North Dakota

7 Most Idyllic Small Towns in North Dakota

Published

2 years ago

May 15, 2024

7 Most Idyllic Small Towns in North Dakota

When people picture an idyllic life, they often imagine peacefulness, pleasantness, and simplicity. This can seem like an impossible dream until you cross the border into North Dakota.

This underrated state is known as the Peace Garden State for a very specific reason. It is the place people go to escape the drama of everyday life and simply gaze out over the prairies while taking in the incredible atmosphere.

North Dakota is wild in the best way. You will see bison, wild horses, and prairie dogs. There is more than enough time to explore badlands and endless trails. Drama has no place here, and there is magic, excellent weather, and intriguing history.

If you want to experience a true haven, even if you only visit the Legendary State once in your life, start with the most idyllic small towns.

Devils Lake

Trees on Devil’s Lake in North Dakota.

Devils Lake may not be the most idyllic name, but this small town of 7,000 is one of the best places in the U.S. to become one with nature.

Here, you can cast a line into the water of Devils Lake and forget about the rest of the world. All you need to do is keep an eye out for northern pike, perch, walleyes, and white bass.

If you travel here during winter, you can ice fish to your heart’s content. You can also take a day or two to swim and relax in the sun or explore some of the fantastic hiking trails in the nearby Grahams Island State Park. It is the perfect place for camping or strolling along the lakeshore.

Cap off your visit by teeing off on a local golf course and enjoying the unparalleled starry night sky that blankets the Devils Lake landscape.

New Town

You will see the stars in New Town, too, as well as calm lakes and rocky shores. New Town embodies the meaning of idyllic living with its oil boom prosperity and scenic location.

New Town still retains its quintessential small-town America look and feel. You will find it on State Highway 23, where Lake Sakakawea crosses the Four Bears Bridge. It is also right at the edge of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.

There is so much beauty to admire in New Town while fishing or boating. Just west of the town, you will find the Crow Flies High State Recreation Area, with its magnificent overlook over the water of the lake.

While you take in this unforgettable scene, you might even catch glimpses of Sanish, a town covered entirely by Lake Sakakawea.

Dickinson

If you are into unforgettable nature scenes and just relaxing in the outdoors, Dickinson should be one of the stops on your North Dakota visit.

Dickinson boasts more residents, with a population of just under 25,000, but the small-town feel is still there. It is also the gateway to the simply wonderful Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Here, you can explore and contemplate the exact spot where Roosevelt once paced up and down, looking for and finding the inspiration he needed.

You will see the remainder of the enigmatic cultures that once inhabited the badlands, including a bison processing camp and a meticulously placed ring of rocks. These cultures, which include the Blackfeet, Cree, Sioux, and Chippewa, each have their own connection with the badlands.

Speaking of badlands, Dickinson is also home to the Badlands Dinosaur Museum, which features constantly evolving exhibits.

When you have soaked in as much local history and archaeology as possible, head over to the Old Red Old Ten Scenic Byway that runs between Mandan and Dickinson. This road trip will soothe your soul with the blue skies seeming closer than ever and the wildlife gazing at you curiously as you drive slowly by.

Valley City

Idyllic looks different to different people. While curious wildlife and clear skies are what some yearn for, some just want to enjoy the open road and whatever comes next.

If Valley City happens to be at the end of that open road, you may just find what you are looking for in this legendary town.

Here, you can go on a tour of eight historic bridges and visit the Medicine Wheel Park. The park features a replica of the Native American solar calendar, reflecting Earth’s spinning journey around the sun.

Continue your journey through Valley City by stopping at the Rosebud Visitor Center, which also happens to be the gateway to the Sheyenne River Valley. One of the most incredible exhibits at the visitor center includes an 1881 railcar with original furnishings. The visitor center also brings Valley City’s railroad history to life with other indoor and outdoor displays.

There is also North Dakota’s only planetarium at Valley City State University, where you will experience the night sky in an entirely new way.

Bottineau

Bottineau may not be all about the stars and planets, but you will find the endearing Tommy Turtle here. While this may sound like a strange attraction for people looking for idyllic surroundings, keep in mind that it is one of the most photographed statues in town, and maybe in North Dakota.

Tommy stands at the entryway to the Turtle Mountains, so even if giant turtle statues are not your thing, these mountains certainly will be. Located just six miles northwest of the town, you will pass farmsteads and gorgeous landscapes on your way. And, if tranquility is what you are after, you will find plenty of that inside the Turtle Mountain State Forest.

If you are up for a little skiing, the Bottineau Winter Park will be right up your alley. Sitting in the Turtle Mountains, this region earned its informal title of ‘most beautiful area in North Dakota.’

Wahpeton

More blissful landscapes await in the beautiful town of Wahpeton. Here, you can visit the Chahinkapa Zoo, which has a massive variety of animal species along the Red River. The infamous Prairie Rose Carousel is also a must-see with its twenty handcrafted wooden horses and two chariots.

