The Hidden Park That Will Make You Feel Like You Discovered North Dakota’s Best Kept Secret
The Missouri River is one of North Dakota’s most important rivers. It creates Lake Sakakawea from the Garrison Dam, and it courses through and next to many towns throughout the south central and western regions of the state. There are few places left to see the true form of the Missouri in North Dakota, before any dams and without any developed land or towns next to it, but there is one park in the state that has kept the original and natural beauty of it preserved. It’s a bit off the beaten, path, but this park will take you on an adventure you won’t want to miss!
The Cross Ranch State Park lies about 40 miles north of Bismarck near Hensler right along the Missouri River.
This area has been kept primitive to preserve the natural beauty that once surrounded most of the Missouri. There are over 5,000 acres of dedicated nature preserve showcasing forests, meadows, and more.
As the seasons change, even in winter this place is stunning. The park has trails open throughout the year for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing.
You can camp at Cross Ranch either with your own tent or you can stay in one of the many options they have, including a tipi, yurts, and beautiful cabins.
Cross Ranch State Park also provides opportunities for boating, canoeing, fishing, and so much more. You can find more information about the park by clicking here.
Leah moved to North Dakota when she was 12 years old and has traveled from the Red River Valley to the badlands and many places in between. She loves small-town life and currently enjoys living on a small farm in the ND prairie. She's always had a passion for writing and has participated in novel writing challenges such as NaNoWriMo multiple times. Her favorite part about this job is recognizing small businesses that deserve a boost and seeing the positive affect her articles can have on their traffic, especially in rural areas that might have otherwise gone overlooked.
