Watford City in McKenzie County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Tilted

Slump Block Formation

Photographed by Susan Van Den Bosch, August 12, 2025

1. Tilted Marker

Inscription. To your left and right are mounds of earth with diagonal stripes. How did these large blocks of land get turned on their sides?

Slump Block Formation
Long ago, the Little Missouri River was flowing along a steep cliff face where you are now. The moving water cut into the base of the cliff, leaving a large mass of rock unsupported.

The unsupported rock mass gave way, sliding down intact and rotating as it came to rest in the river channel.

As the river's course shifted slowly across the valley, rain water eroded the cliff face which widened the gap between the cliff and the slump block.

Erected by National Park Service - U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.

Location. 47° 35.61′ N, 103° 18.162′ W. Marker is in Watford City, North Dakota, in McKenzie County. It is on Scenic Drive, on the right when traveling west. Marker is at the Slump Block Pullout in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Unit. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Watford City ND 58854, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Bakken Oil Patch.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Layers in Time / Portraits in Stone (approx. 0.6 miles away); Cannonball Mystery (approx. 1.4 miles away);

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Theodore Roosevelt National Park (approx. 2 miles away); North Dakota Badlands (approx. 2.2 miles away); Walter H. Chaloner (approx. 2.3 miles away); The Long X Trail: A Dusty Trail to Greener Pastures (approx. 2.6 miles away); Badlands Panorama (approx. 3.4 miles away); The View that Launched a Park (approx. 3.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Watford City.

Other markers no longer nearby. Slump Formation (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); Longhorns (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been permanently removed); “Cannon Ball” Concretions (was approx. 1.4 miles away but has been permanently removed); Long X Cattle Trail (was approx. 2.1 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Photographed by Susan Van Den Bosch, August 12, 2025

2. Tilted Marker

Photographed by Susan Van Den Bosch, August 12, 2025

3. Tilted Marker

Photographed by Susan Van Den Bosch, August 12, 2025

4. Tilted Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2025, by Susan Van Den Bosch of Almond, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 63 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 19, 2025, by Susan Van Den Bosch of Almond, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.