315 Second Ave, PO Box 7, Medora, ND 58645-0007
Phone: 701-623-4466
Fax: 701-623-4840
Open All Year
Overview. The 70,000-acre Theodore Roosevelt National Park was named to honor President Roosevelt's visionary conservation efforts, his love of nature, and his key role in efforts to establish a national park system. Roosevelt had been sickly as a child, and as a young man he was dedicated to challenging himself and to building his physical health and strength. He spent a great deal of time in the badlands building his own ranch, Elkhorn, here in the 1880s. Although this desolate area is named "the badlands," the name belies the large variety of plants and animals that call this place of open grasslands and barren rock home. In spring, acres of colorful wildflowers cover the prairie, and more than 180 species of songbirds fill the air with their voices. Mule deer graze on the open plains with elk, bison herds, and wild horses, while whitetail deer find refuge in the woodlands. Feisty prairie dogs build their underground network of dens beneath the grasslands. Rattlesnakes and other reptiles may also be seen. Multicolored corrugated cliffs and domes add an austere beauty to the landscape, and nature shows its awesome power here on occasion with violent storms and high winds that can build very quickly. What to see and do. The park is divided into three units: North, South, and Elkhorn Ranch site. The Elkhorn Ranch was Roosevelt's second home in the badlands. The North Unit is considered to be the more rugged and isolated. Its vibrant colors and lush vegetation receive fewer visitors, especially off-season. If you only have one day to spend at the North Unit, stop by the visitors center to pick up maps and guide books or chat with a ranger about how best to plan your visit. A 14-mile scenic drive starts at the center, leads west into the park, and takes you past the Longhorn Pullout and the Buckhorn Trail Loop where you can get out and hike. Other trailheads along this route include Little Mo Nature Trail, Caprock Coulee Nature Trail, and Achenbach Trail, where you'll see the Little Missouri River, dry gulches, prairie dog towns, and river woodlands. A lookout at the South Unit's Painted Canyon Visitor Center gives visitors a spectacular view of the surrounding area with its rolling hills and colors. A 36-mile loop road leads you to several overlooks and hiking trails. You can also see historic buildings including the Peaceful Valley Ranch, which was a cattle and horse ranch during the late 1800s and now provides trails rides between May and October. Cottonwood Campground in the park's South Unit and Squaw Creek Campground in the park's North Unit together offer a total of 130 sites available on a 14-day first-come, first-served basis. No showers or hookups are provided, but there are both tent and RV sites. All individual campsites are first-come, first-served. Group campgrounds are also available and require reservations. Horse camping and backcountry camping are also available. Note: rattlesnakes and black widow spiders are common to certain areas, so pay attention along hiking trails. Bison do occasionally attack if provoked, and prairie dog bites can be severe. Do not approach or feed prairie dogs. Pets: Leashed pets are permitted but not in backcountry areas. Fees: A nominal fee is charged for day-use of the park.
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Bird Watching |
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Cross-country Skiing |
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Fishing |
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Geological Sites |
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Gift Shop |
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Guided Tours |
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Hiking/Nature Trails |
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Historic Sites |
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Horse Trails |
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Museum/Exhibits |
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Non-motor Boating |
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Picnic Sites |
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Programs/Talks |
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Self-guided Tours |
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Snowmobiling |
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Visitor Center |
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Wildflower Viewing |
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Wildlife Viewing |
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Please call ahead to confirm details. We do our best to give you current information, but facts can change. Please let us know if you find something's changed.
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