You can spend several hours away fishing at the Kidder Recreation Area or test your swing at the Bois de Sioux Golf Course. There is the Richland Couty Historical Museum to explore and the Red Door Art Gallery, both of which form part of the so-called ‘art corridor.’

When you have had your fill of art and history, camp out at the shores of the Red River for a relaxing afternoon of boating and some more fishing.

Medora

Medora is the last idyllic small town on this list and also the smallest. With 142 residents as of 2024, you do not get much more peaceful than this tiny town.

Medora is small enough to explore with your feet. You can walk just about anywhere, including to the Old Town Hall Theater, where the Teddy Roosevelt statue stands. Roosevelt’s presence is felt everywhere, especially at the Rough Riders Hotel, where you can read more about the connection between Medora and America’s 26^th president.

You will not want to stay inside, however, regardless of the weather. There are too many canyons, badland landscapes, and other unforgettable attractions to see. And, if you are looking to immerse yourself in Western culture while on a relaxing vacation, this is where you will find it.

These small towns are the proverbial tip of the iceberg when it comes to living the dream, whether permanently or while on holiday. North Dakota abounds with wildlife, national parks, nightly entertainment, and American history. It appeals no matter what type of idyllic dream you are looking for. So, next time you feel burned out and just need a break, head to the Great American West for a memorable experience.

Source link

North Dakota

What channel is North Dakota vs Wisconsin hockey in Frozen Four today? Time, TV schedule to watch

Published

11 hours ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

What channel is North Dakota vs Wisconsin hockey in Frozen Four today? Time, TV schedule to watch

For one weekend only, the Midwest (and Denver) descends upon Sin City.

The 2026 Frozen Four — the penultimate stage of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship — will open with No. 2 seed North Dakota Fighting Hawks taking on the Wisconsin Badgers in Las Vegas. The Fighting Hawks have been dominant thus far in the tournament, winning their first two games by a combined score of 8-0.

Presumptive NHL draft top-five pick Keaton Verhoeff headlines North Dakota’s roster, but Cody Croal leads the team with three goals in the first two rounds.

Watch Frozen Four games with Fubo (free trial)

North Dakota will be taking on the biggest surprise appearance, with Wisconsin surviving the Worcester Regional Final over No. 3-seed Michigan State in an overtime thriller. The game-winning goal came on a deflection off the stick of Ben Dexheimer, who headily tipped in what looked like a harmless dump-in from the blue line. Wisconsin is looking to be the first team since 2006 to win the men’s and women’s national title in the same season.

The last team to achieve the feat? Wisconsin.

With that, here’s how to watch the Frozen Four match between North Dakota and Wisconsin, including time, TV schedule, streaming information, game odds and more:

What channel is North Dakota vs Wisconsin hockey today in Frozen Four?

The Fighting Hawks-Badgers match will air live on ESPN2, and is available for streaming on the ESPN app (with a cable login) or Fubo, the latter of which has a free trial for new users.

Stream North Dakota-Wisconsin hockey live with Fubo (free trial)

North Dakota-Wisconsin Frozen Four start time today

Time: 5 p.m. ET
Date: Thursday, April 9
Location: T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas)

North Dakota vs. Wisconsin is set for a 5 p.m. ET faceoff on Thursday, April 9, from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

North Dakota vs Wisconsin Frozen Four prediction, picks, odds

Odds from BetMGM as of Wednesday, April 8

Spread: North Dakota (-1.5)
Over/under: 5.5 goals
Moneyline: North Dakota -200 | Wisconsin +154

Prediction: North Dakota 4, Wisconsin 1

Wisconsin is on an incredible run, but its win over Michigan State comes with the caveat the Spartans were without Charlie Stramel for two of their three periods. The trio of Cody Croal, Jack Kernan, and Dylan James do enough to win this game, and North Dakota will play for its first national championship in 10 years.

Source link

North Dakota

UND Track and Field With Split Events

Published

23 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND Sports Information)– Fighting Hawk track and field is set to split between California and North Dakota for a pair of meets this week, with competition occurring from Thursday to Saturday for UND.

It all begins out west at the Bryan Clay Multis where action will begin at 1 p.m. CT on both Thursday and Friday in Azusa. The Fighting Hawks overlap on Friday as action kicks up at the NDSU Spring Classic at 1 p.m. CT on Friday and 11 a.m. CT on Saturday in Fargo.

Last Time Out

North Dakota track and field collected four total broken school records over the weekend, with two more coming in Saturday competition as the Fighting Hawks took on two meets out in California

MIKE FANELLI TRACK CLASSIC

Saturday competition began for UND in the women’s 10,000-meter run where Elle Sondag crossed the finish line in 36:28.89 in her event debut to take eighth in section one and finish eighth overall. In the men’s portion of the same event, Ethan Adams finished 23rd in section over for 26th overall behind a PR time of 31:19.28 that now ranks ninth in school history.

