Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Hiking on Painted Canyon Trail in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota | Haeree Park

Theodore Roosevelt National Park protects some of the most dramatic badlands scenery in the northern Great Plains, where the Little Missouri River winds through colorful buttes, grasslands, cottonwood bottoms, and deeply eroded ravines. Located in western North Dakota, the park is divided into three separate areas: the South Unit, North Unit, and remote Elkhorn Ranch Unit.

The landscape feels both open and rugged. Bison wander across prairie ridges, prairie dogs call from sprawling colonies, pronghorn move through the grasslands, and layers of gray, tan, red, and gold rock create constantly changing patterns across the badlands. The park is also closely connected with the life of Theodore Roosevelt, who first came to Dakota Territory in 1883 and later credited his experiences here with helping shape the conservation ideals that followed him into the presidency.

For travelers, Theodore Roosevelt National Park combines scenic driving, excellent wildlife watching, short hikes, wilderness trails, historic ranch sites, and some of the quietest landscapes in the national park system. It is a park worth exploring slowly rather than simply passing through on Interstate 94.

⚡ Theodore Roosevelt National Park Fast Facts


Location	Western North Dakota
Established as National Memorial Park	1947
Redesignated as National Park	1978
Total Area	About 70,447 acres
Main Units	South Unit, North Unit, Elkhorn Ranch Unit
Main Gateway	Medora, North Dakota
Primary River	Little Missouri River
Known For	Badlands, bison, prairie dogs, wildlife, Theodore Roosevelt history
South Unit Scenic Drive	About 36 miles
North Unit Scenic Drive	14 miles one way
Best Time to Visit	Late spring through fall
Entrance Fee	Required
Timed Entry Reservation	Not required

The South and North Units are separated by roughly an hour of driving, so visitors should resist the temptation to think of them as neighboring sections that can be moved between instantly. Each deserves its own time.

🏜️ The North Dakota Badlands

Theodore Roosevelt National Park protects a landscape created largely through erosion.

Millions of years ago, layers of sediment accumulated across this region from rivers, floodplains, volcanic ash, forests, and other environments. Over time, those materials hardened into sedimentary rock.

The Little Missouri River and its tributaries gradually carved through those layers, while rain, snow, frost, wind, and gravity continued wearing away the softer rock.

The result is the broken terrain known as badlands.

Steep slopes, narrow gullies, flat-topped buttes, ridges, ravines, and exposed bands of rock create a landscape that looks especially dramatic when low morning or evening sunlight brings out the relief.

The badlands continue changing today. Erosion removes material from slopes, river channels shift, and rockfalls can alter trails and roads.

That constant change is part of what gives the park its distinctive appearance.

Summer in the Badlands of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota | Orchid Lady

🔥 Red Clinker and Burning Coal Seams

Some of the brightest colors in Theodore Roosevelt National Park come from red rock known locally as clinker.

Coal seams occur within some of the park’s sedimentary layers. When coal is ignited by lightning, wildfires, or other natural causes, it can burn underground for long periods.

The heat bakes surrounding rock until it becomes hard, red, orange, or pink.

Because this baked material is more resistant to erosion than many neighboring layers, clinker often caps ridges and buttes after softer rock has worn away.

The result is one of the park’s most recognizable geological features: bright reddish bands standing above gray and tan badlands slopes.

🌊 The Little Missouri River

The Little Missouri River flows through all three units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and has played an enormous role in shaping the landscape.

The river continually changes course as it erodes one bank and deposits sediment along another. During spring runoff or heavy storms, water levels can rise dramatically. During dry summer periods, the same river may become shallow and muddy.

Cottonwood forests grow along portions of the floodplain, creating ribbons of green beneath otherwise dry grasslands and badlands.

These river bottoms provide important habitat for wildlife and offer cooler, more sheltered environments than the exposed uplands.

For Theodore Roosevelt, the Little Missouri also served as a natural corridor connecting the ranching communities and landscapes where he spent some of the most important years of his early adulthood.

🤠 Theodore Roosevelt Comes to Dakota Territory

Theodore Roosevelt first arrived in Dakota Territory in September 1883.

At the time, he was a 24-year-old New York politician and avid outdoorsman who had traveled west primarily to hunt bison.

