Central States, Northern
North Dakota
H. I-94, exit 36. Painted Canyon, Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This is where Teddy got his inspiration: “Taxidermy, by god! Kids will eat it up! Bully, bully!!” That’s the unofficial version. The official story is that he went out hunting bison, got blanked, it rained, and when it stopped he cunningly followed the muddy hove-prints until…”Ha! Gotcha, you crafty beast!” Anyway, there are plenty of bison around now (nudge one aside and park – seriously, once I saw three strolling across the parking lot). There is a nice little trail that loops around and back. Some of the trails that branch off are bison trails and the ranger told me that you can get quite lost following one. So, don’t follow the bison trails. And don’t think of shooting one and becoming president - that’s illegal in a national park.
South Dakota
Minnesota
Wisconsin
B. I-94, exit 4. Park at the TA. Willow River State Park is a few miles down the road. The road winds down to a nice little lake and a nice little dam. Nice little white tail deer populate the woods. Refreshing to see upright deer in Wisconsin.
B. I-94, exit 55. Park at the BP. Omaha Trail. You’re suppose to get a permit from one of the stores for a dollar, but there is a slot at the entrance as well (but no permits). Anyway, nice flat trail through farm country. I exited onto a dirt road a few miles in and enjoyed that more. It in turn dumped out onto a paved road with hardly any traffic. Bucolic, pastoral. If only the deer would have cooperated.
B. I-94, exit 55. Park at the BP. Omaha Trail. You’re suppose to get a permit from one of the stores for a dollar, but there is a slot at the entrance as well (but no permits). Anyway, nice flat trail through farm country. I exited onto a dirt road a few miles in and enjoyed that more. It in turn dumped out onto a paved road with hardly any traffic. Bucolic, pastoral. If only the deer would have cooperated.
