After seeing Badlands in South Dakota, we drove north to see the badlands of western North Dakota and Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Named after the 26th U.S. president, the park memorializes Roosevelt’s love for the region, where he ranched during the late 1800s, and its role in fostering his conservation ethics.
As soon as we entered the park, we spotted bands of wild horses (which brought back memories of wild ponies on Chincoteague Island). We were here in early May, and the trees weren’t even fully leafed out yet, so far north.
According to the park service website:
“Their presence represents Theodore Roosevelt’s experiences here during the open-range ranching era. By the late 1800s European settlement of the plains had reached the Dakotas. Ranchers turned horses out on the open range to live and breed. When needed, they would round up horses and their offspring for use as ranch horses. For generations, ranchers used land that would later become the park for open-range grazing.
After the park was fenced, a horse round-up held in 1954 removed 200 branded animals. A few small bands of horses eluded capture and went unclaimed. These horses continued to live free-range in the park.
For several years the National Park Service tried to remove all horses from the park. In 1970, a change of park policy recognized the horse as part of the historical setting. New policies were written and enacted to manage the horses as a historic demonstration herd.”
They’re graceful animals, and I’m happy we were able to observe them.
It was a cool, sometimes drizzly day as we cruised the scenic loop in the park’s South Unit. (There’s also a North Unit and Elkhorn Ranch Unit, which we didn’t visit.)
These grassy and rock-studded hills are gentler than South Dakota’s moonscape badlands.
We stopped at some of the overlooks to hike short trails…
…and enjoy sweeping views.
From a high bluff, we looked out over the Little Missouri River.
Back on the road, we encountered a furry, 2-ton traffic obstacle.
A lone bison ambled down the center of the blacktop, totally unconcerned about our oncoming truck. We willingly gave him the right-of-way.
He had his sights on a low post for a good neck scratch.
Maybe the cheek too.
Those horns are deadly serious. We got a good look as we rolled past.
A bison paradise
Trees still in winter mode
We kept an eye out for bison on another trail…
…but didn’t spot any. Just a badlands view for mile and miles.
And later, near a soggy picnic spot, more wild horses.
Up next: Yellowstone! — the park I’d been anticipating for the whole trip. For a look back at rugged Badlands National Park, click here.
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