Elkhorn Ranch — Attraction in North Dakota

GETTING THERE: The first and most important thing you need to keep in mind when visiting Elkhorn Ranch is that it is INCREDIBLY isolated. You'll likely lose cell signal about 30 miles out, and you'll definitely lose it when you drive into the canyons that hide the ranch from the rest of the world. I approached from the north and egressed to the south, and both paths had me on some well groomed dirt roads for at least 20 miles in both directions. There aren't too many obstacles for your vehicle to traverse, the worst thing we had to drive over were tiny washouts in the road, along with a few bison/cattle chips. Other than that, the drive was very achievable.

THE RANCH: You begin to understand the crushing remoteness of the area on the drive there. Human made structures become more and more sparse, and eventually you even stop seeing other vehicles. Then you get to the turn off that leads to the ranch, and you truly feel sequestered from the world. You drive down into a canyon bottom, and you follow it for a few miles, with the towering walls looming above you. After a few miles, the parking area finally comes into view. You are greeted by a gate, an informative sign, and a guest book. Past the gate is a flat and winding trail that was well maintained and easy to walk on when we visited. Along the way, more informational signs tell various tales of the area. The site of the ranch isn't very far, maybe half a mile, from the parking area. It sits behind more gates, and the main cabin is no longer there, but the foundation stones upon which it sat still remain.

THE AMBIANCE: If you aren't a massive Teddy Roosevelt nerd like I am, there isn't much to the site beyond a few signs, a quiet hike, and some beautiful views. It's so far away from anything else that the only thing you'll hear is nature. I didn't hear anything man made until (surprisingly) another visitor drove up to make the hike. The isolation really was almost surreal, and imagining TR enjoying these sights, sounds, and smells nearly every day for 2 years makes you thankful for the luxuries that you enjoy every day. There is a sense of reverence, standing where he stood. watching the same lazy river he watched, and enjoying the same withering heat he enjoyed. The steel of a man who changed the world was forged, by his own...

Drove here on a dry, sunny day, in a Prius. Took both the north and south approaches, and the approach from the north unit is easier, and involves less travel on dirt roads. The roads themselves are good, except for the final three miles up to the ranch site. Watch out for ruts, and drive carefully to avoid getting your tires stuck. If you've driven on country roads before, this isn't as bad. I personally found the road to Chaco Canyon to be far more challenging.

That being said, this place is absolutely magical. You can feel the stirrings of history here. Understanding Teddy Roosevelt almost requires a visit to this place. He came here to escape from the world, to heal from a great personal tragedy, and to rediscover his love of nature. There very likely would never have been a national park system like what we have without his time here. It's worth your...

I visited this and it was wonderful. Follow the directions. I watched my odometer and measured each leg. The roads are gravel but all fine. I have a small car and it got me there just fine. You have to drive past the campground. Don't drive in it. You keep going until the road ends. You feel like you have gone too far but the road will end. the parking lot is there. You hike about 1 mile and the ranch is there with a couple of displays. I was there all alone. very peaceful place. You experience what Teddy experienced. The foundation stones of his cabin are still there. You hear the rustle of the cottonwood trees and the singing of the birds. No noise of roads or city. Nature at its best. There were only two people who signed the visitors book so it is not visited by many people I was the only one there for two hours. I...