I’ve been planning this trip for two years and finally made it to North Dakota and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
I can now say, I’ve been to every US state.
Last year I canceled this trip because Hurricane Helene hit my area and I was too afraid to leave. (Read: leave my dogs at a kennel that could be impacted; it wasn’t but I didn’t want to risk it.)
On Thursday, September 18 I finally arrived in North Dakota; on schedule and as planned. My hotel was a bit dated and my room smelled, but an ideal location – close to the airport and walking distance to restaurants. I arrived at midnight which was not ideal, but it was the plan, since the day before I was at a conference.
On Friday morning I slept in a bit and then headed west to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the South Unit. The drive was all interstate and easy.
I stopped at the Visitor Center and watch the introductory movie. The themes of this park were about extremes. It was the extremes in the land that created this remarkable landscape. These are the Badlands, not to be confused with Badlands National Park.
Badlands are dry land with sedimentary rocks and clay-type soils that have been extensively eroded producing ravines, buttes, and hoodoos. I read an interesting sign about buttes. They are NOT mountains but created from erosion.
I loved listening to Roosevelt’s story, North Dakota and the wilderness changed and inspired him. I knew his story from reading Gessner’s book but loved hearing it again. “The rugged landscape and strenuous life that [he] experienced here would help shape a conservation policy that we still benefit from today.”
I drove the Scenic Drive, and stopped at scenic overlooks and hiked from two of the trailheads. The entire loop wasn’t open so I drove what was. I saw bison and prairie dogs. While hiking on Upper Paddock/Talkington Loop I talked to a couple who were taking pictures of the prairie dogs. I continued for a mile and then turned around. I saw people on horseback in the distance and started to wonder if I would encounter any wildlife. I started to get nervous. As I hiked back I saw the couple again and they showed me a video they took of a coyote. I was in the video – it ran behind me to hunt prairie dogs, and I wasn’t even aware of it. WOW! She sent me the video but it was very blurry but I could see it run behind me and was so glad I didn’t see it.
I stopped for lunch in Medora – Boots Bar and Grill.
Then I stopped at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center for a final hike. The hike went down into the canyon on a nature trail.
I took my obligatory selfie in front the the national park sign.
Then drove back to Bismarck and had dinner downtown. I walked around the city and then headed back to the hotel.
North Dakota is in the exact center of North America, which is a perfect way to end my quest to see every state in the US.
I still have so many lists and so adventures I want to experience. There is so much to see and do.