"Barren Buttes" by NPS/Mark Meyers , public domain
Theodore Roosevelt
National Park - North Dakota
Theodore Roosevelt National Park lies in western North Dakota, where the Great Plains meet the rugged Badlands. A habitat for bison, elk and prairie dogs, the sprawling park has 3 sections linked by the Little Missouri River. The park is known for the South Unit’s colorful Painted Canyon and the Maltese Cross Cabin, where President Roosevelt once lived. The Scenic Loop Drive winds past several overlooks and trails.
Brochure for the Coal Vein - A Guided Nature Trail - at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (NP)int North Dakota. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
Brochure for the Ridgeline - A Guided Nature Trail - at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (NP)int North Dakota. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
https://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt_National_Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park lies in western North Dakota, where the Great Plains meet the rugged Badlands. A habitat for bison, elk and prairie dogs, the sprawling park has 3 sections linked by the Little Missouri River. The park is known for the South Unit’s colorful Painted Canyon and the Maltese Cross Cabin, where President Roosevelt once lived. The Scenic Loop Drive winds past several overlooks and trails.
When Theodore Roosevelt came to Dakota Territory to hunt bison in 1883, he was a skinny, young, spectacled dude from New York. He could not have imagined how his adventure in this remote and unfamiliar place would forever alter the course of the nation. The rugged landscape and strenuous life that TR experienced here would help shape a conservation policy that we still benefit from today.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is located in the Badlands of western North Dakota. There are three units to the park. The South Unit entrance is in the town of Medora, ND off of Interstate 94 exits 24 and 27. The North Unit entrance is on Highway 85 approximately 14 miles south of Watford City, ND. The remote Elkhorn Ranch Unit sits roughly in the middle of the North and South Units and is accessed via gravel roads. Consult park staff for directions to the Elkhorn Ranch Unit.
North Unit Visitor Center
A small visitor center is located at the park entrance for visitors to the North Unit. Speak with a ranger, receive assistance with any trip planning needs, obtain a backcountry permit, purchase a souvenir at the bookstore, or watch the park film, Refuge of the American Spirit. Restrooms are available at this location.
The North Unit entrance is on U.S. Highway 85, approximately 14 miles south of Watford City, ND and 50 miles north of Belfield, ND. The distance by road from Medora to the North Unit is approximately 70 miles. I-94 travelers can access U.S. Highway 85 at Exit 42 in Belfield, ND.
Painted Canyon Visitor Center
Features: Panoramic views, wildlife viewing, hiking trails, staffed information desk, exhibits and displays, gift shop, picnic shelters, drinking fountain, vending machines, public telephone, and restrooms are wheelchair accessible.
Take exit 32 from Interstate 94. The rest stop off of the highway includes two buildings. One is a visitor center and one includes restrooms, as well as a scenic overlook.
South Unit Visitor Center
Rangers staff the desk, assist visitors with trip planning, and issue backcountry permits. Theodore Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin, located just outside, is open for self-guided tours year-round. Ranger-led cabin tours are offered in the summer. The park film, Refuge of the American Spirit, shows in the theater. A bookstore sells books, postcards, and more. A museum houses artifacts from Theodore Roosevelt's presidency and time in the badlands.
The South Unit Visitor Center is located at the entrance to the park's scenic loop drive in the town of Medora, ND.
Cottonwood Campground
Cottonwood Campground lies inside the park, about 5 miles from Medora, ND. It is the South Unit's only campground. Half the sites are by reservation at recreation.gov while all remaining sites are first come, first served. Most sites are suitable for tents and RVs (no hookups). Cottonwood Campground fills to capacity each afternoon, mid-May through mid-September.
Standard Campsite - Summer Rate
14.00
One night in a standard campsite, limited to 1 family or 6 people. Summer rates are in effect May through September.
Standard Campsite - Summer Rate - Senior/Access Pass
7.00
One night in a standard campsite, limited to 1 family or 6 people. Summer rates are in effect May through September.
This discounted rate applies to sites occupied by a person with a valid Senior or Access Pass. (Note: this does not include Interagency, TRNP, or Military Annual Pass holders.)
