Theodore Roosevelt National Park
When dreaming of a trip to North Dakota, most people plan a visit to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is split up into three separate units that include a combined total of over 70,000 acres of land. There are very few places you can see the remains of a prehistoric forest in the way you can see one in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. There is a specific trail in the park you can take to see the enormous petrified tree stumps. Petrified trees are created from trees that lived and existed on the land hundreds of thousands of years ago that mineralized into hard rock over time.
This prairie landscape is full of hundreds of plant types, including trees such as juniper, cottonwood, and elm. There are large swaths of grassland with many types of sagebrush, native grasses, and more. Along with all those plants, there are tons of animals that can be seen in the park as well.
Bison and wild horses are the two most popular wildlife to view at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, but those aren't the only animals that can be seen here. Bighorn sheep, elk, deer, coyotes, and prairie dogs are just a few of the others. There are also hundreds of birds and a handful of reptile species that call this place home. It is the most popular spot to view wildlife in North Dakota!
The park is known for its uniquely shaped landscape, but it also has unusual formations hiding in it you might not know about: cannonball concretions. These perfectly round, smooth natural rock formations are quite impressive and almost hard to believe, but they exist! They are formed in a very specific way over thousands of years and have been slowly revealed underneath the sediment as natural erosion occurs. You can view them at places like the Cannonball Concretion Pullout in the park.
- Google Rating: 4.8/5
- Admission: $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, and $15 per person
- Opening Hours: Daily
- Website: https://www.nps.gov/thro/
- Address: 208 Scenic DriveWatford City, ND 58854
