Built by Depression-era work crews, this rough track winds through painted canyons and juniper breaks where wild horses still roam free. The route dead-ends at an overlook above the Little Missouri River, but getting there means navigating washouts, loose shale, and grades that’ll make you grateful for low range.

This is technical driving disguised as a National Park road – don’t let the official designation fool you. High-clearance 4WD is mandatory, and experienced drivers will still scrape undercarriage on the embedded rocks. Summer heat turns the badlands into an oven, so spring and fall are your best bet. No camping allowed, but the solitude is worth the day trip. You’ll share the road with exactly nobody and finish with a newfound respect for the men who carved this route by hand during the worst economic collapse in American history.