Discover A Pristine Paradise When You Visit North Dakota’s Pembina Gorge

North Dakota is known for having vast landscapes and endless skies. One of the best places to get a good glimpse of both is the beautiful Pembina Gorge area. Spanning from the Canadian border all the way toward Wahallah, this enormous patch of woodlands creates a unique space for hiking, biking, winter recreation, and paddling, all while supporting a diverse ecosystem.

The Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area consists of 12,500 acres of protected woodland and river that carves through a northwestern section of the state.

The gorge itself runs from the Canadian border, along the Pembina River, to a spot just west of the town of Wahallah.

Today, the gorge is used for all sorts of recreation, from extreme sports to casual walks in the woods.

The Pembina River is a favorite of rafters, kayakers, tubers, and paddlers, and in the summer, you can find groups enjoying some time on the water.

Parts of the trail network have been improved to create a cycling park! If you love mountain biking, this will become one of your favorite places to pedal.

Of course, this natural wonder has a lot more to brag about than kayak launches and bike ramps. The Gorge is home to most of the rare species known in the state. In fact, 21 animals found here aren't found anywhere else in the state!

You'll find 30 rare plant species here, including eight that aren't found elsewhere in North Dakota. There are nearly 500 species of plants here - that's a third of the total plant species found throughout the state.

It's no wonder that people flock here to see the wildlife and natural scenery as much as they come by to bike or float. The Pembina Gorge is a hiker's paradise.

For more information on recreation in the Pembina Gorge, visit the ND Tourism website, here.