August 13-22, 2021
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
NORTH UNIT
208 Scenic Dr, Watford City, ND 58854
“The North Unit is a bit off the beaten path alongside ND Highway 85. Its ruggedness and beauty, and the solitude you'll find in this less-visited unit of the park are well worth the 50 mile drive from Interstate 94.” nps.gov
August 14, 2021
My first venture into Theodore Roosevelt National Park was at its North Unit. The visit started with a bison crossing the road in front of me just before I reached the entry station, so I knew this was going to be a good day. The scenic road through the park goes 14 miles from the entrance to Oxbow Overlook, then you turn around and follow the same road out. Along the way there are areas to pull off and park to view the beauty of the park. I had read online to allow 1.5 hours to tour the park, I took 3 hours. On my way out I found a trail to a prairie dog town, but as much as I wanted to, the temperature was in the mid-90s, so I decided to skip the hike. The park did not disappoint.
Seriously, this is the first thing that greeted me as I entered the park.
While driving along I happened to spot this rafter of wild turkeys.
Mother nature is a wonderful artist.
Panoramic view from the Oxbow Overlook at the end of the trail.
A view of the cannonball concretions. "When mineral rich water seeps down through the porous layers that make up the badlands, it can deposit those minerals in spaces or gaps in the sediments. The minerals act as a kind of glue, holding these sediments together, often forming around a core. As more and more layers are deposited, the concretion builds outward like a pearl, before being exposed by erosion." nps.gov
One of the cannonball concretions.
The shelter built by the CCC at the River Bend Overlook. Supposedly, this is the view that helped establish the area as a national park.
A herd of bison crossing the Little Missouri river, as viewed from the River Bend Overlook.
These guys seemed determined to stop traffic for a while.
August 21, 2021
I returned to the North Unit one week after my first visit, and the day after the area received a much-needed significant rainfall. It may have been my imagination, but I thought things were greener than my previous trip. The rain soaked stone also had different coloring. I was fortunate to see and capture a picture of two deer before they turned and scampered back into the thick brush.
This piece of ironwork is part of the entrance sign to the park. While touring Medora I saw more than on exhibit talking about the piece's artist, who was a member of the WPA, one of FDR's depression recovery programs.
Darker colors because of the rain were evident.
A panoramic view from the River Bend Overlook.
Some of the cannonball concretions.
You could still see where sand and sediment washed away in the previous day's rain. Imagine this happening over millions of years and you can visualize how these badlands were formed.
Bison grazing on top of a butte.
Things just appeared to be greener the day after a significant rain.
Mother Nature is a wonderful artist.