Theodore Roosevelt National Park Virtual Tour - North Dakota Badlands
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
(The North Dakota Badlands)
"I never would have been President if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota" - Theodore Roosevelt
Welcome
to Theodore Roosevelt National Park...
The Badlands...some call it "The Land God Forgot", others call it one of the most mysterious and beautiful places on Earth, still others liken its rugged terrain and awe inspiring rock formations to a lunar landscape.
No matter what one sees in the Badlands, one thing is for certain...
"This broken country has been called always, by Indians, French voyagers, and American trappers alike, the Bad Lands." - Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt National Park,
North Dakota's #1 tourist attraction, is a
70,446 acre park located in west central North Dakota. Collectively known as the "Badlands", the park is separated
into three separate and distinct units: the South Unit, the North Unit, and the
remotely primitive Elkhorn Ranch Unit. The North and South Units are
approximately 70 miles apart, with the Elkhorn Ranch Unit located in between.
The South Unit
The North Unit
The Theodore Roosevelt Connection
The Wild Buffalo Herds and other Wildlife
Complete list of wildlife viewable at Theodore Roosevelt National Park:
The South Unit features a 36 mile scenic drive and is anchored by the old west town of Medora.
Here visitors can take in a western themed musical, visit Teddy Roosevelt's
cabin, play a round of golf on the beautiful Bully Pulpit Golf Course, tour the
Chateau De Mores - a 27 room mansion built in 1884, among so many other sites
and activities.
The North Unit, located near Watford City, features a 15 mile scenic drive with many turnouts and interpretive signs along the way.
A highlight of the North Unit is the awe inspiring panoramic view at
River Bend Overlook.
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, America's 26th President, first arrived in the North Dakota Badlands in 1883 on a big game hunting trip. Here he established two cattle ranches: the Maltese Cross Ranch and the Elkhorn Ranch.
Teddy's cabin still survives and is open for viewing at the Medora Visitors Center.
The buffalo (Bison) is the largest mammal, and some say the most ferocious, on the North American continent. A full grown bull can weigh over 2,000 pounds and stand more than 6 feet tall at the shoulder. They can run up to 35 miles per hour and turn faster than a horse.
300 of these magnificent beasts roam free in the South Unit and 100 roam free in the North Unit. It is not uncommon for a buffalo to hold up traffic as it slowly walks across a roadway. Warning: Buffalo are wild animals
and can be extremely dangerous. It is best to view these animals from a distance.
• Badgers
• Beavers
• Birds (over 180 different species)
• Bison (Buffalo)
• Bobcats
• Coyotes
• Eagles (Bald and Golden)
• Elk (South Unit only)
• Longhorn Steers (North Unit only)
• Mule Deer
• Porcupines
• Prairie Dogs (large towns in South Unit)
• Pronghorn Antelope
• Snakes (including the poisonous Prairie Rattlesnake)
• White-tailed Deer
• Wild Horses (eastern section of the South Unit only)
Park Features...
• 70,446 Acres
• Awe inspiring views
• Medora - an Old West town
• Teddy Roosevelt's Cabin
• Chateau De Mores - 27 room mansion built in 1884
• Medora Musical - western themed musical
• Bully Pulpit Golf Course - 18 scenic holes set in the ruggedly beautiful Badlands
• Wild Buffalo Herds
• Wildlife Viewing
• Maah Daah Hey Trail - world class 96 mile Mountain Bike Trail
• Visitor Centers
• Hiking and Nature Trails
• Interpretive Trails and Tours
• Horseback Tours
• Camping
