Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness

Divided into three units along the Little Missouri River, Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness encompasses the heart of the scenic North Dakota badlands. Eons ago, when the Rocky Mountains emerged, material washed off the range and was deposited here, forming a plain; centuries of wind and rain then carved it into the broken, colorful splendor of today's badlands. The Wilderness preserves outstanding badlands geology, a petrified forest, mixed-grass prairie and a wide variety of wildlife. Much of the South Unit west of the river and most of the North Unit is congressionally designated Wilderness, and these areas provide a home for bison, elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, coyotes, prairie dogs, sharp-tailed grouse and eagles. Theodore Roosevelt himself had a cattle ranch here in the 1880s, and the ranch headquarters is preserved in the small Elkhorn Ranch Unit of the national park. The Wilderness and park bear the former president's name in honor of his experiences in the badlands and his conservation legacy. Ninety-five miles of trails offer ample opportunity for solitude, as most visitors stay on park roads and in established campgrounds. In spring, when snowmelt fills the river, paddling can be excellent, although water levels vary and it is sometimes difficult to plan ahead.