Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Day 2 (North Unit)

The northern part of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a solid two hours from the exit point of the South Unit.  I'm told that many visitors do not make the trek to the North Unit, which is a shame.  My first "visit" to this park was a literal drive-by along I94 almost exactly 20 years ago, to the day.  My ex-husband and I were returning from the ABC Championships in Salt Lake City and rather than returning home on the same route we took out (namely I90 through South Dakota) we decided to see the northern option.  For travelers along I94, there is the Painted Canyon Visitor Center right on the highway, with easy on/off access.  That is what we did back in 1996, only taking in the vast Badlands landscape.  Again, for travelers driving cross country, this is a worthwhile stop, but for anyone with a little more time . . . a full day to explore both the North and South Units is well worth the time and effort.  (Please note, the Painted Canyon Visitor Center is open seasonally, May through October.)

I left the South Unit around 11:30am.  The drive is mostly wide open highway, which means 65-80 MPH!  Along the way you'll see oil fields with a lot of single or dual well pumps. Other than that, you'll be driving over areas with great range of view . . . for miles you can see in all directions.

For the most part, the scenery is unremarkable, so I found myself daydreaming a bit . . . wondering what it would be like to be a storm chaser when severe weather is ripe for tornadoes.

As I arrived at the entrance to the North Unit, I noted that the clouds were very dark in the distance.  I wanted to be sure to make the entire 14 mile drive through the park, so I didn't spend much time at the visitor center.

For those curious about the differences in the two units, my suggestion would be that if you're interested in wildlife, the South Unit is your better choice.  If however, you are interested in the landscape and want to be able to look at the geological formations up close, you must make the effort to visit and spend some time in the North Unit.

Here are some photos of the interesting things I got to see and learn about.  The Cannon Ball Concretions are thousands of years old, formed when deposits of minerals calcified around a core which created the ball shaped masses.  As the great plains were covered with soil they became hidden in the earth.  Over the course of time, wind and rain have eroded the surfaces to expose these large round "cannon ball" features.  Some have even broken loose, rolling down to the bottom of the hillside.

I also enjoyed getting out and walking around these formations. It was amazing how flat and level the tops of these rocks were!  The wind and rain really do sculpt the landscape.  Softer minerals are eroded out, while the stronger sediments from prehistoric times remain.  Some areas of the park have large fossil beds providing insight into the plant and animal life long before man walked the planet.


As I reached the end of the 14 mile road, the rain could be seen off to the north and east.  The skies were actually beautiful as the clouds overtook the sun, bringing vivid lightning and loud thunder.  I sat in the van just taking it all in.  Once the storm passed, I made my way back to the entrance area.

Back "home" at the Cottonwoods Campground in the South Unit, I settled into my sleeping bag around 9:00pm.  For the day, I logged 257 miles (and no bowling alleys).