Watford City in McKenzie County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
In Honor of our Convervation President
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by Susan Van Den Bosch, August 12, 2025
1. Theodore Roosevelt National Park Marker
Welcome to Your National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park preserves three separate areas of the Little Missouri Badlands. The North and South Units support abundant wildlife and offer scenic drives, hiking trails, and camping. The Elkhorn Ranch Unit preserves the remains of Roosevelt's beloved "home ranch," the Elkhorn.
The three units are connected by the Little Missouri River-the force that carved the badlands. Driving time between the North and South Units is about one hour. Directions to the remote Elkhorn Ranch Unit are available upon request. Traveling to the Elkhorn sometimes requires 4-wheel drive.
"I never would have been President if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota."
Theodore Roosevelt
Hunting and ranching in the Little Missouri Badlands greatly influenced Theodore Roosevelt's desire to protect natural resources. Later on, as president, he designated more than 230 million acres of national parks, forests, monuments, and wildlife reserves.
His legacy of conservation is memorialized here, in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment
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Location. 47° 35.982′ N, 103° 15.591′ W. Marker is in Watford City, North Dakota, in McKenzie County. It is on Scenic Drive west of CanAm Highway (U.S. 85), on the right when traveling west. This marker stands at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit entrance visitor center. 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 Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Walter H. Chaloner (approx. Ό mile away); Layers in Time / Portraits in Stone (approx. 1.6 miles away); Tilted (approx. 2 miles away); Badlands Panorama (approx. 2.3 miles away); Cannonball Mystery (approx. 3.4 miles away); North Dakota Badlands (approx. 4.1 miles away); The Long X Trail: A Dusty Trail to Greener Pastures (approx. 4½ miles away); The View that Launched a Park (approx. 5½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Watford City.
Other markers no longer nearby. Longhorns (was approx. 1½ miles away but has been permanently removed); Slump Formation (was approx. 2 miles away but has been permanently removed); Cannon Ball Concretions (was
Photographed by Susan Van Den Bosch, August 12, 2025
2. Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit Entrance
Photographed by Susan Van Den Bosch, August 12, 2025
3. Exploring the North Unit signage
Credits. This page was last revised on September 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2025, by Susan Van Den Bosch of Almond, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 76 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 20, 2025, by Susan Van Den Bosch of Almond, Wisconsin. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
