Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Although rich and street-raised, Teddy Roosevelt came out to the Dakota Territory for adventure and a bit of experiential therapy after the death of both his wife and mother.  When he first came out, he invested in a local business called the Maltese Cross Ranch and mostly stayed in his lodge, hoping to heal from the trauma of losing the most important women in his life.  Soon enough, though, he began to venture further afield and returned to hunting and even invested in a second local business, a cattle ranch called the Elkhart Ranch.  Roosevelt said that this time in the badlands was highly influential in his life and policy later when he became a politician.



Today, this National Park is home to a host of megafauna: wild horses, prairie dogs, bison, elk, deer.  Beyond this wildlife, the landscape itself is stark and impressive; as you take in the views, you have to wonder how people made any sort of living from this desolate environment.  In the winter, this landscape freezes, food is nonexistent, and winds chill you to the bone.  In the spring, the sun is strong but the wind is cold and bitter, as is the fall.  In the summer, the temperature can soar above 100 degrees fahrenheit and cause blistering burns and dehydration incredibly quickly.  This is a harsh environment, for sure, and all the while we were exploring this place, I kept thinking how lucky I was to be able to visit such a beautiful place while being acutely aware of just how dangerous a place like this could be without our modern conveniences.

Seeing all of the megafauna is truly impressive, not just because it is so difficult to see these animals out in the open under normal circumstances, but also because of the sheer harshness and desolation of the environment.  The landscape is gorgeous and serves and the perfect backdrop, reminding us that life can thrive even the most remote and difficult locations.

If you have the opportunity or can make the time, pay the park a visit in the spring.  This is when the baby animals will have just been birthed and this is a particular; baby animals are always adorable to see and makes for some really great photos.  Just make sure you stay a safe distance from all wildlife, especially when babies are around; parents are prone to being much more aggressive and many will not think twice about doing serious damage to any perceived threat to their young.