Theodore Roosevelt National Park – A Beautiful Vacation Location

In the early years of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, a proposal was made to name a national park after the famous explorer. Theodore Roosevelt was a devoted outdoors man who had served in the Army in the Civil War. Parks such as the one he established in Yosemite National Park later in his career would benefit from his leadership and popularity. His personal magnetism and leadership are still felt today by people who come to these locations to enjoy the wonders of nature. His many achievements and services to the country are widely known and appreciated.

Establishing Theodore Roosevelt national park in North America initially involved establishing fourteen trails through the Park. These were later divided into fifty-two different trails. Building these trails allowed for a more efficient management of the Park’s resources. Studies were conducted across the nation, which included suggestions for national parks, landmarks, scenic routes, and even State parks.

The North Dakota portion of the Theodore Roosevelt national park was designated the Natives’ park. This location is located in the northwest corner of North Dakota. The first site included within the Park was the Dakotaalis’ landing site, where Native Americans had gathered and created this location’s reservation. In addition, other sites included Fort Robinson, Cheyenne River Campsite, Trail Ridge Campsite, and the bypass route around Lake Nakuru. The South Dakota portion of the Park was set apart from the reservations by being located on the south side of the state. The areas included Fort Jay, Medicine Bottle River, Pine Ridge, Crazy Creek, and Standing Rock Indian Reservation.

The western portion of the Theodore Roosevelt national park was composed of four distinct units. Within each unit were two wilderness stations. One of the wilderness stations offered camping opportunities for those looking for an alternative to hiking trails. Other sites contained picnic areas, historical significance, hiking trails, as well as viewing points. The southern unit, which was in addition to the North Dakota unit, offered scenic vistas that were reached by a saddleback ride.

The final section, designated as the Badlands, was an area of marsh and swamp lands. This was the home of the Lakota tribe. For many years, this section of the Theodore Roosevelt national park was called the Black Hills. Within this area were burial mounds of those who had perished in the Lakota tribe’s role of protecting the reservation. Within this area were also Badlands National Monument and the Black Hills National Grassland.

The park has been able to maintain a continual flow of visitors year after year. Some of these visitors are children, some are from out of town and others come just for the scenery. The park features a gift shop where one can purchase maps, park passes, gift certificates and photograph albums. Other attractions include the Mount Rushmore Trail, where one can view the names of all United States Presidents and a host of other notable figures, the Grand Targhee Scenic Drive, which include three secluded hiking trails, and the Hike to Heart Mountain and Valley of the Gods, which take visitors on a scenic drive along the history of the American West. All of these activities make the park one that continues to attract new visitors. In addition, the park features facilities that allow visitors to camp, stay in hotels, rent cabins, or go car camping, if desired.