Photo: NPS Photo / Mark MeyersTheodore Roosevelt National Park protects the dramatic badlands where coal seams have burned underground for decades, creating colorful mineral deposits in the exposed rock layers. Families explore three distinct units connected by the story of a young New York politician who became America's conservation president after ranching in these rugged landscapes. The South Unit's 36-mile scenic drive winds through painted canyons and prairie dog towns, while the North Unit offers some of the park's most spectacular overlooks of the Little Missouri River. Wild bison herds roam freely across 70,000 acres of mixed-grass prairie, creating unforgettable wildlife encounters just steps from your vehicle.
Junior Ranger Program at Theodore Roosevelt National Park
The Junior Ranger program at Theodore Roosevelt National Park focuses on wildlife conservation and the legacy of our conservation president. Young explorers complete activities about badlands ecology, bison behavior, and Roosevelt's conservation efforts while earning their official Junior Ranger badge. The program perfectly combines outdoor adventure with hands-on learning about prairie ecosystems and American history.
- Spotting massive bison herds roaming the badlands
- Watching prairie dogs pop up from their underground towns
- Hiking scenic trails through colorful painted canyons
Program Details
Best Ages for Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Ages 6 and under
Young children love spotting bison from the car windows and exploring the easy boardwalks at prairie dog towns where the animals pop up and down like a game of whack-a-mole. The three Junior Ranger activities focus on simple wildlife identification and Theodore Roosevelt's love for animals. Families find the Maltese Cross Cabin particularly engaging since kids can actually walk inside Roosevelt's reconstructed ranch home.
Ages 7–10
This age group tackles four Junior Ranger activities that dive deeper into badlands geology and conservation concepts. Kids love learning about the underground coal fires that painted the rock formations and can handle the short hikes like Wind Canyon Trail for spectacular river views. The program perfectly balances hands-on activities with the adventure of wildlife watching from scenic drive pullouts.
Ages 11–14
Older kids complete five comprehensive activities exploring Roosevelt's transformation from New York dude to conservation president. They can tackle longer trails like the Coal Vein Trail to see actual burned coal seams up close and appreciate the park's role in shaping American environmental policy. The program challenges them to think critically about conservation while experiencing the same rugged landscape that inspired our 26th president.
Planning Your Visit
Getting There
The South Unit entrance sits right off Interstate 94 in Medora with ample parking at the visitor center. The North Unit requires a 14-mile drive south from Watford City on Highway 85 but offers a completely different landscape experience. Both units have excellent parking areas and the park stays open 24/7, though entrance stations have seasonal hours.
Van & RV Notes
Cottonwood Campground in the South Unit accommodates RVs up to 50 feet with full hookups, perfect for our Sprinter van and larger rigs. The 36-mile scenic loop road easily handles big vehicles with numerous pullouts for wildlife viewing and photography. The North Unit's 14-mile scenic drive also welcomes RVs, though the remote Elkhorn Ranch Unit requires high-clearance vehicles on gravel roads.
Best Time to Visit
Late May through September offers the warmest weather and most active wildlife, with bison calves born in spring creating incredible viewing opportunities. Summer brings peak Junior Ranger programming and longest daylight hours for wildlife watching. Winter visits reward families with stark beauty and excellent bison viewing, though some roads may close during heavy snow periods.
How Long to Spend
Plan a full day to experience both the scenic drive and several short trails in one unit. Families often spend 2-3 days exploring both the South and North Units, each offering distinctly different landscapes and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Don't Miss
The prairie dog towns along the scenic drive create magical moments as hundreds of these social animals communicate with distinctive barks and disappear into their burrows. Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin offers the rare opportunity to step inside a president's actual frontier home and imagine his daily life as a Dakota Territory rancher.
Fun Facts for Kids
Underground coal seams have been burning naturally in the badlands for hundreds of years, baking the surrounding rock into beautiful red, orange, and yellow colors
Theodore Roosevelt lost both his mother and wife on the same day in 1884, leading him to seek solitude in the Dakota badlands where he said his life truly began
The park protects one of the few remaining mixed-grass prairie ecosystems, where bison wallows create temporary wetlands that support dozens of bird species
Wild horses descended from ranch stock still roam the North Unit, representing the untamed spirit of the American frontier
Plan Your Stay
Save on park entry with the America the Beautiful Pass — $80 for unlimited access to all 400+ National Park sites for a full year.
Where to Stay
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Nearby Parks to Earn More Badges
Devils Tower National Monument
Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming showcases America's first national monument, where kids can watch rock climbers scale the massive volcanic neck while learning Lakota legends about the tower's formation.
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site preserves the agricultural villages where Lewis and Clark met Sacagawea, offering hands-on activities about Plains Indian culture and river trade networks.
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site recreates the bustling frontier trading post where Native Americans, mountain men, and settlers exchanged furs and goods along the Missouri River.
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