Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota)

As I stated in my last post, my past trips to Yellowstone have typically gone through either North or South Dakota.  When I do the southern route, I typically stop and overnight in Badlands National Park in South Dakota.  The campground there is very nice and convenient as a stopping point or even for a couple of nights.

Because my final destination was Gardiner, Montana rather than Yellowstone National Park itself, the northern route made more sense which made Theodore Roosevelt National Park my first night destination.

My Sunday drive from Milwaukee to Dickinson, ND was very nice . . . sunny clear skies, with light highway traffic.  Arriving to my motel around nightfall, I got a nice night's sleep so I could venture into the park for a few hours before continuing my trek west to Montana.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park seems to be one that is very underutilized.  I have stopped here several times in past years, car camping either on my way west or my way home.  With my SUV looking like this, there was no camping for me.  That's alright though, as I enjoyed having a nice hot shower when I got in, plus the free morning snacks they call breakfast.

I arrived to the park entrance before 7a and pretty much had the place to myself.  This was particularly good news as I was hoping to see the wild horses that live here in the northern badlands.  I wasn't disappointed as the first band of horses were right at the vista lookout just a few miles inside the park boundaries.  There was a couple of young colts, plus older ones still nursing.  The band stallion was attentive to all that was happening around them, and when another car pulled into the parking lot with me, he moved his family to the other side of the road.  They continued to graze, not really paying much attention to us.

Beyond this point, much of the park access is closed due to poor road conditions.  A few years ago, the road washed away in one area and since that time, other issues have caused additional closures.  It's unfortunate as usually visitors can drive the entire loop road of the "lower unit" in about 2 hours, seeing some pretty amazing views plus lots of wildlife.  For my visit, however, it would be an "in and back out" trip of roughly 20 miles each way.

The prairie dog town was a ghost town when I drove into the park, probably due to the drizzly morning, because when I came back through, they were very active on the prairie.  When they detect danger approaching, the come up to see what's going on, and begin "chirping" to let others know.

There are also bison in this area, but the herds must have been far away in better grazing areas as their calves are born in early spring.  All I really saw were a few lone bulls like this one, which are generally pretty solitary. Of course, the scenery around them makes the photographic image.

I was fortunate to stumble upon a couple more bands of horses further inside the park.  The largest of what I saw included one stallion who only had mating on his mind.  When I first drove into the area, his entire group was together on one side of the road.  But when I came back through towards the park exit, he had separated himself and a mare to the other side.

I was curious about it so I stopped and turned off my car (again, I had the park mostly to myself so stopping in the middle of the road for a few minutes wasn't putting me in danger or impeding traffic . . . as in "what traffic?")  My patience and time waiting paid off as I got to enjoy another "National Geographic" moment in the wild.  The mare, however, wasn't too interested . . . vocalized and kicked him off several times!  Give him A for effort as he kept trying until he lost "it".  Now you know why they say "hung like a horse."