The trip changed the direction of his life.

Roosevelt became fascinated with the badlands and the cattle-ranching culture developing along the Little Missouri River. Before returning east, he invested in the Chimney Butte Ranch, better known as the Maltese Cross Ranch.

Several months later, tragedy transformed his connection with the region.

On February 14, 1884, Roosevelt’s wife Alice and his mother Mittie died on the same day. Grieving deeply, Roosevelt returned to Dakota Territory and threw himself into ranching, hunting, riding, and the physical demands of western life.

He soon established a second and more remote operation, the Elkhorn Ranch.

Roosevelt never became a permanent North Dakota resident, but he returned repeatedly over the following years. His experiences with wildlife, ranching, drought, overgrazing, and the rapid disappearance of natural resources helped deepen ideas about conservation that later became central to his presidency.

🏠 Maltese Cross Cabin

One of the most tangible connections with Roosevelt’s time in North Dakota stands beside the South Unit Visitor Center.

The Maltese Cross Cabin was constructed for Roosevelt’s use at his first cattle operation, the Chimney Butte Ranch. Built from ponderosa pine logs, the cabin was considerably more comfortable than many frontier dwellings of the period.

It contained separate living, kitchen, and sleeping spaces, along with an upstairs loft.

Roosevelt stayed here periodically while participating in cattle roundups, hunting trips, and ranch operations.

The cabin was moved several times after Roosevelt’s ranching years, including appearances at major expositions, before eventually returning to the park.

Visitors can now see the restored cabin behind the South Unit Visitor Center in Medora.

For anyone interested in Roosevelt’s life, it is one of the most worthwhile historical stops in the park.

🌾 Elkhorn Ranch

Roosevelt’s second ranch was considerably more remote.

In 1884, he selected a site along the Little Missouri River approximately 35 miles north of Medora and named it the Elkhorn Ranch.

The ranch house was larger than the Maltese Cross Cabin and became what Roosevelt described as his home ranch.

Here he found the isolation he was seeking.

The original ranch house no longer survives, but foundation stones remain at the site. Cottonwoods grow nearby, and the Little Missouri continues flowing through a landscape that remains far quieter than the busy South Unit.

Reaching the Elkhorn Ranch Unit requires driving gravel roads, and the final portion can become difficult after rain or during winter conditions.

That relative isolation is part of its character.

Visitors who make the trip encounter less of a reconstructed historic attraction and more of a landscape—the place where Roosevelt rode, wrote, thought, grieved, and developed an enduring attachment to the American West.

🏛️ Theodore Roosevelt and Conservation

Roosevelt’s conservation record as president became one of the defining parts of his legacy.

During his presidency, he used federal authority to protect millions of acres through national forests, wildlife refuges, national monuments, and other conservation measures.

It would be an oversimplification to say that all of those ideas began in North Dakota, but Roosevelt himself repeatedly emphasized the importance of his western experiences.

He had witnessed bison decline, overgrazing, harsh winters, drought, and the consequences of treating wildlife and land as unlimited resources.

The conservation philosophy that emerged from those experiences combined hunting, wildlife management, forestry, public lands, and the idea that natural resources should be protected for future generations rather than exhausted for short-term gain.

The national park bearing Roosevelt’s name therefore protects more than scenery. It preserves one of the landscapes most closely associated with his transformation from young rancher into one of America’s most influential conservation presidents.

🚗 South Unit

The South Unit is the most visited portion of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the easiest to reach.

Its entrance lies directly beside the town of Medora and Interstate 94, making it particularly convenient for travelers crossing western North Dakota.

A scenic loop road winds through the badlands, providing access to overlooks, hiking trails, prairie dog towns, wildlife habitat, and Cottonwood Campground.

The South Unit also contains the park’s largest concentration of visitor services and historical interpretation.

For most first-time visitors, this is the logical place to begin.

🛣️ South Unit Scenic Loop Drive

The South Unit’s scenic drive extends approximately 36 miles through the heart of the badlands.

Visitors should allow at least two hours simply for driving and overlooks, and considerably longer if they plan to hike or spend time watching wildlife.

The route climbs and descends through colorful terrain, crosses prairie grasslands, passes several prairie dog towns, and provides frequent opportunities to see bison.

