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National and State Parks
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| North Dakota Tourism/Marc Muench |
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National Park and Historic Sites
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
The two units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park offer majestic Badlands scenery, abundant wildlife and all kinds of adventures of your own making.
During his administration, President Theodore Roosevelt founded the United States Forest Service, signed the National Monuments Act and established the first federal game preserve. His conservation efforts led to the founding of the National Park Service, established to preserve and protect unspoiled places like his beloved North Dakota Badlands, now known as Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
The park has two units, the North Unit and the South Unit, both distinctly different.
The South Unit is on I-94 in western North Dakota. Here the Badlands have been shaped by millions of years of wind, rain, erosion, fire and the meandering Little Missouri River. The area was described in 1864 by Gen. Alfred Sully as "hell with the fires out." The main access to the South Unit is through the historic town of Medora.
The North Unit, accessible from U.S. Highway 85 south of Watford City, has taller buttes and is heavily forested in places. The beauty and allure of the North Unit draws visitors year-round for sweeping vistas of this designated wilderness.
Today, visitors can view a natural setting much like the one that greeted Roosevelt over a century ago. The 36-mile scenic loop drive in the South Unit and the 14-mile drive in the North Unit provide easy access to popular vistas and wildlife viewing. You will always see buffalo herds and prairie dog towns, and you may catch a glimpse of wild horses, mule deer, elk and maybe even at coyote.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is open year-round, with guided trail rides and primitive camping available inside and outside the park. For more information on Theodore Roosevelt National Park, call 701-623-4466.
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site was established as a National Park Service (NPS) site in 1974. This is the only NPS site that preserves and protects the Northern Plains Indian Heritage. The Native Americans have occupied this area for over 11,000 years. There are the remains of three Hidatsa village sites within the park boundaries. The Big Hidatsa site has 110 depressions, the Sakakawea (Awatixa) site has 60 depressions and the Lower Hidatsa site has 40 depressions. This was once a thriving civilization situated along the Knife River. Sakakawea lived at the Awatixa site when she met Lewis and Clark at Fort Mandan. A state of the art museum dedicated to preserving the cluture of the Hidatsa, Mandan and Arikara tribes is located at the visitor center. A 15-minute video about village life can be viewed in the visitor center theater. A full-scale reconstructions of a Hidatsa earthlodge features autthentic furnishings. Programs in the earthlodge are conducted during the summer months. Call 701-745-3300 for more information.
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site Largest fur trading post on the upper Missouri River from 1828-1867. Trading headquarters with American Indians. Reconstructed Bourgeois House contains museum exhibits. Replica trade goods are available for purchase in the reconstructed Indian Trade House. Call 701-572-9083 for more information.
International Peace Garden The International Peace Garden is a 2,339-acre botanical garden commemorating peace between the United States and Canada along the world's longest unfortified border. It blooms with more than 150,000 varieties of flowers and showcases the Peace Chapel. It is also home to the International Music Camp, Friday night concerts in June and July, and interpretive center, floral clock and souvenir shop. RV-friendly campground. Call 888-432-6733 for more information. Click here for passport details.
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| North Dakota Tourism/Bruce Wendt |
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State Parks
North Dakota's 14 state parks and recreation areas are nestled in the shadows of historic forts and sprawled among the stunning Badlands. From primitive campsites to cabin rentals, evening programs in outdoor amphitheaters to guided interpretive trails, you'll find quite joys and great adventures. For detailed information about North Dakota's state parks, visit the North Dakota State Parks and Recreation Web site.
Online reservations for camping are available.
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