"The
river flows in long sigmoid curves through an alluvial valley of no
great width. The amount of this alluvial land enclosed by a single bend
is called a bottom, which may be either covered with cotton-wood trees
or else be simply a great grass meadow. From the edges of the valley
the land rises abruptly in steep high buttes whose crests are sharp and
jagged. This broken country extends back from the river for many miles,
and has been called always, by Indians, French voyageurs, and American
trappers alike, the "Bad Lands"..."
Theodore Roosevelt
For a true encounter with the awesome grandeur and remoteness of the
North Dakota Badlands, take a float trip down the Little
Missouri River.
 North
Dakota’s only state scenic river, the Little Missouri
River winds
through the North and South Units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park,
and passes the site where Theodore Roosevelt had a log cabin (the
Maltese Cross Cabin) built in 1884.
An
area
of stark, eroded and
dissected topography, the Badlands nevertheless harbors an impressive
variety of plants and animals. Wild buffalo, elk, mule deer, bighorn
sheep,
eagles and prairie falcons are commonly viewed by canoeists and
kayakers who make the journey.
"If you are looking for white water on the Little Missouri River, you
will not find it," warns Levi Novay in Explore!
Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
"The river is a slow, calm float -- and that's only when the water is
high enough. While a float down the Little Misouri River is not one of
the storied journeys that people who canoe and kayak romanticize, it
can still be a fun and interesting activity. Theodore Roosevelt had one
of his most famous adventures on the river, and on some stretches you
will be making the same trip he did. I have been lucky enough to canoe
on the river twice. On one of those occasions I watched six beavers as
they collected woody materials for their dams. The riverbanks
are
also common places for many other mammals to visit, so making a trip
down the riveris a potential opportunity for superb wildlife viewing."
The 274-mile
stretch of the Little
Missouri River has a variable floating season, depending on runoff. Winter's ice generally breaks up
and
is flushed downstream by early March. Thereafter, moderating
temperatures and spring rains combine to produce satisfactory
conditions for float trips. In the past, March and April have been the
best months, though river trips occasionally been possible at other
times.
Several
access points near the town of
Medora and the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park allow day trips from one to six
hours. The longest day trip begins at Sully Creek State Park
and
goes to the Cottonwood Campground. This trip can be
shortened by putting in or taking out at the Old Highway 10 bridge in
Medora. All access points are good to fair. None are marked
specifically as canoe landings.
It takes about three or four days
to canoe the 110 miles between Medora near the South Unit of Theodore
Roosevelt National Park and Long X Bridge on U.S. Highway 85 near the
park's North Unit. Two days are needed to continue from Long X Bridge
to Lost Bridge on State Highway 22 (Little Missouri Bay on Lake
Sakakawea).
Contact park headquarters in Medora for up-to-date information on local
water and weather conditions. Each year is different and difficult to
predict. For much of the year, low water levels and restrictive
channels require frequent portages. Instead of carrying a portage, it
is usually sufficient to step out of the canoe and drag it through the
stretch of shallow water. Bring shoes adequate for wading and exercise
caution to avoid drop-offs and soft bottoms. In years with little
rainfall, the river may not be floatable at all. Sections of the river
may dry up all together.
Theodore Roosevelt National
Park
315
2nd Ave
Medora, ND 58645
Phone
South Unit Information
701 623-4466
North Unit Information
701 842-2333
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Explore!
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
A Guide to Exploring the Roads, Trails, River, and Canyons
by Levi Novey
The most recent and up-to-date guide to Theodore
Roosevelt
National Park, this reference details the history and legends of the
26th U.S. president and how his commitment to conservation fostered the
U.S. Forest Service and the National Parks.
One of the lesser-known national parks, Theodore Roosevelt is
distinguished primarily by its historic relationship to its namesake.
(Roosevelt said he wouldn't have been president were it not for his
experiences there.) Its 70,000 acres also support abundant wildlife,
considerable wilderness, and an ecological niche unique in North
America.
Conservationist and former park ranger, Levi Novey introduces readers
to prairie dog towns, petrified forests and painted canyons. This book
outlines trails, activities, points of cultural and historic interest
throughout the park and beyond.
The book includes a foldout color map of the park, tips on enjoying the
park's backcountry, trail descriptions, and directories of area
accommodations, campsites, B&Bs and other nearby amenities.
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