Standard Campsite - Winter Rate
7.00
One night in a standard campsite, limited to 1 family or 6 people. Winter rates are in effect October through April.
Standard Campsite - Winter Rate - Senior/Access Pass
3.50
One night in a standard campsite, limited to 1 family or 6 people. Winter rates are in effect October through April.
This discounted rate applies to sites occupied by a person with a valid Senior or Access Pass. (Note: this does not include Interagency, TRNP, or Military Annual Pass holders.)
Group Site Rate
30.00
One night in the Cottonwood Campground Group Site by groups of 7 to 20 people. By reservation only - see the Reservations section. Passholder discounts do not apply.
Cottonwood Campground Site 53
A campsite beneath cottonwood trees with an open field and buttes in the distance.
Primitive campsites offer opportunities to be immersed in nature.
Cottonwood Campground campsite 12
A curved gravel parking pad lined with boulders and an adjacent campsite and picnic table.
Sites in Cottonwood Campground range from full sun to full shade.
Camp Host
A bison stands next to an RV and behind a sign reading Campground Host
No, he's not really your campground host. But bison do frequent the campground. Be sure to keep a safe distance.
Cottonwood Site 74
A campsite in an open, grassy area with buttes and fall leaves in the background.
Some sites receive full sun.
Cottonwood Campground
A quiet campground setting with tents and picnic tables beneath spindly cottonwood trees.
Walk-to campsites in Cottonwood Campground
Juniper Campground
Juniper Campground is 5 miles from Hwy 85 and is the only campground in the park's North Unit. All sites are open to tent camping and most can also be used by vehicles/RVs (no hookups). All regular sites are first come, first served. The group site is by reservation only at recreation.gov. See the RESERVATIONS section below.
Standard Campsite - Summer Rate
14.00
One night in a standard campsite, limited to 1 family or 6 people. Summer rates are in effect May through September.
Standard Campsite - Winter Rate
7.00
One night in a standard campsite, limited to 1 family or 6 people.
Winter rates are in effect October through April.
Standard Campsite - Summer Rate - Senior/Access Pass
7.00
One night in a standard campsite, limited to 1 family or 6 people. Summer rates are in effect May through September.
This discounted rate applies to sites occupied by a person with a valid Senior or Access Pass. (Note: this does not include Interagency, TRNP, or Military Annual Pass holders.)
Standard Campsite - Winter Rate - Senior/Access Pass
3.50
One night in a standard campsite, limited to 1 family or 6 people. Winter rates are in effect October through April.
This discounted rate applies to sites occupied by a person with a valid Senior or Access Pass. (Note: this does not include Interagency, TRNP, or Military Annual Pass holders.)
Generally, winter rates are in effect October through April. (There are no set dates.)
Camping - Group Site
30.00
One night in the Juniper Group Site (open May through September) for a group of 7 to 60 people. By reservation only - see Reservation section. Passholder discounts do not apply.
Juniper Group Site
A green lawn interspersed with spindly cottonwood trees with picnic tables, grills, and a restroom.
The Juniper Campground Group Site has ample space for tenting.
Juniper Campground Scenery
A dense stand of dark, arcing tree trunks support bright green leaves in this sunny scene.
Juniper Campground boasts great solitude and scenery.
Be Prepared to Share
A large bull bison lays beside a small tent.
Bison are frequent visitors to park campgrounds. Be sure to keep a safe distance of at least 25 yards or more!
Juniper Picnic Area
A picnic shelter sits in a green lawn with picnic tables and large cottonwood trees.
Juniper picnic area, near Juniper Campground, features open space, picnic tables, a restoom, and a picnic shelter.
Juniper Group Site
A dirt path recedes into a law interspersed with trees, picnic tables, and grills.
The group site, like the rest of the campground, is a mix of sun and shade.
Roundup Group Horse Camp
Roundup is the park's only camping facility in which horses are permitted. This private campsite is located 12 miles from Medora, ND in the park's South Unit. It is reserved by one group at a time; space is not be shared among different parties. Reservations for Roundup begin each season on the first business day in March at 8:00 am MST. See the RESERVATIONS section below. Roundup can accommodate up to 20 people and 20 horses or 30 people if camping without horses.
