12 Beautiful Places in North Dakota That Are Wild, Windswept, and Wonderfully Underrated

If you think North Dakota is nothing but flat fields and highway exits, most of it honestly is. This is one of those states that most people write off until they actually go. And when they do, they’re usually unexpectedly surprised by what they find: wild badlands, otherworldly rock formations, and some of the nicest people in the country.

These beautiful places in North Dakota might just flip your idea of the Midwest entirely. From sweeping badlands to quiet lakeside escapes, these spots prove the state has way more going on than it gets credit for.

1. Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora

The badlands here once drove Theodore Roosevelt to fall in love with the West. This national park, which is split into three units and spans over 70,000 acres, is one of the best places to see wild horses, elk, and prairie dogs.

This North Dakota park includes scenic warm weather drives, like the 36-mile loop in the South Unit, and plenty of pullouts to petrified forests, ancient rock formations, and prairie that changes color with the light. The North Unit features steeper cliffs with fewer crowds. Roosevelt’s original Elkhorn Ranch site still exists and can be visited with some effort and dusty driving.

2. Painted Canyon, Near Medora

Painted Canyon is one of those blink-and-you-miss-it turnouts that turns into a full-blown canyon right from a highway rest stop. Layers of red, orange, and gray rock stretch miles in this part of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

There’s a short loop hike from the overlook with interpretive signs to help you decode the geologic chaos below.

3. Maah Daah Hey Trail, Western North Dakota

This 144-mile trail cuts through some of the region’s most remote, rugged landscapes and links all three units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Expect buttes, plateaus, prairie, and very few people. Established campsites, water caches, and trail markers exist, but this wilderness has minimal cell service. Most folks base out of Medora, where you can recover with an actual bed and decent beer.

4. Pembina Gorge, Near Walhalla

Here’s where North Dakota quietly goes alpine. The Pembina Gorge cuts through the Turtle Mountains with dense forest, rolling hills, and a glacier-carved valley you probably didn’t expect. It’s documented to contain many rare species, making it one of the state’s top biodiversity zones.

You can canoe the river, hike the trails, or take an ATV. The Gorge has prehistoric fossils and 500-million-year-old rock layers. Nearby, Walhalla is one of the oldest settlements in the state, and it was originally founded by Métis people.

5. Lake Sakakawea, Central North Dakota

Created by damming the Missouri River, Lake Sakakawea is a reservoir with over 1,500 miles of shoreline, more than the entire California coastline. Fishing is big here, as is its popularity for boating, kayaking, and camping, especially at Lake Sakakawea State Park.

The park includes trails that lead to wide-open views of the water and rolling grasslands. Interpretive centers explain how the lake got its name and the dam’s impact on local tribes.

6. Sunflower Fields, Statewide

North Dakota grows nearly half of all sunflowers in the US, and it’s hard to look anywhere else when they bloom in late summer. Fields stretch for miles, golden and waving against the endless blue sky.

While no single spot claims the “best” view, areas near Carrington, Rugby, and Bismarck are solid bets. Some farms open up for photo ops, but always check first, as many of these are working crops. Mid-August is prime.

7. Devils Lake, Devils Lake

Devil’s Lake sounds ominous but actually translates from the Dakota word meaning “Spirit Lake.” It’s the largest natural body of water in North Dakota, and thanks to rising water levels, it’s been creeping larger for years. That slow flood has swallowed roads, farmland, and even old homesteads.

The lake is known for its perch and walleye and hosts tournaments year-round. Grahams Island State Park offers campsites and trails with water views. In winter, the whole place turns into an ice-fishing village.

8. Enchanted Highway, Regent

One man decided North Dakota needed roadside giants, and then just… made them. The Enchanted Highway runs 32 miles and features massive scrap metal sculptures of things like grasshoppers, deer, and a full family of tin people. It’s weird, it’s fun, and this strange roadside attraction is totally worth the detour.

The project was started by Gary Greff in the early ‘90s to draw people to his dwindling hometown. It worked, kind of, as Regent now sees a steady stream of curious drivers and road trip bloggers like me. Each sculpture has its own pullout and sign, so you can stop and stare at a 60-foot grasshopper in peace. There’s even a themed motel if you want to go all in.

9. Fort Ransom State Park, Near Lisbon

Set in the heavily forested Sheyenne River Valley, Fort Ransom State Park looks nothing like the flat prairie North Dakota is stereotyped for. The park’s namesake is a 19th-century military post, though little remains of the original fort today.

What you will find are thick woods, winding trails, and a waterfall at Mineral Springs that feels oddly tucked into the landscape. Hikers, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers all share the trail system. Cabins and yurts are available for overnight stays to extend the escape.

10. Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, Near Stanton

This spot preserves the remains of a Hidatsa earth lodge village that was once home to Sacagawea before she joined Lewis and Clark. The site includes reconstructed earth lodges that show how Indigenous people lived on the plains long before colonists arrived.

In summer, you can walk along trails that lead past archeological sites, the Knife and Missouri rivers, and wild prairie blooms. The visitor center has hands-on exhibits and artifacts that help tell the full story.

11. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Near Mandan

Fort Abraham Lincoln is where General Custer and the 7th Cavalry set out before things went south at Little Bighorn. It includes reconstructed barracks, blockhouses, and Custer’s house, which has been recreated down to the wallpaper. There’s also an On-A-Slant Mandan Indian Village with earth lodges and interpretation led by tribal historians.

The park overlooks the Missouri River and includes trails with panoramic views. Living history events bring the 1870s to life with actors in period dress. You can camp inside the park or just come for the day to tour the grounds. It’s one of the best places to understand the complicated history of the Northern Plains.

12. Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site, Near Williston

In the 1800s, Fort Union was the most important fur trading post on the upper Missouri River. It was a melting pot of cultures where Indigenous tribes, European trappers, and American entrepreneurs met to trade buffalo robes and stories. The site has been partially reconstructed and includes a palisade, trade house, and period furnishings.

Rangers often lead demonstrations in blacksmithing or traditional crafts. Lewis and Clark passed near here on their way west, and you can still feel how remote it all is.

Cat Xu

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Catherine, a seasoned travel writer, has lived in 4 different states and explored 36 states and 28 national parks. After spending two years embracing van life, she's now dedicated to sharing her vast knowledge of day trips across America. Catherine's other works has been referenced in major publications like MSN, Self, and TripSavvy.

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