Explore North Dakota’s Natural Treasures

Across the country, 750 National Wildlife Refuges provide a safe haven for native plants and animals. The refuges also provide wonderful places for hiking, hunting and other adventures. North Dakota has an astonishing 74 National Wildlife Refuges, so you’ll never run out of places to explore. Three great options are Arrowwood NWR (point on map), where the James River forms several lakes, White Horse Hill National Game Preserve, where you can see bison and elk on site, and Chase Lake, which has one of the largest nesting colonies of American white pelicans in the country.

The Nature Conservancy’s Davis Ranch lets you look back into our state’s glorious prairie origins. The lands and waters are relatively untouched by human development, though a small number of cattle are present to mimic the historic grazing patterns of bison. The preserve spans six miles, allowing visitors to experience the true scale of the prairies of our past.

Called the Valley of the Moon by locals because of its treeless, stark vistas, John E. Williams Preserve provides a peek into a landscape unlike others in North Dakota. Its numerous lakes, rocky beaches and alkali wetlands (places where salt and other minerals accumulate) are important sites for waterfowl, including one of world’s largest breeding concentrations of piping plovers. Beaches are closed from May-July every year so nesting plovers are not disturbed. Note that conditions here are often windy and there is no potable water, so plan your visit accordingly.

Looking for North Dakota’s only waterfall? Sheyenne River State Forest is the place to go. With more than 500 acres to discover, you’ll traverse the riverway and be surrounded by burr oak, quaking aspen, basswood and other native trees. The State Forest is conveniently located along the Sheyenne River National Scenic Byway, and bisected by four miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail, both designated for their distinctive and regionally significant features. It’s also close to TNC’s Brown Ranch and Pigeon Point preserves, which are both worth visiting to see the endangered western prairie fringed orchid.

Take a leisurely 53-mile drive alongside marshes, pastures, lakes and dense woodlands on the Turtle Mountain Scenic Byway. Along the way look for attractions such as a 20th-century castle, St. John, one of the oldest cities in the state, and stone-and-cement structures that mark the summer and winter solstice. This is a great trip any time of year, but provides a perfect winter staycation for snowmobiling, sledding or ice fishing at Lake Metigoshe State Park.

Soon to be North Dakota’s 14th state park, Pembina Gorge offers 30 miles of trails featuring the largest continuous, undisturbed forest and the longest segment of unaltered river valley in the state. Recreation opportunities are unmatched and include everything from hiking to horseback riding, hunting, downhill and cross country skiing. Wildlife watchers should look for special species: Pembina Gorge is home to 30 native plant species and 21 animal species that are categorized as rare in the state.

The name says it all with the North Country National Scenic Trail. Pick your point of origin and wander across the North Dakota section of a trail that spans more than 460 miles across seven states, offering unmatched scenery. You’ll find footpaths linking prairies, sandhills and oak savannas. From the trail you can access places like Lake Sakakawea and Fort Ransom State Parks, Lonetree Wildlife Management Area, Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, Sheyenne National Grassland, the Ekre Grassland Preserve and Fort Abercrombie State Historic Site (point on map).

Located along the only free-flowing section of the Missouri River in North Dakota, the state park has nearly 17 miles of hiking trails that can be explored on cross country skis in the winter. Adjacent to the park is The Nature Conservancy’s Cross Ranch Preserve, where you can explore mixed-grass prairie and cottonwood forests along the river. The preserve is also home to a herd of bison, so bring your binoculars to see if you can spot them!

Along the western edge of North Dakota is the Little Missouri National Grasslands, a colorful expanse of badlands and rugged terrain showing the power of wind and water to erode a landscape. Visitors can enjoy mountain biking the Long X trail (once used to move cattle from down south), camping in a cabin or under the stars, and fishing in Sather Lake.

Nestled within the Little Missouri National Grassland is this iconic national park, where our 26th president drew inspiration for his conservation policies, including creating the national park system. Hike an easy trail like the half-mile Ridgeline Trail for views of the badlands, or challenge yourself with the Upper Paddock and Talkington Loop for a 19-mile hike starting in the picturesque Painted Canyon.