North Dakota's Best State Parks
Our three "must see" state parks in North Dakota are Fort Abraham Lincoln, Lake Sakakawea and Icelandic. The reasons are as follows:
Fort
Abraham Lincoln State Park
The first state park in the North Dakota system is located 7 miles from the
Capital city of Bismarck. The site contains remnants and reconstructions of
On-A-Slant Mandan Indian village (1600-1750) noted as abandoned in Lewis and
Clarks journals. The name of the park comes from the frontier fort that was home
to Lieutenant George Armstrong Custer and the Seventh Cavalry for three years -
1874-1876. Additionally, the Civilian Conservation Corps provided significant
enhancements to the park during the 1930's including a Visitor Center, village
earthlodge reconstructions, fort reconstructions and numerous stone and log
shelters, most of which exists today. The park events focus today on living
history at the fort and village, provide a wealth of cultural and historic
experiences and offers a tranquil camping experience along the banks of the
Missouri River.
Lake
Sakakawea State Park
Lake Sakakawea, named after the infamous guide that accompanied the Lewis
and Clark Expedition from Fort Mandan, North Dakota to the Pacific coast and
back, is a Corps of Engineers reservoir along the Missouri River. The lake is
centrally located in the state, roughly 80 miles north of Bismarck. The park is
located on the eastern end of the lake, at the dam site, offering water based
recreation, a world class fishery, wonderful sailing experiences both sail boat
and wind surfing, great sunsets and awesome panorama's of the lake and
landscape. The lake is the largest Corps reservoir in the US extending roughly
180 miles in length and 4 - 10 miles in width. Facilities include a full service
marina, over 300 campsites, day activities, and the terminus of the North
Country Trail.
Icelandic
State Park
A historic and natural resource park located in the far northeastern corner
of the state near Cavalier. The park originated through a land donation from an
Icelandic resident thus the name. Within the boundary of the park is a 300 acre
lake, flood control impoundment on the Tongue river, offering water based
recreation to the region. In addition the original land donation contains a
diverse floodplain forest, woodland uplands and sand prairie that has been
designated as a State Nature Preserve. During the states Centennial celebration
a local support group put in place a complex including an interpretive center
and associated out buildings used to tell the settlement story of North Dakota.
The settlement occurred in the North east corner of the state preceding the
advancement of the railroads with migration from Canada. Facilities besides
those listed above include full service camping, cabins, picnicking, hiking and
a host of special events and cultural exhibits in the visitor center throughout
the year.
Return to "Best of the Best State Parks"
