Theodore Roosevelt
National Park

Please, check The Online Visitor Guide.

Established as Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park April 25, 1947; North Unit added to memorial park June 12, 1948; redesignated as national park November 10, 1978. Boundary changes: June 10, 1948; June 12, 1948; March 24, 1956; November 6, 1963; November 10, 1978; and September 13, 1995. Wilderness designated November 10, 1978.

VISITATION:

Highest in June, July and August. Visitation is increasing during the shoulder seasons of May and September; lowest November to February. Review the Monthly Visitation Statistics.

LOCATION:

South Unit is near Medora, ND in Billings Co.; North Unit is near Watford City, ND in McKenzie Co.; the remote Elkhorn Ranch site is between the two units along the Little Missouri River.

ADDRESS:

Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Box 7
Medora, ND 58645

TELEPHONE:

South Unit (701) 623-4466 (Primary park phone number)
North Unit (701) 842-2333

OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:

Open all year; portions of the South Unit Scenic Loop Drive and North Unit Scenic Road may be closed in winter due to snow and ice.

Visitor center operations:

Medora Visitor Center (South Unit): open daily, mid-June through Labor Day, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. MDT. Open daily remainder of year except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (MT).

Painted Canyon Visitor Center (South Unit): open daily mid-June through Labor Day, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (MDT) plus April to mid-June and September through mid-November, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (MT).

North Unit Visitor Center: open daily, Memorial Day through September, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (CDT). Open weekends and most weekdays the rest of the year except closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:

Summers are warm with temperatures in the 80s and 90s with a few days into the 100s on some years. Evenings can be cool. Average maximum: July is 87.1 degrees and August is 86.7 degrees. Average minimum: July 54.5 degrees and August is 52.4 degrees. Annual precipitation is 15 inches. Winters are generally cold. Recommend layers of clothing, especially in spring and fall. Rain gear in spring. Hat for sun protection is needed in summer.

DIRECTIONS:

The North and South units are in western North Dakota. The South Unit Visitor Center is located in Medora, just off Interstate 94 and is 135 miles west of Bismarck, North Dakota. The Painted Canyon Visitor Center is located 7 miles east of Medora just off I-94. The North Unit Visitor Center is located 16 miles south of Watford City along U.S. Highway 85. The distance between Medora at the South Unit and the visitor center in the North Unit is 70 miles via I-94 and U. S. Highway 85.

TRANSPORTATION:

To Park: Passenger vehicle is the main mode of transportation. Air service into North Dakota towns of Bismarck, Dickinson and Williston. Bus transportation along I-94. Train service into Williston.

In Park: Personal vehicles, bicycles and charter bus.

FEES, COSTS, RATES:

Entrance Fees
7 day Entrance Pass - Good for both Units	$5.00 per person maximum $10/vehicle
Annual Park Permit	$20.00
Golden Eagle Passport	$50.00
Commercial Tour Vehicles
(1-6 passenger capacity)	$25.00 plus $5.00 per person fee
(7-15 passenger capacity)	$50.00 no per person fee
(16-25 passenger capacity)	$60.00 no per person fee
(over 25 capacity)	$150.00 no per person fee
User Fees
Camping	$10.00 per unit per day
Group Camping	$2.00 per person/day minimum $20.00/day
South Unit Horse Camping Fee	$1.00 per horse/day
Golden Age and Golden Access Passports honored.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:

Visitor Center/Exhibits:

Medora Visitor Center at entrance to South Unit.
Painted Canyon Visitor Center 7 miles east of Medora along I-94.
North Unit Visitor Center at entrance to North Unit.

Trails, Roads:

South Unit: South Unit Scenic Loop Drive; Ridgeline Nature Trail; Coal Vein Nature Trail; Painted Canyon Trail; Jones Creek Trail; Petrified Forest Trail; Lone Tree Trail; Paddock Creek Trail; and Talkington Trail. Connecting with the North and South Unit is the 120 mile long Maah-Daah-Hey trail.

North Unit: North Unit Scenic Drive; Caprock Coulee Nature Trail; Little Mo Nature Trail; Achenback Trail; North Achenback Trail; Upper Caprock Coulee Trail; Buckhorn Trail; and Prairie Dog Town Trail.

Programs/Activities:

A full compliment of regularly scheduled programs including talks, evening campfire presentations, nature walks and long hikes are offered June - mid-September. Guided tours of Theodore Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin in summer; self-guided during winter. Ski tours in winter may be offered if snow conditions permit. Educational programs for schools and groups may be scheduled throughout the year.

Lodging and camping facilities:

Lodging is not available in the park. Camping: Cottonwood Campground in the South Unit and Juniper Campground in the North Unit; no reservations; no hook-ups. Group camping available in both units; reservations required. Lodging plus camping facilities with RV amenities of water, sewer and electrical hook-ups are available in the area.

Food/supplies:

None within the park; a variety of restaurants and grocery stores are available near the park or within a short drive.

Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:

Publications, maps, postcards, posters, and other visitor convenience items are sold in the North Unit, Painted Canyon and Medora visitor centers by the Theodore Roosevelt Nature and History Association (Box 167, Medora, ND 58645). Peaceful Valley Trail Rides, Inc.; concession provides trail rides in the South Unit. Other business permittees offer trail rides in the North Unit and canoeing. Additional museums are located in Medora and surrounding communities.

Accessibility:

All visitor centers, wayside exhibits, campground amphitheaters, and Maltese Cross Cabin are accessible. Both campgrounds have accessible campsites. First portion of Little Mo Nature Trail is paved.

Special Needs:

Parking areas at each visitor center for buses and trailers. Pull-outs along park road accommodate longer vehicles. Orientation film shown at Painted Canyon and North Unit visitor centers can be captioned. Printed text is available at the South Unit Visitor Center. Access to the Elkhorn Ranch site may require 4-wheel drive and may be inaccessible at certain times of the year due to weather and road conditions.

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:

Visiting park visitor centers with museum and orientation films; visiting the Maltese Cross Cabin near the Medora Visitor Center; joining a guided talk or walk or attending evening program; driving scenic park roads; wildlife viewing; bird watching; hiking; and camping.

Park is noted for opportunities to see bison, elk, mule and white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs, coyote and other small mammals as well as a variety of birds including golden eagles. Wild (feral) horses can be seen in the South Unit and longhorn steers in the North Unit.

RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:

Camping is on a first-come, first-served basis. Group camping requires reservation. For the Roundup Group Horse Camp and Cottonwood Group site in the South Unit as well as the North Unit Group site, reservations are accepted beginning the first work day in March. A free backcountry permit is required for overnight camping. Reservations for school groups and other educational trips should be made three weeks prior to planned visit. For additional information concerning reservations, special use or filming permits, call (701) 623-4466.

BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATION:

South Unit: a minimum of four hours is recommended to visit the Medora Visitor Center and drive the 36-mile loop road. North Unit: a minimum of three hours. If time is spent taking one or both of the short, self-guided nature walks in either unit, add two hours. Longer hikes take all day. Driving distance between the North and South Units is 70 miles. At least two days is recommended to visit both the North and South units plus walk some of the short nature trails. Topography and landscape are different between the North and South Unit.

SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:

Orientation films are provided year-round. Interpretive talks, walks, hikes, children's activities and evening programs are scheduled early June to mid-September. Special programs may be presented throughout the year. Call the park for specific dates and times at (701)623-4466.

VISITOR IMPACTS:

Information concerning park access plus closures for roads, trails and park sections is available at park entrance stations, visitor centers and park headquarters. Precipitation from fast moving prairie storms may limit travel on established trails and backcountry routes due to slippery conditions or rain-filled streams and dry washes. The Little Missouri River can prevent access to the Elkhorn Ranch site. Summer temperatures reaching into the low 100s can limit travel as can winter blizzard conditions with extreme cold temperatures.

ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:

Medora Musical (nightly during summer), Little Missouri National Grasslands (drives, sightseeing), Chateau de Mores State Historic Site in Medora (tours), Dinosaur Museum in Dickinson. From Medora, Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is 125 miles; Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, 135 miles.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Write Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Box 7, Medora, ND 58645 or call (701)623-4466.

Last Updated:Sunday, 20-Jun-99 13:33:43
http://www.nps.gov/thro/
Email: Ranger Reece