Roundup Group Campsite - Nightly Rate
40.00
Exclusive use of Roundup Group Horse Camp by one group of up to 20 people and 20 horses or 30 people without horses. Maximum stay is 5 nights.
Roundup Group Horse Camp
A wood pavilion and restroom at the edge of a curved gravel drive with green grass
Roundup Group Horse Camp has ample space and parking.
Roundup horse facilities
A horse corral area with green hills in the background and a gravel drive in the foreground.
Corrals, hitching posts, and horse mounting ramp are provided.
Mike Auney Trail
A dirt trail extends towards a grove of green trees with rolling badlands scenery behind.
The Mike Auney Trail begins at Roundup Group Horse Camp and takes hikers and riders west across the Little Missouri River and into the Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness.
Choose a Trail
A trail post with brown sign labeling the direction of two trails.
Two trails depart from Roundup, linking riders with trails on both sides of the Little Missouri River.
River Bend Overlook, North Unit
A colorfully striped butte in the foreground overlooks a dark green badlands landscape
The River Bend Overlook offers one of the most popular views in the park's North Unit.
A View from the Maah Daah Hey Trail
the Little Missouri River under blue skies
The Maah Daah Hey Trail follows the Little Missouri River for several miles before it enters the Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness.
Ekblom Trail
A muddy river bank lined with cottonwood trees and steep buttes
The Ekblom Trail is the gateway to the Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness. All you have to do is make it across the river!
Raise a Ruckus
two bull bison collide heads in a dusty battle for dominance
In the summer, bull bison wage furious battles over the right to breed.
Milky Way
the swirling, dusty looking milky way runs vertically though a starry night sky
Though light pollution in the area is increasing, the night sky over Theodore Roosevelt National Park remains beautiful and inspiring.
Bison Trail
a string of bison are silhouetted against the backdrop of hazy blue and yellow badlands
Bison roam the badlands from top to bottom, surprising visitors with their agility and ability to cross even the most rugged terrain.
Sunset on Buck Hill
a green prairie hilltop overlooks the badlands, shrouded in shadows
A short climb to the top of Buck Hill in the park's South Unit rewards hikers with a sweeping panorama and a fantastic place to watch the sun rise or set.
Fall Bugle
A bugling bull elk and his harem of cows stand on the edge of a butte as the sunlight fades
The ghostly bugles of bull elk can be heard wafting through the badlands in the fall.
Hoodoos
a strange looking sand and rock formation stands in a prairie of brown grass
Theodore Roosevelt described the badlands as "so fantastically broken in form and so bizarre in color as to seem hardly properly to belong to this earth."
Maltese Cross Cabin
The rising sun casts light on Roosevelt's snow-covered cabin.
Imagine waking up on a crisp winter morning in Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin. It is no wonder that his heart was captured by the romance of life in the West.
Park Air Profiles - Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Air quality profile for Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Gives park-specific information about air quality and air pollution impacts for Theodore Roosevelt NP as well as the studies and monitoring conducted for Theodore Roosevelt NP.
Sunset view from Wind Canyon Trail
NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports.
badlands overlook
Plant Community Monitoring at Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is composed of three discrete units, each of which is a patchwork of mixed-grass prairie, clay buttes, bottomland forest, and open shrublands. The three park units are connected by the Little Missouri River. The park contains a great diversity of plants, but an increase in exotic plants could change this. We monitor plant communities here to better understand the current health of park ecosystems and to detect park-wide trends in vegetation.
A tall plant growing in a clump with long flower spikes of pretty cream flowers
Bison Bellows: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Meet the herd of Theodore Roosevelt National Park!
A bison standing atop a green hill in grass up to its chest, a cloudy blue sky behind
Origin of the Teddy Bear
One of the world's most well-loved bears is part of the history surrounding President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt.
Teddy Bear
The Bull Moose in Winter: Theodore Roosevelt and World War I
Roosevelt believed America should prepare for war. President Wilson wanted to keep America out of it.
