The 14-mile road in the North Unit provides sweeping vistas of the 24,070-acre North Unit, the 24,158 South Unit has a 36-mile scenic loop drive which traverses the badlands. Many trails crisscross both units.
On Saturday, July 9th, we headed 50 miles north of I-94 along U.S. 85 to the entrance to the North Unit of Theodore National Park. The 14 mile scenic drive goes from the ranger station to Oxbow Overlook, with turnouts and interpretive signs along the way.
Once again we had the park mostly to ourselves. After we left the ranger station we encountered the bison here in the middle of the road. He didn't bother us and we didn't bother him!
Though bison is the the correct scientific and common name, buffalo has been used and accepted for many years. This majestic creature was given its mistaken name by early French explorers who called them "les boeufs" meaning oxen. The name went through
several changes from "buffle" to "buffelo" and finally to its present "buffalo".The bison has been an icon of the American West, partly from its size and partly from its connection with people.
Full grown bulls may exceed 2,000 pounds and stand six feet or more at the shoulder-the cow bison is smaller.
This an
imal was the mainstay of Plains Indian life. Its rapid decline during the 1800,s is a well chronicled case of greed and disregard for an animal's right to exist.Though the park could have more bison, resource managers have set the optimum population at approximately 300 for the South Unit and 100 in the North Unit to maintain the range in a healthy condition and lessen the impact on other wildlife. Their reproduction success requires that every few years the herd be rounded up to cull bison numbers.
Along the road we stopped at a pullout that contained this round boulder. The large spherical boulder is called concreations. They may have many shapes, but most are round. Concreations are formed within rocks (shale, clay, sandstone, etc.) by the deposition of mineral around a core. More concreations are exposed all the time as erosion continues.
We stopped at the River Bend Overlook, one of the most photographed points in the park.
As we climbed back up the path another group of hikers were coming down the tail and spotted a rattlesnake sunning itself on one of the rocks along the path. I made a wide berth around this area.
At another point we spotted a coyote crossing the road. Along the drive there are also several Prairie Dog Towns. It was fun to watch these animals scurry around.
The visitor to Theodore Roosevelt National Park can relax amidst spectacular surrounds and become acquainted with nature's many wonders. It is a place where one can hear the wild hysterical barking of coyotes along the river or listen to the whisper of the wind passing over the grass.
These treasures, and many more, await those who enter and explore this living memorial to Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President of the United States.
Until later,
Candy and Johnny
