Theodore Roosevelt National Park is, in and of itself, an incredible destination. At 70,446 acres in size, it’s nothing to shake a stick at – but it is, indeed, an amazing backdrop for your next adventure (or the next several adventures, if we’re being real here). Take, for example, the iconic hiking trail in North Dakota called the Coal Vein Trail. It’s short, sweet, to the point, and absolutely jaw-dropping – a destination within a destination. While open year-round, I personally think the best time to hike this one is in spring and summer, when everything’s lush and green – trust me, you’ll lose your mind as much as I did at how wondrous it all is.

Geologically speaking, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a tour de force of natural wonder.
Jill McElvy/AllTrails
The geology of the entire region is rich and intriguing, painting a picture of a tale millions of years in the making.
It's not even overly long - it's just over a half-mile in length, though I definitely encourage as many stops along the way as possible to really, REALLY take it all in.
Kay Hull/AllTrails
...and there's PLENTY to take in.
During the warmer months, expect throngs of wildflowers as far as the eye can see.
Beckylynn Noel/AllTrails
Honestly, I could spend hours here just... watching. Breathing. Living. North Dakota is among the most beautiful places in the nation, and it's so tragically underrated that sometimes I could cry.

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Folks really, truly don't know what they're missing.
April Stephens/AllTrails
But for those of us in on the whole thing, we know that the outdoors 'round here is THE place to be. Sure, shopping or eating is fun - but I'd personally rather be outdoors given the choice every time.
Once upon a time, what seemed like an eternal flame burned here.
Nancy Glazer/AllTrails
It was a coal-seam fire that burned for 26 years, from the 1950s until the 1970s. A coal-seam fire is a natural coal vein underground that catches fire somehow. These methods of combustion can be anything from lightning strikes to natural chemical processes underground, and putting one out is nigh on impossible. It's a natural process, but it's not great for the surrounding ecosystem (or any towns that might be nearby or directly above it).
This particular coal-seam fire burned itself out in 1977.
April Stephens/AllTrails
Now, it's a stunningly beautiful, incredibly rich landscape filled from top to bottom with natural wonders and sheer awe. Despite its short length, this is one of the best hikes in North Dakota.

Do you plan on hitting this hiking trail in North Dakota – or maybe you’re planning on hiking all the trails? You can step your hiking game up by checking out AllTrails Plus – I’m not sure how I ever hiked without it. If you need more inspiration, check out our epic list of the 18 best hikes in North Dakota. What are your all-time favorite trails in our beautiful state? Let me know.

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Coal Vein Nature Trail, Belfield, ND 58622, USA