Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota was made in honor of the outdoors-loving President. Roosevelt’s love for the outdoors began when he visited the Dakota Territory to hunt bison in 1883. During his presidency, he focused a lot of his energy on conservation. Roosevelt dedicated 230 million acres of Public Land during his time in office. He was well known for his conservation efforts and was very focused on preserving the beauty of America.

There is lots to do in this amazing park, starting with the Painted Canyon Visitors Center. At the visitors center, you can see your first real view of the Badlands from a scenic overlook! The canyon is known for its unique colors and stretches as far as the eye can see. There is also a 2 mile long hiking trail that ventures down into the canyon. It is a little bit steep, but I’m sure it is well worth the effort for some great views!

Another cool thing about Theodore Roosevelt National park is that there is a lot of wildlife that we do not usually see. From bison to prairie dogs, the park has a wide range of interesting creatures. One thing that visitors love to see is the wild horses. There are many herds throughout the park, and you can find many places to view them. There are also many bison and elk in the park, and you will likely get to see some while on your trip. Another fun fact is that North America’s fastest animal, the pronghorn, which is similar to a deer lives here. Above all, in my opinion, the prairie dog towns are something that you don’t want to miss. People gather near the towns to watch the cute creatures pop in and out of their burrows and move around their tunnels, using barks and yelps to communicate. I would love to see this and watch how the community of animals works together to keep their town running. I would love to see all of the diverse wildlife of the park and learn about a different ecosystem than I am used to.

Another attraction in the park is the scenic loop drive. This 36 mile loop has many pull-off spots around the park which give you some of the best views of the park. These stops also have signs that tell you all about the history and natural features of the park. This is also one of the best ways to see all of the wildlife mentioned above! The Maltese Cross Ranch Cabin is also located in the park and was a temporary home for Roosevelt. You can visit this house during your trip to the park!

I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about what there is to do in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I hope to be able to visit this amazing, diverse area in the future. I would love to see all of the different animals around the park as well as go on some hikes with unique, amazing views! I would also love to learn more about the history of the land and Roosevelts connection to the area.

Citations:

“8 Things to See and Do in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.” Official North Dakota Travel & Tourism Guide, North Dakota Be Legendary, https://www.ndtourism.com/best-places/8-things-see-and-do-theodore-roosevelt-national-park.

“Theodore Roosevelt National Park (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1 Oct. 2021, https://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm.