Theodore Roosevelt
National Park North Unit
Scenic Byway
(13.7 miles)
Theodore Roosevelt National Park memorializes the 26th president for his enduring contributions to the conservation of our natural resources. This byway provides the colorful North Dakota Badlands as a scenic backdrop with its sweeping vistas of one of the last remnants of wilderness in the Northern Great Plains. Visitors are provided a unique opportunity for wildlife viewing. In the park you will find open prairie, hardwood draws, bison, other wildlife, the Little Missouri River and a history that includes Theodore Roosevelt.
Location
This byway begins 15 miles south of Watford City from US Highway 85 and proceeds west on the scenic drive through the north unit of the park.
Points of interest
- Visitor Center - The North Unit Visitor Center offers visitors exhibits and a movie about the park as well as information about road and trail conditions and park activities.
- Cannonball Concretions Pullout – This pullout highlights the amazing geology found within Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Called cannonball concretions because of their shape these unusual geological formations were formed by wind, water, and time.
- Caprock Coulee Nature Trail - About 1.5 miles west of Juniper Campground is the start of a self-guiding trail through badlands coulees-dry water gulches-and breaks-interruptions in the grassy plains. Length: 1.6 miles roundtrip.
- River Bend Overlook and CCC shelter – This scenic overlook offers breathtaking views of the badlands from a historic shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1930s.
- Achenbach Trail - Beginning at North Unit Campground, this trail climbs from river bottomland up through the Achenbach Hills, drops to the river again, climbs to Oxbow Overlook along the way by a spur trail, and returns along the river bottom to the campground. Inquire about the condition of the river crossings before departing. Length: 16 miles.
- Oxbow Overlook – The final overlook of the byway offers a sweeping panoramic view of the badlands and a oxbow in the Little Missouri River.
