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Wildlife and Wonders
Wildlife and Wonders
In North Dakota, you really can see where the buffalo roam, along with deer, antelope, elk and an abundance of other wildlife! Plan a fishing trip to North Dakota's fish-filled waters, unearth a long-lost dinosaur bone on a paleontology dig, or just take a relaxing drive on one of our state's scenic byways and backways. You’ll wonder why you waited so long to visit!
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Parks, Recreation and Camping
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Fort Ransom State Park, Fort Ransom
Located in the scenic and historic Sheyenne River valley. The forested park is managed as a natural and scenic area, as well as home to a pioneer-era farmstead which hosts an annual Sodbuster Days. Popular activities include canoeing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, modern and primitive camping, biking, horse corral and geocaching.
Turtle River State Park, Arvilla
Located in a beautiful forested valley, including a river stocked with rainbow trout that provides North Dakota's only fly fishing stream Year-round recreational activities including mountain bike trails, cabins, cross country skiing and sledding, geocaching, hiking and camping.
Icelandic State Park, Cavalier
Pioneer Heritage Center and restored historic buildings plus a 200-acre natural wooded area along the Tongue River is a sanctuary for plants, birds and wildlife. Recreation includes camping, swimming, fishing, hiking and cross country skiing.
Lake Metigoshe State Park, Bottineau
Located in the beautifully forested Turtle Mountains along the Canadian border, Lake Metigoshe is one of the cleanest natural fresh-water lakes in North Dakota. Recreation includes wildlife viewing, fishing, camping, skiing, sledding, swim beach, geocaching and boat ramp.
Grahams Island State Park, Devils Lake
Devils Lake, North Dakota's largest natural lake, is home to a 1,142-acre park system, including Grahams Island State Park. The lake features some of the best fishing in North Dakota, both summer and winter.
Beaver Lake State Park, Wishek
Located on the west shore of Beaver Lake, the park's gently rolling prairie provides scenic views for leisurely walks. Summer activities include camping, boating, canoeing, water skiing and fishing.
Doyle Memorial State Park, Wishek
This area is popular for camping, fishing and boating. Doyle Memorial offers great opportunities for outdoor recreation with picnic shelters and playground.
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Mandan
Extraordinary views from the high bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Heart River and Missouri River. Camping and recreation among two major historic sites: On-A-Slant Mandan Indian Village and Fort Abraham Lincoln, home of Custer's 7th Cavalry.
Cross Ranch State Park, Center
Located along seven miles of one of the last free-flowing, undeveloped stretches of the Missouri River, this park is rich in both cultural and natural history. Riverside camping with nature trails, canoeing and boating access.
Lake Sakakawea State Park, Pick City
Next to the enormous rolled earth-fill Garrison Dam that created Lake Sakakawea, this park includes camping and a full-service marina with boat rentals and fishing guide services. The nearby Tailrace of the dam provides access to one of North Dakota’s popular fishing hot spots.
Fort Stevenson State Park, Garrison
On the north shore of Lake Sakakawea, this park is known as the “walleye capital of North Dakota.” It offers camping, boat ramp, fishing boat rental, swimming, picnicking, hiking and cross country ski trails and snowmobiling.
Indian Hills Recreation Areas & Resort, Garrison
Outdoor recreation area operated by private lessee on the north shore of Lake Sakakawea. Features beaches, fishing and hunting, as well as a variety of accommodations from rustic camping cabins, tent and RV spots to modern cabins.
Lewis and Clark State Park, Epping
Situated on a scenic upper bay of Lake Sakakawea the rugged buttes of the North Dakota Badlands create a towering backdrop to one of the state’s best recreation areas with camping, hiking and boating.
Little Missouri State Park, Killdeer
High on the bluffs overlooking the mouth of the Little Missouri River into Lake Sakakawea, this park offers a wilderness experience in the picturesque North Dakota Badlands. The park has horse corrals and primitive camping.
Sully Creek State Recreation Area, Medora
Horseback riders, mountain bikers and hikers have access to the 96-mile-long Maah Daah Hey Trail, which traverses the Little Missouri National Grassland.
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Other Wildlife and Wonders
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| North Dakota Tourism/TC Worley |
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Sheyenne National Grassland, Lisbon
This 70,000-acre-plus grassland contains the largest population of the greater prairie chicken in North Dakota. Recreational activities include hunting, hiking, horseback riding, nature studies, primitive camping, canoeing and fishing.
Tetrault Woods State Forest, Walhalla
This state forest preserves part of the riparian forest typical of the Pembina River with oak, ash, elm, birch and aspen. The forest offers hiking trails and a scenic overlook of the Pembina River Valley.
Frontier Village & National Buffalo Museum, Jamestown
View a buffalo herd on 250 acres at the Frontier Village and museum grounds. The herd includes three rare albino bison: White Cloud, Dakota Miracle and the newest addition the herd, Dakota Legend.
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, Fort Totten
This 2.5-square mile refuge with hiking trails and observation tower is home to many species including prairie dogs, elk, coyotes, beaver, white-tailed deer, bison and waterfowl.
Turtle Mountain State Forest, Bottineau
The largest state forest with 7,704 acres. The forst has trails for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling, fishing, swimming, canoeing and hunting.
Mystical Horizons, Bottineau
This “Stonehenge” of the prairie offers breathtaking view overlooking the farmland west of the Turtle Mountains. Stone and cement structures are designed so visitors can view the summer and winter solstices and the equinox.
