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The South Unit operates on Mountain Time and the North Unit operates on Central Time. None of these things, however, are a problem as long as you come prepared.Before you visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park there are are few important things that you need to know.įirst of all, it’s important to know that you are right on the edge of the time zone boundary here. Spring brings the danger of flash floods and the park is generally inaccessible by car in Winter. If you visit in the Summer, be prepared for the possibility of extremely hot days - there is virtually no shade anywhere in the park. Finally, camp overnight in one of the awesome walk-in tent sites along the Little Missouri - just be prepared to navigate around the bison that hang out in the same area.īe Prepared: Weather is extreme in North Dakota. Spend the rest of the day hammocking along the river, check out the nearby Painted Canyon, or trying one of the slightly longer hikes in the park. Even taking the time to hike every short spur trail along the loop, it will still probably take only a half a day to do the entire thing. The 32 mile drive loops through the park giving you access to Skyline Vista, Buck Hill, and Wind Canyon Trail. Keep your eye out for wildlife even on this entrance road since its not unlikely you'll see bison and horses immediately upon entering the park. Follow the winding road from the town and past the campground on the Little Missouri River to hit the Drive. Skip the town and head right into the park. You'll enter the park in through the town of Medora, ND, a town striving to reenact some sad frontier history that never actually existed. If you happen to be driving through the Dakotas (like from Minneapolis to Glacier for example), this is a must see, it's so remote, I'm not sure it's a destination park.
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It takes some warming up to, but its worth getting to know.Īs cool as the park is, you can pretty much see the highlights in one day by taking the Scenic Loop Drive through the South Unit of the park. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is consistently described as "lunar," "unearthly," or "alien" and for good reason - the broken landscape feels like something out of a sci-fi novel.
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The badlands of North Dakota in Theodore Roosevelt National Park are unexpected and startling. What was endless monochromatic grassland becomes a multihued dreamscape of rock spires and painted hills and where before you were lucky to see a stray cow, you now find herds of bison, wild horses, and pronghorns grazing along the side of the road.
#Teddy roosevelt national park series
The prairie around you crumbles, dropping down into a series of immense ravines, gullies, and hills. Then, with no warning, the topography transforms. The landscape is uncompromisingly flat and there isn't so much as a tree to obscure the horizon in any direction. Imagine you have been driving for hours through North Dakota. See abundant wildlife including wild horses, bison, pronghorns, and badgers and hike through prairie dog colonies. Take the Scenic Loop Drive through the broken landscape of the badlands.