The North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park is the quieter, less-visited half of the park, reached from Watford City in the state's oil-patch region rather than from Medora. Its scenic drive follows a ridge above the Little Missouri River through badlands terrain that's noticeably more rugged and less traveled than the South Unit, ending at the Oxbow Overlook with a sweeping view of a river bend. The North Unit is also known for a managed longhorn cattle herd (a nod to the area's open-range ranching history) and bighorn sheep, which are not present in the South Unit.
| Distance | 14 miles south of Watford City; 215 miles north of Bismarck |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 15 minutes from Watford City; 3 hours from Bismarck |
| Getting there | Private car required; US-85 South from Watford City |
| Address | North Unit Visitor Center, US-85, Watford City, ND 58854 |
How to get there
- Private car
Location
North Unit Visitor Center, US-85, Watford City, ND 58854
47.9558, -103.3321 View on map
Highlights
- Oxbow Overlook - the scenic drive's endpoint, with a wide view down onto a bend of the Little Missouri River
- Longhorn cattle herd - a managed herd kept in the North Unit as a link to the area's 19th-century open-range ranching history
- Bighorn sheep - reintroduced to the North Unit and more reliably seen here than elsewhere in the park
- Cannonball Concretions Pullout - a roadside stop where large round sandstone formations are visible eroding out of the badlands