Lund’s Landing Resort, Ray
This private Lake Sakakawea resort offers guests unique accommodations, a full-service restaurant featuring regional cuisine and activities such as kayaking, boat rental, fishing, hunting and birding.
Medicine Hole, Killdeer
One of North Dakota’s few caves is located on top of the one of the Killdeer Mountain formations. Indian legend claims it was from here that the first people and animals emerged.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora/Watford City
This scenic splendor in the savagely beautiful North Dakota Badlands is named for the 26th President of the U.S. and managed by the National Park Service. This national park has two units, offering distinctly different views.
Little Missouri National Grassland, Belfield
The largest and most divers of the 19 grasslands found in the western U.S. The 140-mile stretch offers rolling prairie, Badlands terrain, woody draws and high buttes.
Cedar River National Grassland, Elgin
This 6,700-acre, mixed-grass prairie is intermingled with private land. The topography varies from level plains to rolling hills.
Painted Canyon Visitor Center, Medora
Stop here for one of the most magnificent views of the North Dakota Badlands. Visitor center includes information on the park and surround sites, plus publication sales.
Enchanted Highway, Regent
30-mile-long gallery of the world’s largest metal sculptures by a local artist, representing our hunting, fishing and farming heritage.
White Butte, Amidon
Hike to the top of North Dakota’s highest point at 3.506 feet. Permission must be obtained from local landowner.
Maah Daah Hey Trail, Medora
A 96-mile hiking, horseback and mountain bicycle trail that traverses through the scenic and rugged North Dakota Badlands. The trail passes through the Little Missouri National Grasslands, as well as state and private land.
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Scenic Byways and Backways
From the Pembina Gorge to the Little Missouri River, North Dakota’s scenery is spectacular. Although interstate highways provide the quickest commute, traveling on North Dakota’s scenic byways and backways allows travelers an opportunity to see the state’s varied scenery up close. Please contact the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department for more information on any of the scenic byways and backways by phone at 701-328-5357 or visit the Website at www.parkrec.nd.gov
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| North Dakota Tourism/Dan Koeck |
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Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway
63 miles long, this is North Dakota’s first nationally recognized scenic byway. The tree-speckled valley of the Sheyenne, with a snaking river and winding roadway, is a welcome variation. Quaint towns and farmsteads lend an Americana charm.
Rendezvous Region Scenic Backway
11.5-mile drive winding along the bends of the Pembina River. Enjoy the panorama of the Pembina Gorge and the recreational, historical and natural scenery opportunities of the area.
Chan SanSan/James River Scenic Backway
32-mile drive through an area rich in American Indian history, earthen mounds, early settlement and scenic beauty.
Turtle Mountain Byway
53 miles through the Turtle Mountains. Visitors can enjoy beautiful lakes surrounded by pine and aspen, wild flowers, wildlife and a wide variety of outdoor activities.
Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge Backway
19-mile drive providing and excellent opportunity to view and photograph waterfowl, water and songbirds, raptors, deer, wild turkeys and other wildlife. From the marshes, woodlands and lakes to the upland prairie, travel through a great host of natural habitat and scenery.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit Scenic Byway
14 miles through the scenic backdrop of the colorful Badlands. In the park you’ll find open prairie, hardwood draws, bison, a variety of other wildlife and the Little Missouri River.
Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Scenic Byway
64-mile drive from the Killdeer Mountains to the deeply entrenched Little Missouri River breaks and Badlands, this byway provides and enchanting look at one of the most scenic areas of western North Dakota.
Sakakawea Scenic Byway
23-mile drive on which visitors can follow the course of Lewis and Clark’s great journey and discover history and culture of the people living on the rolling hills and wooded valleys of the Missouri and Knife rivers.
Standing Rock National Native American Scenic Byway
35-mile drive featuring grand vistas of the Missouri River along the same routes travelled by Lewis and Clark and Sitting Bull. The route offers access to authentic history and culture of Lakota/Dakota people, along with casino entertainment, food, lodging and outdoor recreation.
Old Red/Old Ten Scenic Byway
108-mile drive through bluffs and buttes. The culture of the American Indians and European pioneers are captured along this route. Travelers can tour several regional and local museums and a variety of recreational opportunities exist.
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National Wildlife Refuges
North Dakota has 63 wildlife refuges – more than any other state in the nation and most offer visitors services. These are just a sampling of some of North Dakota’s site to enjoy nature at its finest. Find them all online at www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/refuges/nd
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Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge
Rolling hills mantled in short-grass and mixed grass prairie interspersed with numerous wetlands in the highly productive prairie pothole region that produces more ducks than any other region in the lower 48 states.
Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge
Made up of lakes, marshes, prairie grasslands, wooded coulees and cultivated fields. Managed primarily to attract waterfowl during migration periods, but also contains excellent habitat for ducks, geese, grebes and shore birds, along with many other forms of wildlife.
Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Established as one of the country’s first wildlife refuges in 1908 by executive order of President Theodore Roosevelt. An important habitat for the native American White Pelican.
Audubon National Wildlife Refuge
Thousands of waterfowl, sandhill cranes and shorebirds pass through the refuge during spring and fall migration. The refuge is home to 243 bird, mammal, 5 reptile, 4 amphibian and 37 fish species.
Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge
Offers many recreational opportunities for people who love the outdoors. Activities to enjoy include hinting, fishing, bird watching and wildlife photography.
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