Why Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park spans 70,446 acres in the badlands of western North Dakota. As the only American national park named after a single person, it honors the former United States President who lived and ranched in the region during the late nineteenth century. The park is divided into three separate sections: the South Unit, the North Unit, and the Elkhorn Ranch Unit. The Little Missouri River flows through all three areas, while the Maah Daah Hey Trail connects them across the surrounding Great Plains landscape.
The park's history is deeply connected to Theodore Roosevelt, who first visited in September 1883 to hunt bison before purchasing an interest in the Maltese Cross Ranch. Following the loss of his wife and mother on February 14, 1884, he returned seeking solace and established his second property, the Elkhorn Ranch. His adventures and agricultural losses in the West directly influenced his conservation policies during his presidency from 1901 to 1909. Early park infrastructure was constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps camps between 1934 and 1941. The area was designated as a National Memorial Park in the late 1940s before receiving national park status in 1978.
Geographically, the larger South Unit lies along Interstate 94 beside the town of Medora. Located eighty miles to the north on U.S. Route 85, the North Unit sits just south of Watford City. The remote Elkhorn Ranch Unit is situated in between, accessible via gravel roads, where visitors can view the preserved foundations of Roosevelt's home. Over a third of the park is preserved as protected wilderness across two separate sections, safeguarding steep erosional badlands cliffs, native grasslands, and river ecosystems.
Visitors can explore both primary units along scenic driving routes or utilize roughly 100 miles of foot and horse trails. Overnight accommodations include backcountry camping with a permit, as well as three developed sites: Juniper Campground in the North Unit, alongside Cottonwood Campground and the Roundup Group Horse Campground in the South Unit. The South Unit Visitor Center features a museum and Roosevelt's historic Maltese Cross Cabin. Just outside the park, the gateway town of Medora features wooden sidewalks, ice cream parlors, museums, and nightly outdoor musical theater performances from early June to early September.
The park protects abundant Great Plains wildlife, including managed populations of bison, wild horses, elk, and longhorn cattle, alongside native species such as pronghorn, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, cougars, and nearly two hundred bird species. Operating within a cold semi-arid climate, the terrain transforms from vibrant green vegetation and blooming wildflowers in early summer to dormant brown grasses in late summer, followed by snowy winters. Dark night skies also afford exceptional opportunities for stargazing and viewing the northern lights.
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