Because wildlife often walks directly onto the road, travel can occasionally slow to a crawl.

That should be treated as part of the experience rather than an inconvenience.

Pullouts and overlooks provide changing perspectives across the badlands, and several of the park’s most enjoyable short hikes begin directly from the road.

🎨 Painted Canyon

Painted Canyon provides one of the most accessible panoramic views in the entire park.

The overlook is located beside Interstate 94 east of Medora, making it possible to see the badlands even without completing the full scenic drive.

Layered buttes stretch across the horizon in shades of gray, cream, brown, red, and gold.

Morning and evening light often intensify those colors while shadows emphasize the maze of gullies and ridges.

The Painted Canyon Nature Trail descends from the rim for visitors who want a closer look at the terrain.

Bison also occasionally wander near the visitor area, so wildlife awareness remains important even around parking lots and developed overlooks.

🌬️ Wind Canyon Trail

The Wind Canyon Trail is one of the best short walks in the South Unit.

The roughly half-mile route follows a ridge overlooking a sweeping bend of the Little Missouri River.

Despite its short distance, the views are exceptional.

Badlands rise from one side of the trail while the river and broad floodplain spread out below.

Late afternoon and sunset can be particularly beautiful because the overlook faces across an open western landscape.

The trail includes exposed edges and uneven ground, so visitors should still watch their footing despite the short distance.

⛰️ Buck Hill

Buck Hill provides another excellent viewpoint with very little walking.

A short trail leads from the parking area toward one of the highest readily accessible points in the South Unit.

From the top, visitors can look across miles of badlands and prairie.

The open ridge can be extremely windy, and thunderstorms are dangerous because there is little shelter.

On clear days, however, the broad views make Buck Hill one of the easiest ways to understand the immense scale of the surrounding landscape.

🪵 Petrified Forest

One of the South Unit’s quieter hiking areas contains impressive deposits of petrified wood.

Long before the modern Great Plains existed, forests grew within this region. Trees were buried by sediment and volcanic material, and mineral-rich groundwater gradually replaced organic tissue while preserving the structure of the wood.

Today, sections of petrified logs lie exposed where erosion has removed the surrounding sediment.

The Petrified Forest Trail reaches areas containing some of the park’s largest concentrations.

This is a longer hike than most roadside nature trails and crosses exposed badlands terrain with little shade.

Visitors should leave all petrified wood exactly where they find it. Collecting natural objects from a national park is prohibited.

🦬 Bison in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Bison are among the park’s most visible and impressive animals.

The species had disappeared from this part of North Dakota by the time the park was created. Reintroduction efforts beginning during the 1950s restored bison to the South Unit, and animals were later moved to establish a herd in the North Unit.

Today, both units support managed bison populations.

Visitors frequently encounter animals along scenic roads, near prairie dog towns, and across open grasslands.

A bison standing quietly beside a road may look slow and harmless, but that impression is dangerously misleading. Bison can run much faster than a human and can react quickly when they feel crowded.

Stay at least 25 yards away and farther whenever possible.

If bison are blocking the road, remain in your vehicle and wait for them to move.

🐎 Horses of the South Unit

Bands of free-roaming horses are another familiar sight within the South Unit.

These horses descend from domestic livestock associated with ranching history rather than representing a native wild-horse species, but they have become strongly associated with the park’s modern landscape.

Visitors may see small bands grazing on ridges, moving through valleys, or gathering near water sources.

Young foals are particularly visible during spring and early summer.

As with bison, horses should be observed from a distance.

They are not tame animals simply because they are accustomed to seeing vehicles.

For a closer look at their history and appearance, see The Majestic Wild Horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

🐿️ Prairie Dog Towns

Black-tailed prairie dogs are among the park’s most entertaining animals.

They live in large colonies known as towns, where interconnected burrow systems spread beneath areas of closely cropped grass.

Visitors frequently hear prairie dogs before noticing them.

Their sharp warning calls travel across the colony whenever people, bison, coyotes, hawks, or other potential threats approach.

Prairie dogs are considered an important part of the grassland ecosystem. Their digging aerates soil, their grazing changes vegetation patterns, and their colonies provide habitat and food for numerous other species.

Do not feed them.

