Discover Wonderment on North Dakota's Scenic Byways and Backways
North Dakota is a destination that can boast of having more scenic wonders than people.
Follow your curiosity, not the crowds and around every corner you will find open roads, pristine green, red and golden backdrops, wildlife and waterways in their most natural environments and one-of-a-kind cultural and historic attraction. North Dakota’s Scenic Byways and Backways lead to some truly unique and inspiring discoveries.
By car, motorcycle or even bike, these designated pathways are your key to the state’s best vistas and experiences. During warmer months, stop to fish, hike and ride horses at Little Missouri State Park along the Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Scenic Byway. Take in musical classics at LaMoure County Memorial Park along the Chan SanSan Scenic Backway, and snap postcard-perfect photos of wildflowers, bright blue lakes and glowing fall foliage along the Turtle Mountain Scenic Byway, home to the 2,339-acre International Peace Garden.
When the snow falls, North Dakota’s byways unveil miles of wintry adventures. Slip on a pair of snowshoes and take in the frozen beauty of Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit Scenic Byway or the serene trails near the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway.
Another North Dakota gem, the Standing Rock National Native American Scenic Byway spans 35 miles of fantastic scenery alongside the Missouri River. Catch glimpses of buffalo and explore the deep historical roots of the great Lakota spiritual leader Sitting Bull, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, and visit the final resting place of Sakakawea.
Modern day attractions and activities include hunting and fishing on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and entertainment at Prairie Knights Casino and Resort. Be sure to stop and walk along the Lewis and Clark Legacy Trail, a one-mile interpretive nature trail overlooking stunning Lake Oahe.
Click here for a map of North Dakota's scenic byways and backways
