Roosevelt National Park Travel Guide

"I never would have been President if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota," Theodore Roosevelt once remarked.

Roosevelt first came to the badlands in September 1883 on a hunting trip. While here he became interested in the cattle business and invested in the Maltese Cross Ranch. He returned the next year and established the Elkhorn Ranch.

Whenever he managed to spend time in the badlands, he became more and more alarmed by the damage that was being done to the land and its wildlife. He witnessed the virtual destruction of some big game species, such as bison and bighorn sheep. Overgrazing destroyed the grasslands and with them the habitats for small mammals and songbirds. Conservation increasingly became one of Roosevelt's major concerns. During his Presidency, Roosevelt established the US Forest Service and signed the 1906 Antiquities Act under which he proclaimed 18 national monuments. He also established 5 national parks, 51 wildlife refuges and 150 national forests.

Here in the North Dakota badlands, where many of his personal concerns first gave rise to his later environmental efforts, Roosevelt is remembered with a national park that bears his name and honors the memory of this great conservationist.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is in the colorful North Dakota badlands and is home to a variety of plants and animals. Prairie dogs are playful but cautious during day hikes. Sightings of the elusive badger are even possible. Drive the scenic loop through the park at dusk to scout bison, great horned owls, feral horses, elk, and mule deer.