Besides disrupting natural behavior, close contact with prairie dogs and their fleas can expose visitors to disease.

🦌 Other Wildlife

Theodore Roosevelt National Park supports an impressive variety of Great Plains wildlife.

Pronghorn move across open grasslands and are among the fastest land mammals in North America.

Mule deer and white-tailed deer are both found within the park, while elk may be encountered in less disturbed areas.

Bighorn sheep inhabit rugged terrain and can sometimes be seen along steep cliffs and ridges.

Coyotes are common but often easier to hear than see. Badgers hunt around prairie dog colonies, while porcupines, bobcats, rabbits, and numerous small mammals occupy different habitats.

Golden eagles and bald eagles soar above the badlands, and western meadowlarks provide one of the characteristic sounds of the grasslands.

For the best wildlife watching, drive slowly during early morning or evening and carry binoculars.

🌾 Grasslands and Prairie Ecology

Grassland is the most extensive habitat within Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

The landscape may appear sparse during dry periods, but the prairie contains an impressive diversity of grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, insects, birds, and grazing mammals.

Western wheatgrass, needle-and-thread, little bluestem, and other grasses survive with limited rainfall and harsh temperature swings.

Bison, elk, deer, pronghorn, horses, and prairie dogs all depend on these plant communities.

Fire also plays an important ecological role.

Periodic natural and prescribed fires reduce woody vegetation, recycle nutrients, and encourage fresh grass and wildflower growth.

Without disturbance from grazing, fire, drought, and burrowing animals, the prairie would function very differently.

🌳 Cottonwood Forests

Along the Little Missouri River, the dry badlands suddenly give way to stands of cottonwood.

These trees depend on the shifting river system. Floods expose fresh sediment where young cottonwoods can establish, while older trees eventually form shady groves along the floodplain.

Cottonwood areas provide important habitat for birds, deer, insects, and other wildlife.

They are also some of the most pleasant places to camp during summer.

Both Cottonwood Campground in the South Unit and Juniper Campground in the North Unit lie close to the river environment, creating a striking contrast between shady campsites and the exposed badlands nearby.

🌄 North Unit

The North Unit lies approximately 68 road miles from the South Unit and feels considerably quieter.

Its entrance is located along U.S. Highway 85 south of Watford City.

Badlands in this part of the park often appear steeper and more rugged, while designated wilderness covers much of the unit.

The North Unit has its own visitor center, campground, hiking trails, overlooks, wildlife, and scenic road.

Travelers with enough time should visit both units rather than treating the North Unit as an optional duplicate of the South.

The scenery has a different character, visitation is generally lower, and some overlooks rank among the finest in the entire park.

🚗 North Unit Scenic Drive

The North Unit scenic road extends approximately 14 miles from the entrance to Oxbow Overlook.

Because the road ends rather than forming a loop, the complete outing is about 28 miles round trip.

The route initially travels near the Little Missouri River before climbing toward the badlands rim.

Wildlife sightings are common, and bison frequently appear beside or directly on the road.

Allow at least 90 minutes for the drive without hiking, although two or three hours is more realistic if you plan to stop at viewpoints.

🌄 River Bend Overlook

River Bend Overlook is one of the classic viewpoints in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

A short walk leads to a stone shelter constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s.

From the overlook, visitors look across sweeping badlands carved by the Little Missouri River.

The combination of layered buttes, river valley, historic stone architecture, and expansive sky makes this one of the park’s most photogenic locations.

Sunrise and late afternoon are especially beautiful when angled light emphasizes the relief of the landscape.

🔭 Oxbow Overlook

The scenic road ends at Oxbow Overlook, another of the North Unit’s defining viewpoints.

Here, the Little Missouri River makes a dramatic bend beneath broad badlands ridges.

The river once followed a different route toward the north, but Ice Age glaciers altered regional drainage patterns and helped redirect it eastward.

The overlook also provides access to longer hiking routes for visitors wanting to move beyond roadside viewpoints.

Even without hiking, Oxbow is worth the full drive.

The broad panorama gives a strong sense of the solitude that defines the North Unit.

🥾 Caprock Coulee Trail

The Caprock Coulee Trail is one of the best longer hikes in the North Unit.

The route passes through badlands, wooded coulees, ridges, and open prairie while providing changing views throughout the hike.