In the 800-meter run, Gabriella Ruggeri ran a time of 2:10.65 (PR, fifth all-time) to finish fourth in section four and 25th overall in 21 heats of competing athletes. Aleksa Milanovic represented the men and finished second in section six and 13th overall out of 27 heats of competition with a time of 1:51.63.

Then the history-making turned up a notch. Olivia Correale broke the program record in the women’s mile run with her time of 4:47.47 to take first place overall in the event. And the domination continued in addition to the new school history. Katie Rogers took second in 4:52.51 with the second-best time in UND history as Marie-Louise Jorgensen finished fourth with a time of 4:56.93 in her event debut that now ranks third in the record books. Frida Giersdorff rounded out the speedy performances with her 4:57.59 clocking for seventh place and the fourth-best time at UND.

The men’s mile run race followed with the same kind of headlines as Louis-Lys Fanucchi added to the weekend success. He also broke the men’s mile run record with his time of 4:07.75 as Henrik Lindstrot followed in fifth place with a time of 4:10.97, marking a new PR and the third-best time in school history.

TRITON INVITATIONAL

The throwing results continued for North Dakota in San Diego with Fighting Hawks competing in the shot put and discus throw. Julia Matthews tied her outdoor personal best of 46-4 1/4 (14.13m) in the women’s shot put, which ranks eighth in school history, to finished 13th in the event.

STANFORD INVITATIONAL

Late results from yesterday’s competition at Stanford came in with historical performances for North Dakota on Friday evening.

It all began with Giersdorff besting her own school record by over 12 seconds in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase. She ran a new PR time of 10:06.17 to rewrite history and take seventh place in the event. Over in the men’s half of the event, Fanucchi emerged victories with his clocking of 8:42.15, which marks a new PR and the second-best time in school history. Lindstrot came fifth in 8:49.08 for a new personal best and the third-best time in the UND record books.

Another school record fell in the women’s 10,000-meter where Keeler broke another one of her own top marks. She took fourth overall in the event with her time of 31:56.03, which improves her previous school record by nearly 10 seconds. Her locking now sits as the 20th-fastest time in NCAA history.

In section two of the event, Shewaye Johnson ran a 33:44.70 (PR) for the third-best time in UND history and ninth place. Naja Weiler clocked a 33:51.36 (PR, 13th place), which now sits fourth in school history and marks a new freshman record.

Summit League Accolades

Peak Performer of the Week

– Jadyn Keeler – Women’s Track (April 7)

Fight ‘em Hawks!

The Fighting Hawks have already achieved a plethora of new top-10 indoor marks in program history this season, including four chart-topping school records:

*Olivia Correale – Mile Run (No. 1 – 4:47.47)

*Louis-Lys Fanucchi – Mile Run (No. 1, 4:07.75)

*Frida Giersdorff – 3000-meter Steeplechase (No. 1 – 10:06.17)

*Jadyn Keeler – 10,000-meter Run (No. 1 – 31:56.03)

On Tap

North Dakota track and field will take on a plethora of meets next weekend with the Pacific Coast Invitational, Beach Invitational and Bryan Clay Invitational out in California as well as the Tom Tellez Alumni Invitational in Texas.

For updates and more information on North Dakota track and field, follow on social media @UNDtrackfieldXC or visit FightingHawks.com.

Source link

North Dakota

HHS reminds North Dakotans that services and support are available to prevent child abuse during Child Abuse Prevention Month

Published

1 day ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

HHS reminds North Dakotans that services and support are available to prevent child abuse during Child Abuse Prevention Month

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is reminding North Dakotans that services are available to strengthen families in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Read the Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation.

North Dakota reported 532 confirmed cases of child abuse and/or neglect in calendar year 2025.

“Although even one case is one too many, based on the number of assessments completed, the percentage of confirmed cases remains consistent compared to the previous year,” said HHS Children and Family Services Prevention and Protection Administrator Kirsten Hansen.

To help children and youth remain safely at home, HHS offers FamilyFirst Services, which are designed to strengthen families through support for both children and their parents or caregivers. Services are based on the specific needs of the family and focus on practical support for parents; behavioral health, including both mental health and addiction; and other needs. Visit FamilyFirst Services for more details.

Throughout April, several agencies across North Dakota will be hosting in-person and virtual events in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Visit Families Flourish ND for more information about upcoming events.

April is also a time to remind people that North Dakota has a law that allows parents to turn to approved Baby Safe Haven sites if they are unable to safely care for their infant. Parents can safely surrender an infant up to 1 year of age without fear of prosecution or questions. Infants must be unharmed and given to an on-duty staff member at a hospital or other approved location.

Reporting suspected child abuse or neglect
HHS reminds individuals that if they suspect a child in North Dakota is being abused or neglected, they should call the statewide toll-free Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting Line at 1-833-958-3500. If it’s an emergency and a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

Source link