Theodore Roosevelt, seated
Fertility control produces potential for feral horse management in park units
A recent study done in Theodore Roosevelt National Park shows the potential of fertility control - or contraceptives - to manage feral horse populations in the park.
Wild (feral) horses and foal in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Landbird Monitoring at Theodore Roosevelt National Park
The Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network have been monitoring landbirds at Theodore Roosevelt National Park since 2012. The Little Missouri River winds through all three units of the park and attracts numerous bird species to its floodplain cottonwood forest.
a bird with black body, white cheeks and chestnut neck patch, sitting on a strand of barbed wire.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Successfully Conducts Prescribed Fire After Years of Planning
In May 2014, staff of Theodore Roosevelt NP completed the Beef Corral Wash prescribed fire in Billings County. Goals included reducing fuels, stimulating new growth, altering grazing patterns of bison and elk, reducing Rocky Mountain juniper encroachment, encouraging fire-dependent plant growth, and restoring fire to a fire-dependent ecosystem that has not seen documented fire in >100 years. The fire supported a main NPS goal to restore and maintain resilient landscapes.
Smoke rises in multiple places from badlands.
Wildland Fire in Ponderosa Pine: Western United States
This forest community generally exists in areas with annual rainfall of 25 inches or less. Extensive pure stands of this forest type are found in the southwestern U.S., central Washington and Oregon, southern Idaho and the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Recently burned ponderosa pine forest.
Junior Web Ranger Activities for Ages 7-10
Welcome to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We have online activities for 7 - 10 year olds that include a virtual tour, wildlife watching, keeping your own journal, and more. Join us for these fun activities and a reward at the end.
Badlands reveal layers of ancient rock.
Population Viability Study
This study confirms that management of DOI bison herds in isolation promotes the loss of genetic diversity within all herds. More importantly, this study demonstrates that increased herd size and targeted removal strategies can reduce rates of diversity loss, and that adopting a Departmental metapopulation strategy through facilitated periodic movement of modest numbers of bison among DOI herds (i.e., restoring effective gene flow) can substantially reduce the...
Bison Population Viability Study
Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Cenozoic Era
The Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago [MYA] through today) is the "Age of Mammals." North America’s characteristic landscapes began to develop during the Cenozoic. Birds and mammals rose in prominence after the extinction of giant reptiles. Common Cenozoic fossils include cat-like carnivores and early horses, as well as ice age woolly mammoths.
fossils on display at a visitor center
Series: Wildlife in the Badlands
Ever wonder what kind of wildlife could survive the harsh climate of the Badlands?
Two small, grey young lambs walk down brown badlands slope.
Series: Research in Badlands National Park
Scientists often look to the Badlands as a research subject. Many studies have been conducted in the park on a variety of topics, including paleontology, geology, biology, and archaeology. Learn more about these research topics in this article series.
two researchers converse over a sheet of paper while a woman to their right uses a microscope.
Series: Plant Community Monitoring in Northern Great Plains Network Parks
Plant communities are essential components of all major ecosystems. Plants are the ultimate source of food for other organisms and the main source of organic material in soil and water. They also influence climate and provide the scenery that park visitors enjoy. The NPS Northern Great Plains Network monitors the number, identity, and relative abundance of plant species, as well as their horizontal cover and vertical structure, to determine the health of park ecosystems.
Two people sitting on the ground looking at plants
Series: Park Air Profiles
Clean air matters for national parks around the country.
Photo of clouds above the Grand Canyon, AZ
Quaternary Period—2.58 MYA to Today
Massive ice sheets advanced and retreated across North America during much of the Quaternary, carving landscapes in many parks. Bering Land Bridge National Preserve contains geologic evidence of lower sea level during glacial periods, facilitating the prehistoric peopling of the Americas. The youngest rocks in the NPS include the lava of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the travertine at Yellowstone National Park, which can be just a few hours old.
fossil bone bed and murals of mammoths
Paleogene Period—66.0 to 23.0 MYA
Colorful Paleogene rocks are exposed in the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park and the badlands of Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt national parks. Extraordinary Paleogene fossils are found in Fossil Butte and John Day Fossil Beds national monuments, among other parks.
fossil skull with teeth expsoed
Cenozoic Era
The Cenozoic Era (66 million years ago [MYA] through today) is the "Age of Mammals." North America’s characteristic landscapes began to develop during the Cenozoic. Birds and mammals rose in prominence after the extinction of giant reptiles. Common Cenozoic fossils include cat-like carnivores and early horses, as well as ice age woolly mammoths.
fossils on display in a visitor center
Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks
Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios.
Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background
Plan Like A Park Ranger: Top 10 Tips for Visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Learn more about how to Plan Like a Park Ranger for the next trip to your National Park!
Ranger hat on grass with binoculars and booklets.
Things to Do in North Dakota
Find things to do in North Dakota.
View of seven bison on on a ridge with ridges stretching into the distance behind.
Series: Things to Do in the Midwest
There is something for everyone in the Midwest. See what makes the Great Plains great. Dip your toes in the continent's inland seas. Learn about Native American heritage and history. Paddle miles of scenic rivers and waterways. Explore the homes of former presidents. From the Civil War to Civil Rights, discover the stories that shape our journey as a nation.
Steep bluff with pink sky above and yellow leaves below.
Volcanic Ash, Tephra Fall, and Fallout Deposits
Volcanic ash, pumice, and tephra ejected in volcanic eruptions ultimately falls back to Earth where it covers the ground. These deposits may be the thin dustings or may be many tens of feet (meters) thick near an eruptive vent. Volcanic ash and tephra can present geohazards that are present great distances from the erupting volcano.
photo of a bluff with exposed fine-grained volcanic ash and pumice.
Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils
The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian.
photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface
50 Nifty Finds #38: A Germ of an Idea
A lot of articles have been written about the history of the National Park Service (NPS) arrowhead emblem. Many recycle the same content and outdated information that has largely come from the NPS itself. Challenging the traditional story has revealed new sources of information—and two previously overlooked arrowhead designs—that rewrite the arrowhead origin story.
Wooden arrowhead plaque on stand
A Trail of Impact: Youth Empowerment through Restoration at Theodore Roosevelt National Park
On the western edge of North Dakota, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) is not just preserving national parks; it's shaping the future for a new generation of park stewards.
MCC Youth Crew members pose for a photo in front of a grassy area known as Buck Hill Trail project.
Theodore Roosevelt's Climate Change Legacy
In a world shaped by climate change, we face new challenges and threats daily. As the “conservation president,” Theodore Roosevelt also took on new ecological challenges in a rapidly changing world. As we reflect on both the history and the future of the climate crisis, what can we learn from Roosevelt’s story? How do these lessons help us move toward a brighter future?
Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir stand together with Yosemite Falls in the background
Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System
To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation.
A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera.
Series: Youth Maintenance Action Team Projects
How can youth and young adults be the next generation of public land stewards? One way is through the Maintenance Action Teams (MAT). These projects are funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). Check out this series to hear from these amazing individuals on their experiences with these projects and get involved!
An individual in a white hard hat, blue shirt, and jeans works on a historic preservation project
Project Profile: Support Transfer of Live Bison to Tribes from Midwest Region Parks
The National Park Service will enhance conservation collaboration with Tribal partners in the Midwest through the expansion of opportunities for bison distribution, strengthening education, infrastructure improvements, and tribal-NPS stewardship activities.
Bison calf and adults
Project Profile: Restore Mixed Grass Prairie Ecosystems Through Leveraged Conservation Actions in Central United States
The National Park Service will restore mixed grass prairie in parks in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska through planting native species on lands once used for agriculture. Restoration will include the control of invasive plants, prescribed fire, and the development of new seed sources for plants that are currently scarce in the region.
Brown, rocky mountain formation against a blue sky
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Coal Vein
A Guided Nature Trail
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Beautiful layers of rock tell a story of the 60-million-year geologic history of the
badlands. From ancient swamps to recent coal fres, this landscape is constantly
changing. Learn about badlands geology by following the numbered trail posts.
Stay to the left to follow the posts in numerical order.
1. Layers
Each layer of rock has its own origin story, told by its color.
Brick-red
Clinker forms when coal veins catch
fre and bake the rock above, changing
it into this much harder, red rock.
