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When planning a visit to some of the national parks in the United States, few people consider heading to the North Dakota national parks. And that’s both a shame and a blessing.
It’s a shame because there are a few downright magnificent national parks in North Dakota.
On the other hand, it’s a blessing because those parks are generally much quieter than the top parks in the national park system, such as Zion, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Acadia and Olympic.
The 5 National Parks in North Dakota
In this post, we’ll explore the five national parks in North Dakota—that’s right, there are five of them!
I always enjoy visiting less touristy destinations, just because of their peacefulness and quietness, and the sense of discovery that comes with that.
It’s just a great deal of fun to explore a park all by yourself, without being surrounded by a crowd of tourists. That’s my kind of traveling, which is why, I think, North Dakota with its amazing potential for scenic drives and outdoor activities is such an attractive destination.
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
The former home of the Northern Plains Indians, North Dakota has a couple of fascinating historic sites related to those Native Americans.
They were basically a farming people living on and near the banks of the Missouri River and its side rivers, who also hunted game such as bison and elk.
The Knife River Indian Villages used to be important trade centers for the Native Americans—now a strongly recommended place to visit for anyone looking to learn more about the original inhabitants of the United States.
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
The most important fur trading post on the Upper Missouri River from 1828 to 1867, Fort Union played a vital role in the early days of the United States.
This was where seven Northern Plains Indian tribes and European pioneers traded goods such as weapons, blankets, clothing and jewelry, and furs and buffalo hides.
The Fort Union Trading Post was a model example of coexistence between the Native Americans and European colonists. The site features archaeological sites, reenactments and lots of information.
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
The Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail runs through eleven states, including, of course, North Dakota.
You can walk in the footsteps of legendary explorers Lewis and Clark and their party of 30 people, all the way from the Midwestern plains to the Pacific coast.
North Country National Scenic Trail
Another downright superb, although not yet finished, trail is the North Country National Scenic Trail, a trail that, when it’s completed, will be the longest hiking trail in the entire United States—longer even than the Appalachian and the Pacific Crest Trails.
Running from North Dakota to New York (and, in the future, Vermont), this magnificent path across seven states will—and already does—connect state parks, historic sites, and cultural and natural highlights.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Named after the former U.S. President who went there to hunt bison in the late 19th century, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is one of the most breathtaking national parks in the northern United States.
It protects three distinctly different geographical areas—the North Unit, South Unit and Elkhorn Ranch Unit—in North Dakota’s rugged Badlands, a truly awe-inspiring region filled with attractions, and is home to an abundance of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, wild horses, bison and elk.
Credit for some the images used in this post: North Dakota Tourism.
Marlys Schuermann
Monday 16th of May 2016
The Lewis and Clark trail and the Indian Villages park sound very much to my liking. Hope we'll have the chance to visit these parks next time we're in the US!