These 6 Destinations Prove There’s More to North Dakota Than Wheat

North Dakota is not typically one of the first states that spring to mind for travel, but the Flickertail State is so much more than farmland.

There are certain states we think of when we hear the word “beautiful.” California, with its coastlines and numerous national parks. Hawaii, with its stunning beaches and mountains. North Carolina, with the Outer Banks and the Smoky Mountains.

Here are six places that will change your perspective on the beauty of North Dakota.

1.) Lake Sakakawea

At 368,000 acres, Lake Sakakawea is the third-largest man-made reservoir in the United States, and it encompasses one of North Dakota’s thirteen state parks. It is located in the northwest part of the state and boasts many things for visitors to do. Visitors can swim in the lake, relax on the beach, or take advantage of the many walleye, northern pike, and salmon that call Lake Sakakawea home. Additionally, there are many hiking trails and areas for camping. And of course, the huge lake means that opportunities for boating, windsurfing, water skiing, canoeing, and kayaking are ripe for the picking.

2.) Theodore Roosevelt National Park

North Dakota has three national parks, one of which is Theodore Roosevelt National Park, named for the president who went to North Dakota in the 1880s to hunt bison. The national park is on the west side of North Dakota, with stunning scenery and breathtaking views. One of the park’s biggest claims to fame is the Painted Canyon. The overlook at this destination shows the badlands’ mountains and greenery. There is also a lot of wildlife to see at Theodore Roosevelt-beyond the park’s signature prairie dog villages, there are bison, coyotes, golden eagles, and so many more.

3.) Sullys Hill

Near North Dakota’s Devil’s Lake is White Horse Hill National Game Preserve, which is home to Sullys Hill. This outdoor preservation is an excellent place to see wildlife like bison, prairie dogs, elk, and eagles. Visitors can drive through the park to see the views or can take advantage of the hiking trails. You can also climb up 193 steps that will take you to the top of Sullys Hill and give you the best views of Devil’s Lake and all the hills of the game preserve. Sullys Hill is a great spot to spend some time outdoors in North Dakota.

4.) Missouri and Yellowstone Confluence

The Missouri and Yellowstone Confluence is a fancy way of saying where the two rivers meet near Buford, North Dakota, a town close to the Montana border. The rivers forge their way through grass-covered ground and wind through the state. In the nearby town of Williston is the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center, which provides not only more information and history about the rivers and the geographic area but beautiful views of the rivers, too.

5.) Sheyenne National Grassland

While most of our sites have been located on the western side of North Dakota, Sheyenne National Grassland is on the eastern side of the state, near Lisbon. The national grassland has tens of thousands of acres of grasses and prairie land and is a popular place for viewing wildlife, hiking, and camping. It is especially known for prairie chickens, butterflies, and various trees and flowers. It may not have mountains or water features, but the sprawling, wide-open prairie is beautiful in its own way.

6.) Maah Daah Hey Trail

There’s no singular location to find the Maah Daah Hey Trail because it stretches for 144 miles through North Dakota’s badlands. Visitors may hike, bike, or even horseback ride along the trail, which runs through mountains, buttes, and grasslands. Some of the stand-out features you can see are the China Wall, a tall, narrow mountain ridge, and the Ice Caves, deep in the badlands and off the beaten path. Maah Daah Hey Trail is the ultimate activity for adventure lovers who are looking to spend time outdoors and experience the most natural environments North Dakota has to offer.

If any of these locations have caught your eye and made you think twice about North Dakota, check them out on your next tour through the USA!