Sections can be steep and exposed, and mud becomes a serious issue after rain.

Badlands soil can turn remarkably slick when wet, making even modest slopes difficult to cross safely.

In dry conditions, however, the trail offers an excellent introduction to the varied environments hidden within terrain that may initially look barren from the road.

🥾 Hiking in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

The park contains everything from short nature trails to long wilderness routes.

Easy walks near scenic drives provide access to overlooks and geological features, while longer trails cross grasslands, badlands, river bottoms, and remote backcountry.

Unlike mountain parks, elevation gain is not always the greatest difficulty.

Heat, mud, limited shade, wildlife, confusing drainage systems, and a lack of reliable drinking water can make badlands hiking more demanding than expected.

Carry all the water you need.

Natural water sources within the park should not be considered safe for drinking without appropriate treatment, and many may be seasonal or unavailable.

🥾 Maah Daah Hey Trail

The Maah Daah Hey Trail is one of western North Dakota’s great long-distance routes.

The trail system stretches well beyond national park boundaries through the Little Missouri National Grassland and connects landscapes surrounding both the North and South Units.

Sections enter Theodore Roosevelt National Park, allowing hikers and horseback riders to experience the badlands on a much larger scale.

Long-distance travel requires careful planning because water can be scarce and distances between services are substantial.

For shorter visitors, hiking a portion of the route can still provide a taste of the larger badlands wilderness.

⛺ Camping in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

The park has two primary developed campgrounds.

Cottonwood Campground serves the South Unit near Medora, while Juniper Campground lies within the North Unit.

Both are relatively simple campgrounds without RV hookups or showers.

Beginning in 2026, campsites are reservation-based through Recreation.gov, so travelers should plan ahead during the busy season.

Camping can be one of the best ways to experience the park because wildlife becomes especially active during early morning and evening after many day visitors have left.

Backcountry camping is also permitted with a free permit.

There are no developed backcountry campsites, so wilderness travelers must be prepared for navigation, water planning, wildlife encounters, and Leave No Trace camping.

🏨 Where to Stay Near the Park

There are no hotels or cabins operated within Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

For the South Unit, Medora is by far the most convenient base.

The small town sits immediately outside the park entrance and offers hotels, restaurants, campgrounds, shops, fuel, and seasonal visitor attractions.

Travelers exploring the North Unit commonly stay around Watford City, approximately 15 miles north of the park entrance.

Because the units are separated by more than an hour of driving, staying near each one on different nights may be more convenient than repeatedly commuting between them.

☀️ Best Time to Visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Late spring through early fall offers the easiest conditions for most visitors.

May and June bring greener grasslands, wildflowers, young wildlife, and relatively comfortable hiking temperatures.

July and August are warmer and can become quite hot during midday. Thunderstorms may build quickly, sometimes producing strong winds, lightning, hail, or heavy rain.

September is particularly attractive. Temperatures become cooler, summer crowds decline, and cottonwoods begin adding yellow fall color along river bottoms.

October can also be beautiful, but winter weather becomes increasingly possible.

Winter offers solitude and striking snow-covered badlands, but road closures, ice, snow, severe cold, and reduced services require more flexible planning.

🌡️ Weather in the Badlands

Western North Dakota experiences major weather extremes.

Summer afternoons can become hot and dry, while winter temperatures can fall far below freezing.

Strong winds occur throughout the year.

Thunderstorms may develop suddenly during warm weather, and there is little protection on exposed ridges.

Rain creates another problem unique to badlands terrain.

Clay-rich soils can become incredibly slick and sticky. A trail that was easy when dry may become nearly impassable after a storm.

Check conditions before long hikes and be prepared to change plans when the weather deteriorates.

🐍 Rattlesnakes and Wildlife Safety

Prairie rattlesnakes live within Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Most visitors never see one, but hikers should watch where they place hands and feet around rocks, prairie dog burrows, tall grass, and shaded areas.

Never reach into a place you cannot see.

The park’s larger animals require even greater attention.

Maintain at least 25 yards of distance from wildlife, including bison and horses. Give animals extra space when young are present.

Never intentionally position yourself between an animal and the direction it is trying to travel.

When wildlife occupies a road or trail, let the animal decide when it is time for you to continue.

