This loop is located in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It is sometimes referred to as the East Loop and offers more solitude than the loop formed by the Lower Talkington and Lower Paddock trails. The Upper Talkington Trail gains elevation going east until it climbs up onto the rim. This part of the loop is mostly dry and has spectacular sandstone and clay formations. You then run along the rim for about 1 ½ miles before heading back into the rock formations on the Upper Paddock Creek trail. The Paddock Creek trail can be wet and muddy in places. There are a few steep drop offs.

Kaikoma is a classic mountain climbed regarded as one of the most difficult in terms of ascent (about 2000m vert) the loop down to Hinata , first it requires a steep descent towards Nokogiri. There is a junction on the ridge line which leads to Eboshi.. here the trail is not that well marked but if one continues past this peak there are signs of a trail down towards Hinata and the completion of the loop. There is no water available after Kaikoma, so hikers/runners should bring enough.

This is one of the more popular loops in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. On some signs you will see it referred to simply as the West Loop. It roughly follows Jones Creek on the north and Paddock Creek on the south. As you leave the Little Missouri River you gradually ascend, passing incredible badlands formations in the sandstone, siltstone, mudstone and clay. In places the trail passes directly through prairie dog towns. You will also likely see wild horses, bison and mule deer.