North Dakota, Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Yellowstone Road Trip -- Day 2:  Again after a long day driving across North Dakota, we arrive at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit).  

Long lines of oil-tanker cars illustrate North Dakota's oil boom.

Conveniently located just off the interstate, the park features a scenic loop road that makes for an excellent bike ride.  The loop is about 22 miles and features several climbs and descents.  The road surface is well-paved and the traffic was polite when we pedaled the route on a partly-cloudy Friday in August.

Bison Welcoming Committee

As soon as we entered the park we were greeted by a herd of bison. We parked the car along the scenic loop drive and hopped on our bikes.  Prairie dog towns dot the landscape with some of the burrows just a couple of feet from the road.  Based on their calls we must have appeared as some new dangerous predators.

Biking by a prairie dog town.

Awh!

If you are an avid biker you will enjoy the climbs and love the descents.  A more casual biker might find the climbs challenging. 

Sweet road!

Wild horses

A lone bull

Just when we decided to take a water break under some roadside trees, another herd of bison came trotting down the road.  As we learned later, the bison were in rut -- quite rowdy and noisy.  

A herd of bison blocks our way.

Ready to make our escape if the bison come too close.

Just as we thought the coast was clear one last bison chased us up a hill.

Mud stone makes for fabulous landscapes.  It's hard to tell if this cliff face is 20 or 200 feet high*.

Just chillin'

Prairie dogs.

Giant grasshopper on the windshield

The Little Missouri River just up stream of young Roosevelt's Elk Horn Ranch.  The perfect spot for lunch!

The family truckster

Road leading to Roosevelt's Elk Horn Ranch

Our route: The Scenic Loop

Next stop, Laurel, MT.

*It's about 20 feet high.

-- Frizbo

State:	North Dakota
Date:	2014-08-09
Route:	Theodore Roosevelt National Park (Southern Unit), Scenic Loop
Distance:	22 miles