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Each national park was created due to its unique beauty. Every national park has some incredible feature only found there that warrants its protection. Bryce Canyon for its hoodoos, Grand Canyon for its enormous canyon with incredible views, the Great Smoky Mountains for its never ending forested mountains. I could go on for each one with an unusual trait that every park is known for.  One unifying feature for the national parks is all of them I have visited have fantastic scenic drives. Theodore Roosevelt National Park scenic drives are as good as it gets.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park scenic drives – Northern Unit from the River Bend Overlook

If you have never been you might be confused regarding the use of plural for the scenic drives. This is because there are two units to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and each one has its own jaw dropping scenic drive.

For me, the best part of each national park is the untouched beauty of the backcountry. The further you explore the more amazing the sights and experiences; however, I always reserve a day perhaps two for each national park that I visit to check out the views, animals, and experiences that can be found by driving around in the car. In fact, most people who visit the national park only do so from their car.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Scenic Drives – Southern Unit

I sometimes think this is unfortunate as there is so much to see in each national park beyond the safety of the car. I do admit though that there is a lot to see from the car as well. Each national park does its best to make it easy for everyone to enjoy. After hiking 30 or 40 miles in a couple of days, I too prefer a little easier and convenient eye entertainment.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Scenic Drives – Scoria Point Overlook – Southern Unit scenic drive

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Scenic Drives

I entered the Southern Unit first and drove around the scenic drive. I arrived a little later in the day, so my strategy was to do the scenic drive in the Southern Unit and then camp for the night. Then I was going to wake up and go hiking in the Northern Unit.  After I was done with my hike, I planned to drive the Northern Unit Scenic Drive. It seemed ideal to sandwich my hike between scenic drives.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Scenic Drives – Southern Unit Scenic Drive

Many good plans sometimes do not get implemented in the exact way they were formed.  I did complete the Scenic Drive in the Southern Unit, but I was unable to camp there. It was difficult to make much headway as there were so many fantastic views and of course wildlife. I saw plenty of wild horses, bison, and a few deer as well. I also made many stops to take time lapse GoPro shots of clouds drifting past buttes and canyons (see a compilation video at the bottom). By the time I finished the drive, the Southern Unit campground was full.

Wild horses could not keep me away from the Theodore Roosevelt National Park Scenic Drives

Beautiful brown horse along the Southern Unit Scenic Drive

A lone bull bison grazing along the Southern Unit Scenic Drive

I decided to drive back to Dickinson and get a hotel room and start over the next day. This turned out to be one of the wisest decision I ever made. The Northern Unit is over 50 miles off the interstate, and I did not want to risk showing up and having their campground fully booked as well and then have to double back another 50 miles. It was Saturday of Labor Day, so it was no surprise that the campgrounds were full.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Scenic Drives Buffalo herd grazing along the Southern Unit Scenic Drive

While watching a college football game in Dickinson the whole hotel seemed to shake as a battering wind blew into the building. I walked toward the entrance and watched the rainstorm. The wind was blowing so hard the rain was falling almost horizontally.  I was so glad I was not camping.

The colors of dusk mixed with the colors of the rocks at Theodore Roosevelt are a winning combination – Northern Unit Scenic Drive

Read: Hiking the Achenbach Trail in Theodore Roosevelt

The next day I was going to hike the Achenbach Trail in the Northern Unit, so I drove in and got my permit. Due to the downpour from the previous night, I did not get too far. I walked half a mile when the trail crossed the Little Missouri River. For over an hour, I tried in vain to find a safe crossing point. The water was up to my chest in the middle of the river, and I could tell that the channel next to shore had even deeper water. I tried several other crossing points nearby with the same result. I gave up and decided I would hike the Buckhorn Trail instead. There are no river crossings on the Buckhorn. I was not sure the level would come down in time for me to hike the Achenbach before leaving.

From the Oxbow Overlook at the end of the 14 mile Northern Unit Scenic Drive

Read: Hiking the Buckhorn Trail in Theodore Roosevelt

I got a campsite in the Northern section and decided to drive the Northern Unit Scenic Drive and then hike the Buckhorn the next day. Both units are beautiful, but I think the Northern Unit is a little more amazing. There are tremendous views on the Northern Unit with majestic river overlooks that are tough to beat. The River Bend and Oxbow lookouts are gorgeous, and I definitely recommend a stop here for sunset or sunrise. The campground is another great place for views as the sunsets right over the buttes in front of the Little Missouri River.

Time to rest from all the driving and take in a Theodore Roosevelt sunset over the Little Missouri River

I did not see any horses in the Northern Unit as they are only found in the south, but I did see more buffalo, some beautiful deer including a couple of bucks and a doe with a fawn. The ranger said they had seen a couple of moose lately in the Northern Unit, but I did not get lucky. I did see a lot of ground birds along the drive as well including turkey, prairie chicken, and pheasants. Unfortunately, I did not spot any bighorn sheep or pronghorn.

Three bucks in the prairie section of the Northern Unit Scenic Drive

Fawn grazing with its mother along the Northern Unit Scenic Drive

No matter what your style for visiting this beautiful national park is, the Theodore Roosevelt National Park Scenic Drives are worth a stop. Perhaps you will hike a wilderness trail, stay a few days in one of the campgrounds, or are just passing through on the way to Yellowstone. When you drive around this park you will quickly see why the New York Times listed this place as a must see in 2016.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Scenic Drives – Northern Unit

Tips and information for Theodore Roosevelt National Park Scenic Drives

• The Southern Unit Scenic Drive is a loop and the Northern Unit is not. The Northern Unit dead ends at the Oxbow Overlook.
• The South Unit’s Scenic Drive is 36 miles. The North Unit is 14, which means it is 28 miles since you have to go back.
• Both units have a campground along the Scenic Drive. In the Southern Unit it is called Cottonwoods and is located just before the loop.  In the Northern Unit it is called Juniper and is located five miles into the drive.
• The speed limit is 25 mph. It is best to carefully abide as I saw several rangers patrolling and a few unfortunate folks pulled over.
• The overlook highlights on the Northern Unit are OxBow and River Bend Overlooks.
• The overlook highlights in the Southern Unit are Scoria Point and Boicourt Overlook.

The Northern Unit Scenic Drive cuts right in front of this awesome formation

• There are many tremendous views along both roads not deemed an overlook.
• Early morning and late evening are the best times for lighting for photography and also for wildlife.
• The Southern Unit has two Prairie Dog Towns right along the road. The Northern Unit has two Prairie Dog towns, but it is about a mile walk from the road.
• If you are feeling adventurous, in the Northern Unit at the campground take the Achenbach Trail and cross the river (there is no bridge) and climb the hills on the other side. It is about a mile walk, but the view is well worth it.
• Last year there were multiple buffalo attacks in Yellowstone.  Do not approach the animals especially the buffalo. If you see a buffalo with its tail sticking straight up it means it is agitated, so back away slowly as you are too close.
• The closest city to the Southern Unit is Medora and the closest city to the Northern Unit is Watford City that is unless you recognize Prairie Dog Town

Prairie Dog Town – Population 200

This was the Paul Revere of the Prairie Dog Town crying out to all “a backpacker is coming, a backpacker is coming”

• The Northern Unit is much more remote as it is 52 miles off the interstate and 15 miles from Watford City – Medora is only a few miles off the interstate
• If you are reading this and have any other tips, feel free to share in the comment section below

Part of my trip through North Dakota was sponsored by the North Dakota Tourism Bureau, but my stay in the park was fully funded by myself. Thoughts, opinions, views, photographs, video, and adventure are purely my own.

Adventure on!

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