Black
Coal is the remains of ancient plants
and animals that lived in Evergladeslike swamps.
Brown and Tan
Sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone
are sediments washed down from the
Rocky Mountains.
Blue-grey
Bentonite clay is made of ash from
distant volcanoes.
2. Collapse
In this area there was a 12-foot-thick
coal vein deep underground. In 1951
it caught fre and burned for 26 years.
As it burned away, the rocks above
were left unsupported and the surface
collapsed, forming the depression you
are about to enter. Before the fre, the
land was level with the top of the stairs.
3. Bentonite
Notice the sediment on either side of
the trail. Fifty-fve million years ago,
volcanoes in the Rockies spewed out
ash that blew east. At that time, this
area was a vast, tropical swamp. The
ash settled in wet areas and became
bentonite clay.
Bentonite looks like popcorn when
dry (below), but becomes sticky, slick
mud when wet. It can absorb up to fve
times its weight in water. Known as the
mineral of one thousand uses, it is used
to seal landflls and ponds, to make cat
litter, and much more.
Stay to the left to continue on the guided nature trail.
Take the right on the cutoff trail to avoid a section of trail with very steep stairs.
You will rejoin the guided nature trail near post #11.
4. Caprocks
Rocks in the badlands are generally
soft and easily eroded by rain and
streams. Some are harder than others,
and become caprocks. A caprock
acts like a helmet, shielding softer
rock underneath. When the rocks
underneath fnally erode away, large
pieces of caprock break of and fall.
The large pieces of sandstone behind
you were once caprocks at the top of
the hill.
Left: An example of a caprock found
elsewhere in the park.
5. Dry Climate
The dry climate of western North
Dakota keeps the badlands from
eroding away more quickly — if rain
were more common, the soft rocks
would have washed away long ago.
The lack of moisture allows only the
hardiest plants to survive.
The trees here are Rocky Mountain
juniper. They, and all the other shrubs,
grasses, and wildfowers you fnd here,
are adapted to survive in this land
of extreme temperatures and little
moisture.
6. Seasonal Pool
Low spots like this one formed when
the ground collapsed during the coal
vein fre. They fll with water in the wet
springtime and after summer rains.
These seasonal ponds are important
7. Burn Out
Just ahead and to the right is where the
coal vein fre burned out after 26 years
(1951-1977). Visitors could see smoke,
glowing coals, and sometimes fames.
They even roasted marshmallows over
the fre!
Right: This photograph was taken in
the 1970s as the burning coal fre crept
toward its end.
Caution! Steep cliff edges ahead.
habitats for western chorus frogs which
must lay their eggs in standing water.
Listen for the chirping of the male
chorus frogs near seasonal pools from
April to June.
8. Hills Overlook
The trail goes to the right. To your left is
an overlook. Be careful; the edge drops
of sharply. From the overlook, you can
see how the terrain afects plant life.
The slopes you see face north. They
receive very little direct sunlight which
helps retain moisture, allowing juniper
to thrive. South-facing slopes receive a
lot of direct sunlight. They are very dry
and support only hardy grasses and a
few drought-tolerant shrubs.
9. Clinker
Feel the red rock next to the post. It is
locally called scoria, but its true name
is clinker. Clinker is created when a
burning coal seam bakes the rock layer
above it. Baking rock is like putting clay
into a kiln to make pottery — the rock
hardens as it bakes. Because clinker
is one of the hardest rocks in the
badlands, it functions as a caprock atop
many buttes.
10. Seasonal Stream
Just ahead, stairs lead to the valley of
a seasonal stream. As you descend,
notice the cool, moist air against your
skin. Because it is protected from the
sun, this area stays moist and cool.
Note the plants you see here and
compare them to the plants you have
encountered in open grassland. What
are the diferences?
Continue straight ahead to follow the guided nature trail.
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National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Ridgeline
A Guided Nature Trail
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Cliff Edges
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Rattlesnakes
Wildlife
Poison Ivy
Ridgeline Nature Trail
Lakota people called this land mako shika, or “land of no good.” French explorers
called it les mauvais terres á traverser, “bad lands to travel through.” The English
name is badlands. It is dry, maze-like, and rugged. Survival can be tough. Even
so, many plants and animals do survive and even thrive here. Learn more as you
follow the numbered trail posts.
