"It was here that the romance of my life began."
-Theodore Roosevelt

The Stunning Appeal of this Now Protected "Badlands" Area

Explore the rugged badlands terrain, watch wildlife, or relax in the shade of a cottonwood tree at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and enjoy the lifestyle and scenes that charmed Theodore Roosevelt in the 1880s. TR's experiences in the Dakota badlands shaped his adult life, directed him to the Presidency and on to become one of the world's leading land conservationists.

This must have been why he was inspired to become such a forrunner for the conservationist movement, and one of the first people to have a philosophy of environmental protection and sustainable use. He said of the park:

"After nightfall the face of the country seems to alter marvelously, and the clear moonlight only intensifies the change. The river gleams like running quicksilver, and the moonbeams play over the grassy stretches of the plateaus...The Bad Lands seem to be stranger and wilder than ever, the silvery rays turning the country into a kind of grim fairyland." -Theodore Roosevelt

Unfortunately, you have to get put forth some effort to be able to experience what our 26th President describes above, because they don't just let anyone drive up and camp there. What you have to do to apply is download an application form to make a reservation, and then get approved. You can go here to download the file. You will have to mail it into the park and get a permission from the park office. They will notify you of your reservation date (or of any alternate dates in the event that they have no available campsites left) by mail.

Here's what you need to know about applying for a campsite:

Reservations

• Telephone reservations are not accepted.
• Applications must be mailed or faxed. So you have to
• Download reservation application form.
• Requests for reservations are to be postmarked or faxed no earlier than the first Monday of March. The first Monday in March is considered to be the "opening date" for reservations each year.

Reservation Information Required

• Group leader's name
• Mailing address
• Daytime phone number
• Number of people under 5 years old
• Number of people 5 years and older
• Number of horses
• Dates requested: 1st, 2nd & 3rd choice arrival & departure dates
• Mailed requests should be sent to: Roundup Group Horse Campground Reservations, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, P.O. Box 7, Medora ND 58645.
• Faxed requests should be sent to: Roundup Group Horse Campground Reservations, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, 701-623-4840

Camping Fees

• The camping fees is $2.00 per person per night and $1.00 per horse per night, with a $20.00 minimum for each night. (A relative steal for the value!)
• There is no fee for children under five; however, they are counted to determine group size.
• Payment is due from the group leader upon arrival at the park, payable at the entrance station before members of the group drive to the campground.
• A separate entrance fee is also collected for each vehicle entering the park.

General Regulations

• Vehicles must be confined to the roadway and parking areas at all times. Do not park or drive on grass or trails.
• GRAZING IN THE PARK IS PROHIBITED. Bring WEED-FREE feed for your horses. As part of a strategy to control noxious weeds, federal and state agencies in North Dakota require all recreational horse users to utilize weed-free certified feed or pellets (Weed-free hay/feed sources).
• Horses may not roam free, even if hobbled. Hitch horses only at the hitch rail provided or to your trucks or trailers. Do not hitch them to trees, the enclosure fences or any other campground facilities.
• Fires must be confined to the fire grates provided. Bring your own firewood or charcoal; park vegetation may not be collected or burned. You must extinguish all fires before leaving the area. Under extreme fire conditions wood or charcoal fires may not be permitted.
• The use of firearms or any other implement capable of propelling a projectile (bow and arrow, slingshot, air rifle, etc.) is prohibited throughout the park. Similarly, the use of fireworks is also prohibited. All firearms must be unloaded, broken down and out-of-sight.
• Pets must be confined, tied or on a leash at all times while in the park. Pets are NOT permitted on trails or anywhere in the backcountry.
• Keep the entrance gate closed and locked to prevent unauthorized vehicles from entering the camp area. Please note that hikers and other horse users may pass through the area.
• Harassing (chasing or approaching too closely), molesting or feeding of wildlife, including wild horses, bison, and prairie dogs is prohibited. Please stay 100 yards away from bison and wild horses.
• Follow designated trails into and out of the campground area. Do not use animal trails or create your own trails around the camp. This will help conserve the scenery and prevent excessive erosion.
• Camping is permitted only in the designated sites or in recreational vehicles parked on the roadway/parking areas.

The park's rules and regulations are designed for your safety and to protect the resources that you have come to enjoy. If you have any questions, please contact a park ranger. Regulations, particularly involving grazing and hitching, will be strictly enforced.

Directions to Theodore Roosevelt National Park

The park is lovated in western North Dakota, with its headquarters at Medora, 17 miles of Belfield (138 miles west of Bismark) and 62 miles east of Glendive, MT. It can be reached easily via I-94, which runs east-west.

From the south - US-85 intersects I-94 at Belfield. Medora is the gateway to the South Unit of the Park. The North Unit is reached by coming north on US-85, which provides direct access to it.