Top Things to do in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
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The 10 Best Things to do in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Theodore Roosevelt National Park
70,448 acres along the Little Missouri River.
1. Oxbow Overlook
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 32 reviews
The ease with which wildlife can be seen in this part of Theodore Roosevelt National Park is matched only by zoos.
Reviewed By krogersku - Johnston, United States
The Oxbow Overlook is at the end of the 14 mile road in the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Bathroom facilities are available. Three picnic tables are at the site. The only issue with having a picnic there is the strong prairie wind. If you are going to eat a picnic lunch there plan accordingly with your food choices. The views as expected are fantastic.
2. Caprock-Coulee Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 22 reviews
Take this self-guiding hiking trail through the North Dakota wilderness; at just under five miles in length, it won't wear you out.
Reviewed By gingersnaps527 - Spearfish, United States
This is a beautiful and, as it turned out, an exciting hike. We were hiking and taking plenty of photos on the well-maintained trail. On the way back, we spotted three buffalo on the trail. The buffalo saw us as well. We hike up a ridge and waited them out. This was a good lesson for me as I wore regular tennis shoes rather that hiking boots. There was a ton of cacti everywhere on the ridge. Always be prepared even if you think you're going on an easy hike!
3. Elkhorn Ranch Site
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
Teddy Roosevelt bred cattle on this ranch in the late 1800s.
Reviewed By CML548
First, directions. A park ranger in the North Unit gave us great directions from there. We drove 85 North to 30. West on 30 (it curves around and eventually merges into 60). Keep heading West to 16. Head south on 16 to Blacktail Rd. It is way further than you think it should be. Turn left (East) on Blacktail, which is a very wide and well maintained gravel road. Take Blacktail until it basically dead ends into Belle Lake. Don't be thrown off by the large signs for Elkhorn Ranch, which is the name that one of the new ranches has given itself. Go right (South) on Belle Lake Rd. until you see a sign to the Elkhorn Campground. Take a left (East) and head down a smaller, but still fine, gravel road. Drive past the campground to a dead end. We re-traced our steps to 16 and then headed south to 94 to get back to Medora rather than taking gravel roads down to 94, which is suggested on the park map in the park newspaper. There is construction there and some people we talked to at the campground confirmed that route is much slower and in worse shape. It is about a 15 minute walk to the site. There is one fork in the trail at the site of some informational signage. Stay to the left on the more well worn, albeit narrower, trail. To the right was what looked like a mowed path. Maybe it won't even be there when you go. At the end is another sign, along with a gated area that surrounds the foundation. I wish the site had a map of the old buildings, but it was wonderful to stand there, listen to the river and imagine life when Teddy Roosevelt was there. It was worth the trip.
4. South Unit
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 241 reviews
Popular area of the park for hiking and horseback riding.
Reviewed By dreamspeaker - Middleton, United States
We spent a few hours here on our way out to Yellowstone NP from Wisconsin, thinking it would be a pleasant diversion that would only merit a couple hours. We vastly underrated this park. Even doing a whirlwind tour (driving as much of the loop as we could, part was washed out, and taking two short hikes), it took us about 4 hours, which we were happy to spend. We could have enjoyed it for much longer. This national park has a little bit of everything - bison, prairie dogs, badlands, wild horses, windswept trees and prickly pear cactus, and we even saw a dung beetle! Driving the loop road is very pleasant. I don't think we spent enough time to ensure these were the BEST hikes, but we did hike out onto a trail that poked out into a canyon, and also did the coal vein hike which was very nice because hardly anyone else was out there. My only tip is to be aware of wildlife. On the coal vein hike, we had to stop because a bison was on the path between us and our car and we kept a good distance of at least 25 yards like we were supposed to. Bison can be very dangerous. Apparently, the tourists who pulled in while we waited to proceed were unaware of this and proceeded to approach the bison from behind to try to touch it. Thankfully, the bison only glared at them, but don't do this. Bison are dangerous animals when provoked.
5. North Unit
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 154 reviews
One half of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, separated from the rest of the park by almost 50 miles.
Reviewed By pasweet - Dayton, United States
I find it interesting to read the reviews that tout either the north or south unit of the park as best. They each have their good points. I would recommend going to the south unit visitors center first as it is more complete. There is no prairie dog town in the north section and the south has several huge active towns. We saw more animals in the south but we did see several herds of buffalo in the north including some animals very near the road. Three things the north unit uniquely has include: —way fewer people — cannon ball concretions which are very cool structures —the most popular view in all of North Dakota which includes the little Missouri River and the badlands. In fact this view was a contributing factor in this land becoming a federal park (according to the park ranger) In my view both sections offer unique natural experiences and everyone who can should visit both
6. Painted Canyon Overlook
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 245 reviews
Begin your visit to the Teddy Roosevelt National Park with a spectacular view of the Badlands, a flat desert landscape broken by petrified wood and rock formations.
Reviewed By workhardplayhard27 - Mantorville, United States
If you don't have time for a visit to Theodore Roosevelt National Park this overlook gives you a small taste of what you are missing. The vistas at this rest stop are breathtaking, especially at dawn and dusk when the light changes the appearance of the various rock hues. There is no charge for this overlook, plenty of parking, and public restrooms. Really no excuse not to take a stop her.
7. Peaceful Valley
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Built in 1885, this valley was once the site of a booming horse ranch; now, it's a place for reflection and the observation of nature as a scenic looking point in Teddy Roosevelt National Park.
8. Buckhorn Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
An 11-mile hiking trail featuring a wild prairie dog town - they may look cute but these critters bite!
9. Petrified Forest Loop
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 51 reviews
16-mile scenic drive in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Reviewed By BEAUTIFULBADLANDS - Wilton, United States
The trail is varied from grasslands to Badlands hillsides, which makes it more rewarding when arriving at either of the marked collections of petrified sequoia tree stumps. Technically, the area is not part of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, but is actually part of the Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness Area. It is within the fenced confines of the park, so bison and wild horses can range in the area. It is very pristine -- displaying the landscape just as it has been for centuries. (Imagine trying to cross this region in a wagon train!) Yes, it's a bit challenging to find the trail head, about 5 miles north of Interstate 94. It's not well marked, so pay attention as you drive north on West River Road. Even though we hike it a couple times a year, we can miss the turn. (I missed it last week when I was on my own. My wife, the map freak wasn't with me. Yikes!) The road to the Petrified Forest trail head is on your right as you travel north on West River Road. If it has been raining or snow melting, the last mile or so can be very muddy. The sign boards provide good information. The trail heads westerly, and then splits off. I like the north route because it's a bit easier. However, the south trail provides some great exercise until you get to the hillside with the stumps -- some taller than I am (6 foot). Along the way, elk and deer scat indicate they like grazing in this grassland. Bison, too. Generally though, wildlife siting's are more rare here than in the actual park -- across the Little Missouri River. Of all the hiking I do in the Badlands and the two units of the TRNP, this is probably the most "moderate" of all the trails. It is not easy, so don't be fooled.