1. Look deeper
As you hike this trail, look closely. The
juniper trees surrounding you now
are hard to miss. Also notice the many
other plants, including chokecherry,
crisply scented silver sagebrush,
and many grasses and small fowers.
Animals eat most of these plants and
Silver sagebrush
( Artemisia cana)
Choke cherry
(Prunus virginiana)
American Indians have long used them
for food or medicine. Some plants are
toxic. In order to survive, people and
animals had to learn which plants could
help or harm them.
Prairie wild rose
(Rosa arkansana)
Purple conefower
(Echinacea angustifolia)
2. Mako shika
Imagine traveling across the Great
Plains in a covered wagon and coming
upon this scene. The name badlands is
understandable. Next, imagine yourself
as a hunter on foot—butte tops become
good lookouts and valleys become
good places to travel undetected. Now
imagine yourself as prey, using the
lookouts and hiding places to evade
predators. Once you get to know the
badlands, you can use the rugged
landscape to your advantage.
Continue straight ahead to follow the guided nature trail.
3. Grasslands
Grasslands look simple at frst
glance, but upon closer inspection
are complex. Hundreds of species of
plants live in the park, most of them
grasses and wildfowers. Grasslands
support grazers, animals that eat
mostly grass, such as bison. In fact,
grasslands depend on grazers. Grazers
fertilize the soil with their manure.
Their pointed hooves pierce the soil
allowing rainwater to fnd its way into
the ground. By grazing selectively, they
help many plant species thrive.
4. Shrubs
Shrubs, like the silver sagebrush in
front of you, provide cover for small
mammals and birds and are also food
for browsers (animals that eat shrubs
such as deer, elk, and pronghorn.)
Silver bufaloberry
(Shepherdia argentea)
Browsers and fres keep shrubs from
overtaking the grasslands. Without
them, tree and shrub cover increases,
shading out smaller plants and
reducing the prairie’s diversity.
Rubber rabbitbrush
(Chrysothamnus nauseosus)
Golden currant
(Ribes aureum)
Continue straight ahead to follow the trail posts in numerical order.
5. Expressway
Travel through the badlands is much
faster since the construction of
Interstate 94 in the 1960s. Increased
travel to and through the badlands
Caution! Steep cliff edges ahead
means more chances of introducing
plants and animals that aren’t originally
from this area. Some introduced
species are damaging; others are not.
6. New Neighbors
Not all of the plant species you see
were here 200 years ago. Those that
were here before European settlement
are called native species. The prairie
depends on native species to play their
part in the environment–as food or
shelter for animals, or as protection
and nutrients for soil. Plants that have
been introduced are called non-native
species. Many non-native species blend
into the environment and do not pose
a threat; others become a problem.
These problem species are called
invasive species.
7. Invaders
Invasive plants, such as Canada
thistle, often spread quickly and take
over large areas, crowding out native
species. Some invasive plants, like leafy
spurge, slow the growth of nearby
plants by releasing toxic chemicals
from their roots. Many invasive plants
Canada thistle
(Cirsium arvense)
cannot be eaten by native wildlife.
Their spread reduces the amount of
food available for grazers. Theodore
Roosevelt National Park is actively
fghting to keep invasive species from
overtaking the native prairie.
Leafy spurge
(Euphorbia esula))
Smooth brome
(Bromus inermis)
Continue straight along the ridge to the next post.
8. Variety
As you look out across the landscape,
notice its diversity: some areas have
trees; some are grassy; and some are
almost bare. This is the infuence of
terrain on plant life. Do you see the
pattern?
Trees grow where they can get enough
water, usually along streams or
northern sides of hills where the sun
doesn’t dry up moisture as quickly.
Grasses are adapted to dry areas like
the tops and southern sides of hills.
9. Cooling Down
You are entering the north slope of
the ridge you’ve been walking along.
Notice there are fewer grasses and
more trees and shrubs. Grasses t