The log cabin is located in an isolated area of the North Dakota Badlands, about halfway between the North and South Units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Rustic on the outside but modern on the inside, the cabin is decorated in traditional western decor (including extensive animal mounts). We offer the comforts of home in a setting almost too rugged to be imagined. The cabin is located in the Theodore Roosevelt Elkhorn Ranch Historic District, directly across the Little Missouri River from Roosevelt's Elkhorn Ranch site. Despite the remote location, the cabin features all the comforts of home - and then some: high-speed wifi, cable TV, complete kitchen, washer and dryer, gas grill, and various amusements (air hockey, poker table, darts, PlayStation, Xbox, board games). We also offer a library of works related to Theodore Roosevelt's time in the Badlands. The Historic District is substantially unchanged from the years Roosevelt spent ranching the property. Experience a moment in history and enjoy a few days of "a free and hardy life." Guests will enjoy use of the private ranch property, and shared public access to the neighboring Little Missouri Grasslands, which are administered by the US Forest Service. The north and south units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park are within easy driving distance. The Elkhorn Ranch Unit of the Park is located directly across the river from the cabin. The historic western town of Medora is located about 50 minutes south of the cabin. During the summer months, Medora is famous for its outdoor musical, pitchfork steak fondue, and nationally renown Bully Pulpit Golf Course. The historic district surrounding the cabin also offers world class trails for horseback riding, hiking and mountain bike riding, as well as opportunities for fishing and canoeing when river levels are adequate. Rock and fossil collectors will also enjoy the vast variety of minerals in the Little Missouri River bed. In fall and winter, the historic district offers unparalleled opportunities for hunting . Some of the largest trophy deer and elk in North Dakota history have been taken within the area of the historic district. With the exception of our ranch caretakers, who will make your stay more comfortable, you will be alone on the Buckhorn Ranch. Much of the year you will be able to encounter white tail and mule deer, antelope, golden eagles, beaver, and other fauna native to the area. Elk and big horn sheep are also visible from time to time. Spectacular sunsets are the norm. The quaint western town of Medora, North Dakota is about a 40-minute drive south; Watford City is about the same distance to the northeast. Guests traveling from out-of-state should consider flying into the airport at Dickinson, North Dakota, before driving to the Buckhorn Ranch. The routes to the ranch are a combination of paved, gravel, and scoria roads, and are maintained by the National Park Service and Billings County. Travel is usually not a problem in standard two-wheel drive vehicles, but we recommend that guests bring a 4-wheel drive vehicle to provide maximum traction in muddy, snowy and icy conditions. There are a number of potential routes to the ranch: Directions from Eastern and Western North Dakota: In order to reach the ranch, I recommend driving on I-94 to the town of Medora. If you are coming from the Montana or western North Dakota, you will pass through Beach, North Dakota and eventually arrive at the town of Medora. If you are coming from eastern North Dakota, you will travel through Dickinson and Belfield before reaching Medora. After you leave Belfield, but before you reach Medora, you will see a rest stop labelled “Painted Canyon.” I recommend stopping there to take a look over the vast Painted Canyon area of the Badlands. You can then get back on the highway and travel another few miles until you reach the exit for Medora. Once you are ready to travel to the ranch from Medora, you should first pass through the National Park entrance. If you tell the attendant that you are traveling to the Clemens Ranch, you will not have to pay an entrance fee to the Park. If you arrive at the Park entrance after closing hours, you will be permitted to enter. The main road through the Park, East River Rd., is always open to accommodate travel by local ranching families. Once you enter the Park, you should follow East River Rd., which continues as a gravel/scoria road outside the Park heading north. After you exit the Park, stay on East River Road for about forty-five minutes until you come to the Annear School House, an old fashioned one-room school house that sits at the intersection of 4 roads - (1) East River Road, (2) Blacktail Road (which heads east). (3) a gravel road to the northwest (which leads to an old river crossing directly across from the Elkhorn Ranch Unit of the Park), and (4) a gravel road that requires a sharp turn left to the southwest. You want to take road #4, which will lead you past the Billings County gravel operation. The road winds to the right and will take you down the hill to the river valley. Once you get down the hill, you will see the log cabin to your right. Directions from South Dakota: In order to reach the ranch from the lesser Dakota, I recommend driving on I-90 from Rapid City through the motorcycle mecca of Sturgis, and then on to Spearfish. North of Spearfish you can take Highway 85 north into North Dakota. You will eventually reach Belfield ND, which is at the intersection of Highway 85 and I-94. You should take I-94 West about 20 minutes until you reach the town of Medora, where the southern entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park is located. After you reach Belfield but before you arrive at Medora, you will see a rest stop labelled “Painted Canyon.” I recommend stopping there to take a look over the vast Painted Canyon area of the Badlands. You can then get back on the highway and travel another few miles until you reach the exit for Medora. Once you are ready to travel to the ranch from Medora, you should first pass through the National Park entrance. If you tell the attendant that you are traveling to the Clemens Ranch, you will not have to pay an entrance fee to the Park. If you arrive at the Park entrance after closing hours, you will be permitted to enter. The main road through the Park, East River Rd., is always open to accommodate travel by local ranching families. Once you enter the Park, you should follow East River Rd., which continues as a gravel/scoria road outside the Park heading north. After you exit the Park, stay on East River Road for about forty-five minutes until you come to the Annear School House, an old fashioned one-room school house that sits at the intersection of 4 roads - (1) East River Road, (2) Blacktail Road (which heads east). (3) a gravel road to the northwest (which leads to an old river crossing directly across from the Elkhorn Ranch Unit of the Park), and (4) a gravel road that requires a sharp turn left to the southwest. You want to take road #4, which will lead you past the Billings County gravel operation. The road winds to the right and will take you down the hill to the river valley. Once you get down the hill, you will see the log cabin to your right. ================================================== Almost all of our guests take one of these 3 routes to the ranch. If you are planning to come from a different direction (perhaps Canada or northern North Dakota or hot air balloon), please let us know and we will send special instructions. Guests who desire access to the ranch property must sign a document agreeing to waive all claims against the owners. There are no medical facilities in close proximity to the ranch. Horses are welcome! We will provide a corral and water supply at no charge. Hay can be provided at an additional cost to guests. Vehicles on the ranch must be kept on the gravel roads.