🐕 Visiting With Pets

Pets are allowed in limited developed areas but are not permitted on park hiking trails.

Leashed pets may generally accompany visitors on roads, road shoulders, sidewalks, parking areas, campgrounds, and picnic areas.

That restriction means Theodore Roosevelt National Park is not ideal for visitors hoping to hike extensively with a dog.

Summer heat is another concern, particularly on pavement and exposed ground.

Never leave a pet unattended in a vehicle during warm weather, and always keep animals away from bison, prairie dogs, and other wildlife.

🎟️ Entrance Fees

Theodore Roosevelt National Park charges an entrance fee year-round.

A standard private-vehicle pass is currently $30 and valid for seven days, while motorcycles and individuals entering without a vehicle have lower rates.

America the Beautiful passes are accepted.

The park does not currently require timed-entry reservations.

Beginning in 2026, park fee operations transitioned to cashless payment, so visitors should be prepared to pay electronically or purchase a pass in advance.

Entrance policies and fees can change, so checking current National Park Service information before departure is always worthwhile.

🚙 Getting to Theodore Roosevelt National Park

The South Unit is extremely easy to reach from Interstate 94.

Medora lies roughly 130 miles west of Bismarck and only a short distance east of the Montana state line.

The North Unit requires more deliberate planning. Its entrance is located on U.S. Highway 85 south of Watford City.

Driving between the North and South Units takes a little over an hour under normal conditions.

The Elkhorn Ranch Unit is considerably more remote and reached using gravel roads.

Road conditions can deteriorate after rain or snow, and higher-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicles may occasionally be useful for the final approach.

📅 How Many Days Do You Need?

A single day is enough to explore the South Unit, drive the scenic loop, stop at Painted Canyon, and complete one or two short hikes.

Two days is much better for most visitors. One day can focus on the South Unit and the second on the North Unit.

Three days allows a more complete experience, with time for longer hiking, wildlife watching, the Elkhorn Ranch Unit, or a slower exploration of the scenic roads.

Visitors interested in backpacking or substantial sections of the Maah Daah Hey Trail can easily spend considerably longer.

The park rewards patience, particularly around sunrise and sunset when wildlife activity and lighting are often at their best.

🧭 Tips for Visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Start early if wildlife is a priority. Bison, deer, horses, coyotes, and other animals are frequently most active around dawn and evening.

Carry binoculars rather than approaching animals for photographs.

Bring plenty of water for hiking. The landscape can become much hotter and more exposed than it appears from inside an air-conditioned vehicle.

Do not underestimate driving distances between park units.

Check road conditions before heading toward the Elkhorn Ranch, particularly after rain.

If rain begins while you are hiking, remember that badlands clay can become extremely slick.

Finally, slow down.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is not a destination where enjoyment depends on rushing between famous landmarks. Much of its appeal comes from sitting quietly above the Little Missouri River, watching prairie dogs interact, waiting for a bison herd to cross the road, or watching the last evening sunlight move across distant buttes.

Wild mustang horses on the prairie, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota | Sergey Demo SVDPhoto

❤️ Why Theodore Roosevelt National Park Is Worth Visiting

Theodore Roosevelt National Park does not have the enormous mountains of Glacier, the geysers of Yellowstone, or the sheer canyon walls of Zion.

Its beauty is quieter.

The landscape spreads outward in layers of prairie, eroded clay, winding river bottoms, red clinker ridges, and distant buttes beneath a sky that often seems larger than the land itself.

Then the wildlife begins to appear.

A bison emerges over a ridge. Prairie dogs sound alarms from a colony beside the road. Pronghorn move across the horizon. A horse band grazes in evening light while golden eagles circle overhead.

That combination of scenery and wildlife would make the park worthwhile even without its historical significance.

The Roosevelt story adds another layer. This was a place where a young man arrived looking for adventure, later returned while grieving profound personal loss, and gradually developed ideas about land and wildlife that would influence national conservation policy.

More than a century later, the landscape still has the ability to produce the same sense of space and wildness that fascinated him.

For travelers willing to venture beyond America’s most famous western parks, Theodore Roosevelt National Park offers one of the most rewarding combinations of wildlife, history, geology, prairie, and badlands scenery in the National Park System.