North Dakota
North Dakota’s State Park Nestled In The Sheyenne River Valley Is A Hidden Gem For Camping And Fishing – Islands
North Dakota is often stereotyped as a flyover state, but this Midwest gem has a lot to offer visitors. The North Dakota Badlands have been recognized by National Geographic as one of the best places in the world to travel to in 2026, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park is one of the best national parks to spot wildlife. The landscapes here vary between prairie grasslands and river valleys. It’s also one of the best states for pristine views of the Northern Lights. But what about off-the-beaten-path gems? Fort Ransom State Park is one under-the-radar destination that’s well worth visiting in the Peace Garden State.
Covering 950 acres, Fort Ransom State Park is named after a military fort from the 1860s, which unfortunately no longer exists. The park is located in the Sheyenne River Valley, with forest and prairie landscapes to enjoy. It’s a haven for outdoor activities, like fishing, hiking, canoeing or kayaking, and camping. The park is also a great spot for wildlife, including birdwatching. You might even see deer or wild turkeys here.
What to do at Fort Ransom State Park
The best thing to do at Fort Ransom is to enjoy the great outdoors. Fishing is popular here — anglers can cast a line for walleye, northern pike, catfish, yellow perch, or smallmouth bass in the Sheyenne River. You can also canoe and kayak the river on the Sheyenne River Water Trail, with rentals available at the park headquarters.
There are 20 miles of trails to enjoy at Fort Ransom, so hikers will be spoiled for choice. The Little Twig Nature Trail is a short 0.9-mile route through woodlands and meadows, where you might see some of the park’s wildlife. The 9.4-mile Fort Ransom State Park Loop brings hikers through some of the park’s scenic landscapes. The North Country Scenic Trail, a 4,800-mile route between Vermont and North Dakota, passes through Fort Ransom, too. Visitors can walk the 2.2-mile segment. North Dakota may have been named the “Worst State to Hike in the U.S.” thanks to a study by EDGE Fall Protection (via The Travel), but there are some underrated, surprising trails in the state.
Visit in mid-July or the weekend after Labor Day for Sodbuster Days. This event showcases historic farming methods at Sunne Farm, an ode to the area’s pioneer history. Fort Ransom State Park is open year-round. In winter, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling are fun activities. You can rent skis at the visitor center.
Planning your trip to Fort Ransom State Park
Fort Ransom State Park is perfect for a camping getaway, with a number of different sites and lodgings available. There are 16 standard campsites, which include electricity and water, and 10 primitive campsites, along with modern and primitive group campsites. Equestrians can book modern or primitive horse campsites, which include corral access.
If you’d rather not camp, there are several accommodation options at the state park. Spend the night in the Bjone House, a historic homestead property that was built in 1879, although today it has modern amenities, including a full kitchen. Bunker down in the Percheron Wagon, which looks like something straight out of Oregon Trail — but thankfully has a number of amenities like a microwave, refrigerator, air conditioning, and heating. Luxurious yurts are also available, which sleep up to six guests and feature a gas fireplace.
Fort Ransom State Park is about 1 hour and 20 minutes away from the state’s largest city, Fargo; Hector International Airport in Fargo is the closest major airport. You can take the pretty Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway to get to the park, which goes through farmlands, gentle hills, and charming small towns. As this is a rural area, it’s best to have your own vehicle.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Roads in northwest North Dakota are reporting extremely low visibility due to blowing dust and dirt.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol shared photos of an intense dust storm that led to a crash in Williams County on Highway 85 at 1:30 p.m.
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Photo courtesy of the North Dakota Highway Patrol -
Photo courtesy of the North Dakota Highway Patrol
The NDHP is advising the public to stay home if possible, and if you must travel, slow down, turn on your headlights, increase following distance, and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
KELOLAND News also received photos from our viewers of dust storms in South Dakota.
WILLIAMS COUNTY, N.D. (Valley News Live) – The North Dakota Highway Patrol is urging drivers in northwest North Dakota to stay off the roads Thursday afternoon as blowing dirt creates near-zero visibility in some areas.
As of 1:30 p.m. Thursday, troopers were reporting low to no visibility in parts of the region, including along Highway 85 in Williams County near mile marker 212, where a crash occurred. The Highway Patrol shared a photo from the crash scene showing extremely reduced visibility.
Officials are asking people to stay home if possible. Those who must travel are urged to slow down, turn on their headlights, leave extra space between vehicles and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON — The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services has been recognized for its wildfire prevention efforts with a national Bronze Smokey Bear Award.
“These awardees demonstrate what fire prevention looks like in action,” said U.S. Forest Service Deputy Chief Sarah Fisher. “Their efforts protect lives, support firefighters and make a real difference in communities across the country.”
May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and with North Dakota experiencing another active spring wildfire season, each fire prevented is one that local responders don’t have to put out, underscoring the importance of each individual’s responsibility to work and recreate safely outdoors. The award to the N.D. Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) recognizes its efforts in communicating just that.
The communications team is led by Strategic Communications Chief Alison Vetter and is supported by Autonomous Systems and Communications Specialist Clint Fleckenstein.
According to information from the Forest Service, the team’s creative products are visually appealing, engaging and effective. The “Learn Before You Burn” tagline urges North Dakotans to visit the interactive N.D. Fire Declarations and Burn Restrictions map to learn their local restrictions, fire danger and red flag warnings before burning or recreating outdoors. Vetter and Fleckenstein consistently take initiative to address fire prevention issues proactively and go above and beyond to become the best possible storytellers of wildfire prevention messaging.
Alison Vetter
Their statewide efforts identify unique and effective avenues to communicate these important public safety topics, addressing top human-caused fire causes like open burning and equipment use through reels, interviews, Gas Station TV, visits with local students, and GoodHealthTV kiosks found in local health units, schools and other public buildings.
During the historic October 2024 wildfires, NDDES mobilized the Joint Information Center, responding to the elevated need for education, prevention and response to determine messaging needs in real time. This included topics like publicizing daily fire danger, sharing resources for affected landowners, advocating for defensible space and safety tips, and messaging ways to minimize fire risk when harvesting, hunting, or enjoying the outdoors. Alison and her team worked over the winter of 2024-2025 to identify prevention efforts and causes, and crafted effective communications strategies to reduce wildfire occurrence, which proved necessary into an active spring 2025 fire season as well. After the devastation of the October 2024 wildfires, they created a documentary to highlight the value and appreciation for those who responded to the call and showcase the unique way North Dakota communities show up for one another in crisis.
The 2026 Smokey Bear Awards will be presented at the National Association of State Foresters’ annual meeting in Lexington, Kentucky, in September.
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