North Dakota is world famous for its outdoor recreational opportunities. The State maintains many parks and recreational facilities. In addition to state parks, there are 1 national park, 2 national historic sites and 1 international park within the state boundaries. Most of the parks charge entrance and user fees all year round. These fees must be paid upon entering the park. Many of the state parks have campsites and you can make reservations by phone. However, you must pay the fees upfront via a credit card to reserve a camping site. Cabins are available the following 9 state parks: Lake Sakakawea, Lewis and Clark, Fort Abraham Lincoln, Icelandic, Grahams Island, Fort Stevenson, Cross Ranch State Park, Lake Metigoshe State Park and Turtle River State Park. Some of these have kitchenettes and bathrooms while others don't.

North Dakota State Parks have a schedule of events that highlight a natural, historic or otherwise recreational feature of the specific park.

If you plan on taking your pet, you must keep it on a leash at all times within the park.

State Park regulations are posted throughout the parks. Be sure to follow them.

Devil's Lake is the largest body of water in North Dakota. There are 3 state park and recreation areas located there. For nearby lodging, see Devils Lake Hotels

Beaver Lake State Park is located 17 miles southeast of Napoleon. The park is located on the west shore of Beaver Lake. You can go fishing, water skiing, boating, picnicking, camping. Attractions in area are: Golf courses, Whitestone Battlefield State Historic Site, Slade and Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Black Tiger Bay State Recreation Area located east of Devil's Lake on highway 2. boat ramp

Cross Ranch State Park is located 12 miles southeast of Hensler. You can fish for bass, pike, salmon, catfish, trout, and walleye in the Missouri River here. There are hiking trails, campgrounds, boat ramp, year round cabins, a visitors center, cross country skiing trails and more. Attractions in area include: Fort Clark State Historic Site, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, Cross Ranch Nature Preserve

Doyle Memorial State Recreation Area is located 7 miles southeast of Wishek. You can go boating, fishing, camping, picnicking. Attractions in area are: Whitestone Battlefield State Historic Site, Lawrence Welk Home

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park  is located 7 miles south of Mandan on Highway 1806. The park has historic buildings with exhibits on living history, Native American Indians, the Lewis and Clark expedition and General Custer. Recreational facilities include: campgrounds, picnic areas, hiking and biking trails, fishing, horseback riding trails, cabins, boat ramps and more. Attractions in the area include: golf and tennis, state capitol, riverboat, trolley, zoo, North Dakota Heritage Center, Roughrider Snowmobile Trail

Fort Ransom State Park is located 2 miles north of Fort Ransom used to be a 1860 military fort. It is located in the Sheyenne River Valley. You can go bird watching, fishing, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, mountain biking, cross country skiing, and canoeing here. There is a farmstead within the park that hosts an annual Sodbuster Days Celebration with demonstrations and exhibits. Attractions in the area: Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway, Sheyenne Valley State Snowmobile Trail, Ransom country Historical Museum,, Bears Den Mountain Downhill Ski Area

Fort Stevenson State Park is located 3 miles south of Garrison on the north shore of Lake Sakakawea. There is a marina here. The North Dakota's Governor's Cup Walleye Fishing Derby is held here annually. You can camp, picnic, swim, fish, hike. there is a visitor center, an arboretum, a beach and cabins. Attractions in area: North Dakota Fishing Hall of Fame.

Grahams Island State Park is located 16 miles southwest of Devil's Lake. Camping, picnic grounds, boat ramp, fishing, water sports, bait available, fishing tournaments, ice fishing, hiking trails, cabins. Attractions in area: Lake Region snowmobile trail, Native American crafts, golf, Sully's Hill National Game Preserve, Fort Totten State Historic Site.

Icelandic State Park is in the Northern Part of the state 5 miles west of Cavalier on Highway 5. located on Lake Renwick you can go fishing, swimming, boating and camping. There is a Pioneer Heritage center with restored historic buildings. The Gunlogson Nature Preserve is nearby. There is a beach, boat ramp, cross country ski trails, playground, picnic areas and more. Attractions in area: golf course, Pembina state museum, Pembina gorge, State Snowmobile trail, Frostfire Mountain ski Resort

Indian Hills State Recreation Area is located 31 miles west of Garrison. There is a marina and fishing guide service. Camping, hiking trails, cabins, swimming. Attractions in area: North Dakota Fishing Hall of Fame, Casino, golf

