Natural Features & Ecosystems

Explore Theodore Roosevelt National Park from its geological foundations to the modern, living landscape.
 
A view of the Little Missouri River with buttes and trees in the background.
Floodplains

The floodplain of the Little Missouri River contributes to the diversity of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

A view through grasses of the Little Missouri River with buttes in the background.
Rivers and Streams

The Little Missouri River is a key feature of all three units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

A small creek bed filled with brown water.
Springs and Seeps

In the badlands, the water of the springs and seeps might strike you as surprisingly unappealing.

A cluster of cottonwood trees.
Forests

The dry climate of the North Dakota badlands still contains forest diversity.

A blue sky over a rolling, green grassland.
Prairies and Grasslands

Grasslands are the most abundant habitat type found in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

A field with various pieces of petrified wood.
Fossils

The fossil record of Theodore Roosevelt National Park indicates a wide, swampy expanse.

A side of a butte with scattered hoodoos.
Geologic Formations

The story of the badlands begins over 65 million years ago during the Paleocene Epoch.

A large boulder in a grassland.
Glacial Features

Evidence of glaciers is present throughout the park’s landscape.

Last updated: January 28, 2025

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 7
Medora, ND 58645

Phone:

701 623-4466

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