Elkhorn Ranch Site
Elkhorn Ranch
The site of Roosevelt's second ranch, called the "Cradle of the Conservation Movement." Remote, with only foundations and open wilderness left.
Elkhorn Ranch was established by Roosevelt in 1884, after his wife and mother died on the same day. He wrote and ranched here, and the ideas he developed led to the national park and forest conservation movement, earning the site its nickname, the "Cradle of the Conservation Movement." The log buildings are gone. Only stone foundations and interpretive signs remain, surrounded by the quiet grasslands and cottonwood groves along the Little Missouri. The site is about 56 km north of Medora, reached by roughly 1.5 hours on gravel dirt roads, which become nearly impassable after rain. The final stretch is about a 1 km walk, with no cell service or supplies along the way, so a high-clearance vehicle is recommended.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Wind Canyon Trail
- Peaceful Valley Ranch
- South Unit Scenic Loop Drive
- Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
- Medora Musical
- Maltese Cross Cabin
- North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame
- Chateau de Mores State Historic Site