9 Best Small Towns in North Dakota for Outdoor Enthusiasts

North Dakota is located within the United States' central-northern region, along the Canadian border. With its proximity to the north, North Dakota is a State that offers year-round activities for all ages and experience levels, and outdoor enthusiasts will find all the seasonal fun they could desire within its borders. North Dakota’s small towns offer a variety of outdoor pursuits while also enjoying proximity to State Parks and Scenic Byways. Locals and visitors can choose between hiking, fishing, hunting, swimming, skiing, snowboarding, and much more while visiting this region. The following is a list of the 8 Best Small Towns in North Dakota for outdoor enthusiasts.

Minot

Minot, North Dakota, is a Scandinavian heritage town celebrating the culture and history of immigrants coming from Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Denmark. It is in this spirit of pride that the people of Minot have come together to form the Scandinavian Heritage Park, an outdoor park featuring 14 acres of land where full-scale replicas of some of the most noteworthy Scandinavian buildings can be found. Those who love to be outside while soaking up the cultures of faraway places will enjoy traversing through the park, visiting the Norwegian Log house, the Dutch Windmill, or the 27-foot tall Swedish Dala Horse along the way.

Outdoor enthusiasts will find Oak Park worth a visit as well. The park features 50 acres of prime bird-watching wilderness where kingfishers, wood ducks, and Great Blue herons call it home. The park also features walking trails, hiking trails, an amphitheater, and a splash pad for hours of family-friendly outdoor entertainment.

Williston

Williston, North Dakota, enjoys proximity to the Missouri River as well as Lake Sakakawea, making it an attractive destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The scenery in this region lends itself to excellent photography opportunities while also being a great place to enjoy hunting, fishing, and bird watching, having a record of over 413 listed species in the region. Lake Sakakawea provides opportunities for visitors to enjoy the easy access points provided for boating, fishing, and swimming. Gear rentals are offered in the area, and locals encourage visitors to take full advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the serene landscapes and stunning sunsets the region provides. Williston also enjoys proximity to the Lewis and Clark State Park as well as the Theodore Roosevelt State Park.  

Dickinson

Considered the gateway to the Theodore Roosevelt State Park, Dickinson, North Dakota, is situated in proximity to some of the best hunting in the State. A day trip from Dickinson will allow visitors to enjoy hunting in the Alkali Creek Wildlife Management Area as well as the Camel Hump Lake Wildlife Management Area. Alkali Creek offers over 570 acres of land where there are many opportunities to see waterfowl and deer. The Camel Hump Creek Area offers a chance to fish and hunt waterfowl within 112 acres of land, making both locations prime destinations for hunting enthusiasts. Dickinson is also home to the western portion of the Old Red Ten Scenic Byway and the Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Scenic Byway, where evidence of the former habitation of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arika tribes can be found. Dickinson’s Patterson Lake Recreational Area offers seasonal camping with over 50 campsites. A world of family-friendly fun awaits in the form of boating, swimming, fishing, and waterskiing.

Mandan

Mandan, North Dakota, offers a variety of outdoor activities depending on the season. Home to the Huff Hills Ski Area, the largest ski area of its kind in the entire State, outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy wintertime fun in the form of skiing and snowboarding on 3 km of slopes consisting of 16 runs with 400 feet of vertical drops and four lifts. Huff Hills also offers a ski lodge where guests can enjoy three levels of accommodations as well as a dining room and a roaring fire in the lodge’s fireplace. Summertime brings a chance to enjoy the great outdoors at Mandan’s Graner Park. Situated along the waterfront, the Park is a full-amenities campsite offering family-friendly sites, access to the Missouri River, and playgrounds for the younger guests. For outdoor enthusiasts who love to splash around in the water, the Raging Rivers Waterpark offers hours of family-oriented activities such as waterslides and tubing.

Bottineau

Located at the base of Turtle Mountain, Bottineau, North Dakota, it is known as the ‘Jewel Above the Prairie,' providing year-round outdoor activities amidst a backdrop of extraordinary natural beauty. In the warmer months, a visit to the Waterton-Glacier Peace Park is a must on the to-do list. Peace Park represents a commemorative space where the peace between Canada and the United States is celebrated and it features a giant floral clock, a replica of the Bulova floral clock in Switzerland. The park is situated within acres of preserved prairie and forest lands while also featuring an abundance of floral gardens on over a thousand acres of land. The Park is comprised of a combined land donation between North Dakota and Manitoba, Canada, and it features over 200 structures. In the wintertime, the Bottineau Winter Park offers snowmobiling and skiing on eight alpine trails and features a lodge with a fireplace and dining room. In the summertime, the Park provides opportunities for swimming and hiking.

Jamestown

Jamestown, North Dakota, is the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts who are passionate about hiking. This locale offers 35 miles of trails for all levels of abilities throughout prairie lands, wooded regions, and forested shorelines. To name a few, Jamestown’s Artic Trail offers 3.1 km of trails, while the Beaver Dam Trail consists of 2 km of trails. Ideal for biking, the 3.4-mile-long Island Trail is also on offer for folks who prefer mountain biking. Outdoor enthusiasts will not be disappointed by Jamestown’s Pipestem Reservoir, which provides 820 acres of water and 14 miles of shoreline for hunting, camping, and fishing. Yellow Perch, Northern Pike, and Walleye are just a few of the varieties of fish that can be found here for those who enjoy casting a line in the great outdoors. Jamestown is also home to Dakota Thunder, a 26-foot buffalo replica created in honor of the region’s buffalo, offering a spectacular viewing experience within the backdrop of the region’s countryside.

Valley City

Valley City, North Dakota, is known as North Dakota’s Most Beautiful Town, and with its proximity to the stunning Lake Ashtabula, it is easy to see why. Lake Ashtabula offers everything an outdoor enthusiast could ask for, including fishing, boating, swimming, and tubing. In the wintertime, ice-fishing is the main attraction, while excellent opportunities for nature photography exist all year round. Valley City is located within proximity to the Sheyenne River Scenic Byway as well, consisting of 63 miles of Sheyenne River Valley, which flows along ancient Native American footpaths and pioneer wagon trails.  

Watford City

Watford City, North Dakota, is home to the Little Missouri National Grasslands Park which is the only location in the entire State where Big Horn Sheep can be seen. Eagles, antelope, falcons, and more have also been spotted here, making it a prime destination for outdoor enthusiast who love to see wildlife in their natural habitat. The Maah Daah Hey Trail is also located in this region, consisting of 97 miles of trail that traverses through the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Little Missouri Grasslands. Consisting of a tapestry of wild terrain, this trail is made up of clay badlands, rough ridges, and flat grasslands, perfect for biking. The Lewis and Clark Trail can also be found within proximity to Watford, making this region an attractive place for outdoor lovers to visit.

North Dakota's Seasonal Splendors

With such close proximity to the Canadian Border, the colder climates shared by North Dakota and its neighbors mean that as the seasons change, so do the outdoor activities on offer. Visitors should plan their visit to this region according to the attractions they wish to partake in. If ice fishing and skiing are on the agenda, a wintertime visit is in order. However, if a visit to Peace Park to see the floral clock is topping the to-do list, a summertime visit is a must. Regardless of the season, the North Dakota small towns offer the best attractions in the State for outdoor enthusiasts.