Overview

The 26th president of the United States came to North Dakota as a wealthy young man intent on hunting bison; he left with an appreciation of the hardships of life in the Badlands and a passion for conservation that led to the establishment of the U.S. Forest Service during his time in office. The North Dakota park named for Roosevelt includes three units surrounded by the Little Missouri National Grassland. The north and south sections, each with their own visitor center, are crossed by segments of the Little Missouri River; in between is the Elkhorn Ranch Unit, site of one of the ranches where Roosevelt lived and worked in the late 19th century. The South Unit's 36-mile Scenic Loop Drive includes interpretive stops explaining the park's natural and historic significance, as well as trailheads for hikes along the Ridgehead Nature Trail and the scorched site of a fire in an underground coal vein. Visitors can also enjoy the park by horseback at Peaceful Valley Ranch. Oxbow Overlook is the end point of the less-visited North Unit's 14-mile scenic drive; it's just one of several spots in the park offering views of the twisting course of the Little Missouri River. Visitors can also kayak or canoe the river when water levels permit, and backcountry campsites can be reached either by foot or horse. Teddy Roosevelt would no doubt be pleased to know that both bison and elk have been reintroduced in the park that bears his name. Date Formed: November 10, 1978 Area: 70,446.89 acres Website: [www.nps.gov/thro](http://www.nps.gov/thro)