Tons of bison, fields teeming with prairie dogs and badlands formations are found in the Theodore Roosevelt NP, which has two locations separated by about 60 mi. The North unit is more remote and less visited.

Buffalo everywhere
Buffalo everywhere
Some badlands formations
Some badlands formations

North Unit
The air was smoky when we arrived at the North unit. Park Services were doing a controlled burn on the dry vegetation in the park. We got up and close to the burned ground on the Little Mo Nature trail.

Smoky fields
Smoky fields
Burned grass on the Little Mo Nature Trail
Burned grass on the Little Mo Nature Trail

Cannonball Concretion pullout provides an easy access to these interesting rock formations.

Cannonball concretion
Cannonball concretion
Cannonball concretion
Cannonball concretion
View of the Little Mo river
View of the Little Mo river

South Unit
We arrived at the South Unit in the evening when the wildlife started to come out to play. I haven’t seen so many prairie dogs in my life. Their dwellings are spread over large areas of prairie.

Prairie dog, which is really a rodent. So a more appropriate name would be prairie rat :)
Prairie dog, which is really a rodent. So a more appropriate name would be prairie rat 🙂
Field of prairie dogs
Field of prairie dogs

The bison are numerous as well. They seem so docile and laid back, but I wouldn’t risk getting to close to them. Their imposing size could be very damaging and there are signs throughout the park warning about the wild buffalo.

This one crossed the road slowly in front of our car
This one crossed the road slowly in front of our car
Herd of bison out for dinner
Herd of bison out for dinner

Wind Canyon trail is a great spot for sunset overlooking the Little Missouri river.

Wind Canyon trail overlook
Wind Canyon trail overlook
Hiking the Wind Canyon trail to watch the sunset
Hiking the Wind Canyon trail to watch the sunset
Sage bushes everywhere
Sage bushes everywhere

6R8C3515

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June 5, 2015

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