A North Dakota Conservation Legacy

Hector in Theodore Roosevelt National ParkOn the drive to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, darkening clouds threatened overhead and furious winds blew our little car around mercilessly. Each time a tractor trailer passed us, it felt like being slapped by an invisible giant’s hand.

Cottonwood campground at Theodore Roosevelt National ParkThat wind stayed with us as we drove to Theodore Roosevelt’s South Unit — one of three separate parcels of the park — near the small historic town of Medora. We found our walk-in campsite at the park’s Cottonwood Campground on a low bluff overlooking the Little Missouri River.  I say “river,” but the late August day we arrived, the Little Missouri was little more than a few muddy pools. That scuttled our original plan to kayak, but the park has so many miles of trails to hike and so much wildlife to see that we didn’t mind skipping a paddle. Among the wildlife on hand? Bison aplenty, with some even making themselves at home in the campground.

Feral horses in Theodore Roosevelt National ParkWe figured it would be a good time to take a spin along a portion of the 36-mile Scenic Loop Drive. We passed a herd of feral horses, a few pronghorn, more bison and a prairie dog town full of our favorite rodents. The prairie dogs looked particularly plump and healthy here.

Christi in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

A park ranger had recommended the Wind Canyon Trail as one of the best sunset-viewing spots, so we took the short hike up to an overlook high above the Little Missouri that revealed a wind-carved mini-canyon of pockmarked limestone. Right before sunset the rain arrived and sent us back to the car and back to camp.

Cottonwood campground at Theodore Roosevelt National ParkLightning lit up the sky all night, and rain poured for hours. Because of the soaking, the next morning we awoke to find the Little Missouri with a steady flow of water, albeit still not enough to merit getting the kayaks out in it.

Hector in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

So we drove the rest of the Scenic Loop Road and stopped off at many of the shorter trails, including the Ridgeline Nature Trail, Coal Vein Trail, Buck Hill and Boicourt. In addition to providing fantastic views of the badlands, these trails gave us more glimpses of bison, pronghorn and prairie dogs.

100th birthday at Theodore Roosevelt National ParkWe then went to the South Unit Visitor Center to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service (established by Pres. Woodrow Wilson on Aug. 25, 1916) with lemonade and cookies. We also attended a ranger talk on the Maltese Cross cabin, a restored historic building just behind the Visitor Center once owned by Theodore Roosevelt. The ranger told us more about this park’s namesake.

Theodore Roosevelt National ParkNearly 20 years before becoming the 26th president, Teddy Roosevelt came to North Dakota to hunt bison and later started a cattle ranch. He loved the rugged Dakotas and saw how overgrazing and overhunting threatened the land. These experiences turned him into a preservation advocate before, during and after his 1901-1909 presidency.

We learned even more about Roosevelt during a fantastic evening program at the campground amphitheater to commemorate the park system’s 100th birthday. Guest speaker Clay Jenkinson — a noted historian who appeared in Ken Burns’ PBS documentary on the national parks — gave one of the most informative, inspiring and meaningful talks I’ve heard in a long time. He told us about Roosevelt’s time in North Dakota, his remarkable conservation achievements, and his views about the American West and national parks.

Bison in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

In contrast to European-style lodges and resorts in beautiful natural areas that were exclusive playgrounds for the privileged, Roosevelt felt America should have public lands protected for all citizens to enjoy. He was also a complex figure who shot his fair share of wild animals (if there is such a thing as a fair share) and wasn’t necessarily a champion of Native American causes. But he did more than any other U.S. president to set aside land for preservation, protecting more than 230 acres for future generations.

Christi at a cannonball concretion in Theodore Roosevelt National ParkWe spent the next day in the park’s Northern Unit, which sees far fewer visitors. In addition to more hiking and wildlife viewing, visitors can see cannonball concretions — large, spherical boulders formed by mineral deposits cemented together around a core — along this unit’s 14-mile Scenic Drive.

Hector in Theodore Roosevelt National ParkWe drove on to the Caprock Coulee Loop Trail, which traversed a host of rock formations and vegetation types. Several patches of juniper forest provided welcome shade as we headed uphill and came to a high ridge with wonderful views of the park around us.

Bison in Theodore Roosevelt National ParkOnce again, we encountered a herd of bison. We moved along the trail slowly and quietly, avoiding eye contact with the animals. Although they regularly wandered through our campground and picnic areas, their docile behavior is deceiving. Their horns and enormous bulk make them potentially dangerous creatures, so we always tried to view them from a distance.

Christi in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

The trail looped around to an overlook of the Little Missouri River and proceeded through stunning badlands scenery, eventually dropping back down to the parking lot.

Bison on the road in Theodore Roosevelt National ParkAs we continued on toward the Oxbow Overlook at the end of the Scenic Drive, that same herd of bison also had descended from the higher elevations and were now marching along the road next to cars stopped to let them by. Thankfully, they mostly ignored us as they trotted by.

Oil drilling activity outside Theodore Roosevelt National ParkDriving back to the South Unit, it was hard for us to ignore one of the threats just outside the park boundaries — the oil boom. Truck traffic on the road was heavy, and dotting the land were oil rigs flaring excess natural gas as well as numerous silica sand hills.

Fracking sand outside Theodore Roosevelt National ParkMost of the sand does not naturally occur here; rather, it is brought in from Wisconsin to be mixed with water and chemicals for oil extraction via hydraulic fracturing. North Dakota has benefited economically from the oil boom in the Bakken Shale Formation, yet the environmental and social costs have been high.

Even though such unsightly development is right on the doorstep of this special place, thank goodness so many of our nation’s most treasured landscapes have been set aside as national parks and spared development. At least here, Teddy would be proud.

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9 thoughts on “A North Dakota Conservation Legacy

  1. Della Killeen

    Hi Christi, I loved seeing the pics of the Bison, so prehistoric looking. Its good to know
    efforts are being made to return them to their traditional homes. What about you guys….When will you be back home? You both look fit and tanned….will the sedentary life ever suit you again? We spent Thanksgiving camping in the Chiricahua’s. Beautiful and mostly deserted mountain range. Are you finding most of the rural parks empty or busy? Have a safe rest of your trip and hope to see you home soon.

    1. Christi Post author

      Glad you had a good time in the Chiricahuas! They are spectacular. This time of year visitation at the parks has slowed down considerably, except for the Grand Canyon (we were there after Thanksgiving and it was packed!) Our nomad days will continue for a bit more, as we plan to be on the road until at least the middle of January. See you after the holidays!

  2. Maxine

    Lots of different terrain in North Dakota. Some areas looked familiar from our visit to see Shirley in Fort Yates, North Dakota. Your tent looks great for taking a beating with wind, rain and mud that it must have been in during your many camp grounds. Thanks again for the tidbit of history.

    Onward!

    1. Christi Post author

      That little tent has taken a beating! The big one is looking a little worse for wear, too, but with the cold weather now, our camping days are largely behind us.

  3. Lilian Roberts

    Thoroughly enjoyed your photographs and narrative of Roosevelt National Park.
    I fly into Minot, ND, en route to Manitoba to visit my sister, so I am somewhat familiar with the oil boom and its effect on people’s lives. Our favorite restaurant went out of business because everybody went to work in the oil fields. Just a small example of how life has changed.

    Lilian Roberts

  4. Scott Hauer

    WOW Great Pictures! I grew up in Bismarck and lived there until I was 24. Really a wonderful state in the summer, but that wind and cold much of the year is long and hard. I’ll be checking out those State Parks on my way there for summer vacation. Cheers

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