"Travelogue: Roosevelt National Park, South Unit"

Welcome to Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota - this time, sharing pictures from the South Unit, smack dab along I-94 in the southwestern corner of the state. Earlier, I featured the North Unit, far less visited by its geographic separation from this section and I-94.

Medora is a quaint yet typical tourist-trap of a town just off I-94, and 'base-camp' for people exploring Roosevelt, with the South Unit's entrance literally on the outskirts of town.

Given the proximity to I-94, the South Unit is far more heavily visited than the North Unit well removed to the northeast...and I found the North Unit to be a bit more picturesque. As you drive the limited-in-length Loop Road through the South Unit, you will notice how very few places there are to pull over and park...and I mean VERY few. All sorts of incredible mental photographs could not be made real because there was nowhere close by even to just pull over for a quick snap.

All of this was a home away from home to Mr. Roughrider himself, Teddy Roosevelt, who found the area salubrious for his health and prime territory for beginning his 'other' (brief) job as a cattle rancher in the 1880's (this immediately after both his wife and mother died on the same day back east). He ultimately bought the Elkhorn Ranch, now partially restored and part of the South Unit. However, visitors need a 4x4 vehicle and the ability to cross a river to get to it, which my wonderful but undersized Ford Escort wagon could not conquer.

Too, a goodly portion of the Loop Road was closed for a year for major repairs when I visited, so the Loop Road became the Crescent Road as you had to retrace your steps to come back out. Numerous hiking opportunities abound all around, but my 2-day traveling through both Units of the park didn't allow for anything other than minor jaunts.

The region is known as the North Dakota Badlands, as well as the Little Missouri Badlands, and is far greener in many parts than the South Dakota counterparts some 5 hours south and east. Lots of gorgeous sedimentary formations exposed, with the oxidizing minerals adding unique color banding to the myriad beds.

Inbetween the skinned ramparts were lush carpets of grass that surely provided good grazing for the 4-leggeds...but don't kid yourself that winters were easily dealt with. The beginning of the end of Roosevelt's lust for the rancher's life started after the winter of 1886-87 when he lost over 60% of his herd to winter's icy death grip. 3 summers later, he abandoned Elkhorn for good. I guess he had other things to go do...

Last week's Travelogue featured East River Road, a gorgeous gravel road that leads south out of Medora toward the South Dakota border...the road I slowly drove north to begin my Roosevelt N.P. tour. I thought I'd posted my video link to it on YouTube, but I had not. You can click on the link below to integrate these areas if'n you want:

East River Road video postcard

"Travelogue: East River Road, North Dakota"

(click on pics to enlarge)

Welcome to East River Road in southwestern North Dakota. I was taking a weekend trip north from Rapid City, SD to Roosevelt National Park...as I perused my detailed map, I saw a backroad that would take me to the tourist town of Medora, ND...just my speed (the road, not the town!)...

40 miles of the above....in the time I took dawdling along and stopping here, there, and yon, I saw but 2 vehicles. Traveling with the windows down, the radio never on to begin with...the Meadowlarks providing a constant song as I meandered...and the windows down with the pups working their noses in the warm breeze...I'd swear they were smiling...

This is the edge of what's called the North Dakota Badlands, which I always thought of as the South Dakota Badlands "with hair", since there was so much more greenery...and less well-known, hence less-traveled (a GOOD thing!!!)...

You could pull over anywhere...let the pups out, walk around, take neat close-ups of something like the Prickly Rose above (great wallpaper, by the way), and have it all to yourself...luckily no Prairie Rattlers made themselves known...!

And it went on forever, so it seemed. You pass through public and private land, and rarely knew which was which...animals, wild and domestic ones, free-ranging like the antelope pair below...

The scenery changing from dry and rugged to lush and rolling, all begging to be explored...or at least to be honored by simply sitting still and soaking in all of the beauty...

As I came around one bend, there was a herd of horses...domestic, of course, but out in what you would call the 'middle of nowhere'...and they stood right in the middle of this gravel road, even as I slowed to a snail's pace before stopping the car altogether. This mare and foal all but posed for me for a couple of quick snaps...

I can't begin to tell you how therapeutic such a drive is...to not look at a watch or deal with a cell phone, and to have nothing but silence envelop you, outside of the natural sounds that came with the territory...for hours....

So here's a hearty cheer to the backroads crying to be explored...and to our hearts that long to experience such treasures. May we all have the courage of heart to say "no" to the trappings of modern life, and the bravery to step out in a different...slower...more meaningful direction.
You'll be glad you did.

"Travelogue: Little Missouri Breaks, North Dakota"

"Mako Shika"
Sioux
"Where the land breaks"

And that's exactly what the Little Missouri Breaks resemble: 'broken land'.

Welcome to North Dakota, a state that most have no idea has such beauty in its boundaries. All of these images came from (or very close to) Little Missouri State Park north of Killdeer, ND on Highway 22.

This particular park caters to those who wish to trailer in their horses for days of trail riding, and an awe-inspiring trail ride it must be. Because I was on the clock to return from my foray into the Roosevelt National Park, I did not have time to do any hiking myself. **sigh**

All of these photos came from somewhere close to a road or entrance trail...and you can just look into the landscape and picture what it would be like to be down in there, walking amidst the formations and devouring all the different perspectives they surely provide.

I know I always say this, but these pictures look much better enlarged, which you can do by clicking on them. It's clear in the timing of my visit that the word 'drought' was not a topic of conversation...my yard now is the color of the rocks in the picture, NOT the verdant grass seen in these photos!

By the way, this has NOTHING to do with the 1976 film "The Missouri Breaks", starring Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando. That area is way up in Montana along the...you guessed it...Missouri River. However, sure would be a beautiful setting for a movie, eh?

Caught this little lagomorph in mid hop as it was searching for the tastiest greens. Maybe I could film a documentary of this rabbit and the life-cycle of creating offspring there...you'd have to admit it would be a hare-raising drama...

Ah, what's a typical blog entry from me if it doesn't have at least one lame joke? Well, most days, anyway. Speaking of lame, any sense of that is best avoided as this particular park as almost 5,800 acres to explore.

The Little Missouri Breaks. Clearly one of those places on my 'must go back to' list.

Travelogue: Roosevelt National Park - North Unit

This is one of those magical places far off the beaten path...(click on pics to enlarge)

Few travel through North Dakota as it is, and the majority zip along I-94 through the southern tier. In the far southwest corner along I-94, you'll find the quaint tourist town of Medora, sitting alongside the better known South Unit of Roosevelt National Park.

This was the fabled home away from home ("Elkhorn Ranch") for Teddy Roosevelt, champion of the preservation of wilderness areas. He was very fond of its beauty, and I think you can tell why. If you can't, then "Bully!" to you.

The North Unit, however, is about 70 miles away farther to the north and a little east...much smaller than the South Unit, and far off the beaten interstate path. Remarkably few travelers trek to it, and what a gem they are missing. In a way, it's rather simple in layout: a one-way 14-mile road winds it's way through a breath-taking landscape of ever-changing beauty.

I ran into precious few visitors, as you can tell with my last picture where I took the liberty to lie in the road for a semi-self portrait and a reflecting pool...kinda sorta.

This is part of what is called The Badlands of North Dakota...of course, "THE" Badlands are usually reserved for the South Dakota counterparts. I like to refer to the North Dakota Badlands, though, as the South Dakota Badlands with "hair" because of the more prevalent vegetation...Nature's toupee, in a way.

Always remember that some of the more magical, wonderful places aren't the ones everybody goes to...but the ones they overlook.