Lake Metigoshe State Park is in the Northern Part of the state 16 miles northeast of Bottineau. It is along the US/Canada border in the Turtle Mountains. It is a very popular vacation spot. There are many small lakes in the area where you can go swimming, boating and fishing. Hikers and mountain bikers enjoy the many trails. In the winter you can go sledding, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing. Year round cabins are available. Attractions nearby: International Peace Garden, ski areas, golf courses, J. Clark Salyer and Lords Lake National Wildlife Refuges, State Scenic Byway

Lake Sakakawea State Park is located 1 mile north of Pick City on the south shore of Lake Sakakawea. There is a marina here, fishing guide services, campgrounds, cabins, picnic areas, beach, boat ramps. Attractions in area are: Golf courses, Audubon Ntional Wildlife Refuge, Garrison Dam and fish Hatchery

Lewis & Clark State Park is located 19 miles southeast of Williston on highway 1804 on Lake Sakakawea. there is a marina with a boat ramp. Fish for Northern pike, sauger and walleye. Go hiking, camping, fishing, boating. Cabins are available. Attractions in area include: Buffalo Trails Museum, Golf courses, Fort Buford State Historic Site, Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site

Little Missouri State Park is located 19 miles north of Killdeer. Hiking, horseback riding, horse rentals and guides available, picnic areas, camping. Attractions in area: Lake Sakakawea, State Scenic Byway, North Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Killdeer Mountains

Shelvers Grove State Recreation Area - located east and southwest of Devil's Lake. camping, playground

Sully Creek State Recreation Area just over 2 miles south of Medora near Mandan ND in the center of the North Dakota Badlands. Canoeing down the Little Missouri in the spring is a popular. You can go horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking. The Maah Daah Hey trail which is 120 miles long is accessible here. There are restrictions for horseback riders using the trail so check with the US Forest Service or the North Dakota Parks and Recreational Dept. Attractions in area: Little Missouri National Grassland, Chateau de Mores State Historic Site, South unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora

Turtle River State Park is in the Northern part of the state 22 miles west of Grand Forks on Highway 2 located along the Turtle River which is stocked with trout, activities: fishing, fly fishing, cross country skiing, mountain biking, hiking, picnicking, camping, campsites have showers and flush toilets, playground. nearby attractions: Grand Forks Air Force Base, University of North Dakota, Lake

Other Parks

Theodore Roosevelt National Park - located in the North Dakota Badlands. The North Unit is accessible 15 miles south of Watford City. The South Unit is accessible via the town of Medora. You can go on guided horseback rides, hike, drive scenic drives, camp within the park. The Painted Canyon Scenic Overlook visitors center is located west of Belfield.

Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site - is located 25 miles southwest of Williston. It was built in 1828.

Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is located north of Stanton on the Knife River. It is here that the Native American Sakakawea joined up with Lewis and Clark on their expedition. The historic site has a museum, a earthlodge, a visitor center that features interpretive trails.

The International Peace Garden is located on the US Canada border north of Dunseith. The Garden features over 150,000 annuals planted each year. There is  a World Trade center memorial, an arboretum, lakes, picnic grounds, campgrounds, hiking trails and a scenic drive on each side of the border.

Cross Country Skiing

1. Cross Ranch
2. Fort Abraham Lincoln - ice fishing too
3. Fort Ransom
4. Sort Stevenson - ice fishing too
5. Grahams Island - ice fishing too
6. Icelandic - sledding hill and ice fishing too
7. Lake Metigoshe - sledding hill and ice fishing too
8. Lake Sakakawea - ice fishing too
9. Lewis and Clark - ice fishing too
10. Turtle River - sledding hill too

Snowmobile Trials

1. Northeast Pembina Gorge Trail - Edinburgh, Cavalier, Walhalla, Langdon
2. Peace Garden Trail- Rolla, Bottineau
3. Sheyenne Valley East Trail - Fargo, Casselton
4. Sheyenne Valley West Trail - Oakes, Valley City, Fort Ransom, LaMoure, Jamestown
5. Red River North Trail - Fordville, Manvel, Grand Forks
6. Lake Region Trail - Devils Lake
7. Little Missouri Trail - Hillsboro, Mayville, Portland, Hatton
8. Mayville Portland Trail - Bismarck, Linton, Steele, Mandan
9. Roughrider Trail - Williston
10. Sakakawea Trail - Minot, Towner, Velva
11. Sno-Trails - Cando, Rugby
12. North Central  Trail - Tolna, McVille, Aneta, Finley
13. Southern Valley Trail - Wahpeton, Mooreton
14. Cattrail - Hope
15. Sargent County - Gwinner
16. Tioga - Tioga, Ray
17. Northwest - Columbus