Jones Creek Trail

Overview

Set in the South Unit badlands, Jones Creek Trail is a gentle, wildlife-forward hike that follows its namesake creek through sagebrush flats, prairie grasses, and pockets of cottonwoods. It runs 3.5 miles one way and is most often done as a 7.0-mile out-and-back (about 2 hours 25 minutes), with roughly 419 feet of total elevation gain. It’s a longer walk but generally not strenuous, making it approachable for a range of hikers.

Route and Options

The path connects two signed trailheads on the Scenic Loop Drive and tracks the creek bottom with occasional bank climbs and dry wash/seasonal channel crossings. It intersects the Roundup Trail and Lower Talkington Trail, so you can turn this into a creative loop or shuttle between ends. For a bigger day, there’s a well-known combination using Jones/Lower Talkington/Lower Paddock that pushes the mileage into true day-hike territory.

Scenery and Wildlife

Expect classic badlands views—rolling grassy uplands and eroded slopes framing a cottonwood-lined creek corridor. A prairie dog town adds guaranteed entertainment. This is prime wildlife country: hikers frequently encounter bison and wild horses, and birders can watch for red-tailed hawks, western meadowlarks, and even mountain bluebirds. You may see snakes, and very rarely, a mountain lion has been reported near the trailhead—be aware and give all wildlife ample space.

Trail Conditions and Difficulty

Grades are mostly mellow and the tread is natural and occasionally sandy or muddy after rain. Sections follow or cross the creek and washes; expect a few short, steeper embankments but nothing technical. Shade is limited, which can make warm days feel hotter than the stats suggest. Bugs can be pesky in season—repellent helps. Overall difficulty lands in the easy-to-moderate range, and many families find it manageable.

Geology

You’re walking through the park’s colorful badlands carved into Paleocene sediments—the Bullion Creek Formation (yellowish-brown sandstone, siltstone, mudstone) topped by the Sentinel Butte Formation (grayish-brown layers with tuff and bentonite). Quaternary deposits—upland gravels, pediments, landslides, and alluvium—tell the story of ongoing erosion shaping the landscape you see from the trail.

Best Time to Hike

Spring through fall is the sweet spot. Start early to beat heat and sun exposure, especially in mid-summer. After rain, expect sticky mud and slower travel. Wildlife is active near dawn and dusk, but if animals are on the trail, patience (and sometimes turning around) is the right call.

Tips and Safety

• Give bison and wild horses a very wide berth; never try to pass closely. If a herd is on the trail, wait it out or turn around.
• Limited shade—bring sun protection and plenty of water. Bug spray is smart in warmer months.
• Watch footing at creek/wash crossings and after rain.
• Yield to horseback riders. Pets are not allowed on trails in this park.
• Junctions are signed at the ends and at major intersections, but a map helps if you’re linking trails.