During his administration, President è Theodore Roosevelt founded the United States Forest Service, signed the National Monuments Act and established the first federal game preserve.
His conservation efforts led to the founding of the National Park Service, established to preserve and protect unspoiled places like his beloved North Dakota Badlands, now known as Theodore Roosevelt National Park. When Roosevelt arrived in the North Dakota Badlands in 1883 for a hunting trip, not only was he struck by the beauty of the area but, as a naturalist, he found the variety of birdlife exhilarating.

The park has two units, the North Unit and the South Unit, both distinctly different.

The South Unit is on I-94 in western North Dakota. Here the Badlands have been shaped by millions of years of wind, rain, erosion, fire and the meandering Little Missouri River. The area was described in 1864 by Gen. Alfred Sully as "hell with the fires out." The main access to the South Unit is through the historic town of Medora.

The North Unit, accessible from U.S. Highway 85 south of Watford City, has taller buttes and is heavily forested in places. The beauty and allure of the North Unit draws visitors year-round for sweeping vistas of this designated wilderness.

	Today, visitors can view a natural setting much like the one that greeted Roosevelt over a century ago. The 36-mile scenic loop drive in the South Unit and the 14-mile drive in the North Unit provide easy access to popular vistas and wildlife viewing. You will always  á see buffalo herds and prairie dog towns, and you may catch a glimpse of wild horses, mule deer, elk and maybe even a coyote.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is open year-round, with guided trail rides and primitive camping available inside and outside the park.

 

Wildlife Viewing North Dakota is widely considered a top ‘birding’ destination, with more national wildlife refuges than any other state, and add to that dozens of state wildlife management areas, several state forests and two national grasslands. All North Dakota refuges, except Sully's Hill National Game Preserve, are managed for waterfowl production. These refuges contain unique wetlands that sustain wildlife, producing thousands of ducks and other water birds, and furnishing water, food and shelter for vast numbers of migratory ducks, geese and swans. Prairie Dog Ú

History - Powwows The best way to experience historic and modern American Indian culture is at a powwow. Many of these, including the United Tribes International Powwow, include special dances for visitor participation. In the Sioux tradition, the celebration was a prayer to Wakan-Tanka, the Great Spirit or Grandfather. The men’s traditional dancer, in a costume decorated with bead and quill work and a circular bustle of eagle feathers, portrays the traditional "dancing out" of the story of a battle or hunt. Women’s traditional dancers move subtly, bending the knees with small up and down body movements. Their feet shift and they turn their body slightly. Women’s fancy shawl dancers are decorated with a cloth dress, beaded moccasins and matching leggings, a fancy shawl and jewellery.

The International Peace Garden The only garden of its kind in the world, this unique 2,300-acre wonderland of forests and flowers celebrates the peace between two great nations straddling the world’s longest unfortified border. This is where we entered the state – and the USA again – from Canada and spent overnight in the Gardens in our RV. We then drove south to Rugby, claiming to be the geographical centre of North America. We then turned westwards to Minot and crossed the Missouri after camping overnight in the grounds of a Casino at New Town. Casino sites are often quite good and cheap for fees and for food. Then to …

Lake Sakakawea State Park The park has a full-service marina, including boat rentals, convenience store, fishing guide services, and boat and camper storage. Two large boat ramps serve the park for access to the best salmon fishing on Lake Sakakawea. This is not a true lake, but a widening of the Missouri over a 1500 mile length.

	Main Square     Medora Medora is the large town in the western part of the state and is the entrance to the main part of the Park.
We stayed here a few days to explore the major southern park on a fixed circular route. We attracted the attention of some enormous buffalo, who came within a foot or two of the RV. We didn’t get out! On leaving the town we continued southwards over White Butte (3506 ft) and into the next state.

Our Journey onwards took us through South Dakota - and to Deadwood !

Camping

There are three campgrounds in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Camping is on a first-come, first-served basis. Group camping requires reservations. A free backcountry permit is required for overnight camping. In the South Unit, there are Cottonwood Campground, Cottonwood Group site and Roundup Group Horse Camp. In the North Unit there are Juniper Campground and a Group Camp Site.

There are also many commercial campgrounds in the Dakotas, of all sizes and facilities. See me !

Keith Silvester