There's A Lake Hiding In A North Dakota State Park Where You Can Camp Year-Round
By Tori Jane|Published March 09, 2022
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Cuddled away deep in the scenic Turtle Mountains along the US/Canadian international border is a stunning state park where all the locals go to relax and unwind. It’s among North Dakota’s most popular recreation areas, which really isn’t saying a lot, considering North Dakota is one of the single most remote, least-populated states in the nation, but hey – for what it’s worth, it’s truly amazing. It’s Lake Metigoshe State Park, and nestled within the park is a beautiful lake (one of North Dakota’s best) with nearby camping that’s open year-round. Are you a fan of year-round camping in North Dakota? After a stay at Lake Metigoshe State Park, you might become one.
There's so much to do and see at Lake Metigoshe State Park that it might feel kind of intimidating to try and pick just a few things to cross off the ol' bucket list.
It's great for all sorts of things, but the crown jewel of the park is the beautiful Lake Metigoshe, which often partially freezes over in the winter but whose clear water sparkles beautifully during the warmer months.
It's a 1,544-acre slice of paradise, and it's one of those places that doesn't necessarily feel like an upper Midwestern location.
The lake is host to all sorts of fun activities, like fishing, boating, kayaking, and more - but our favorite part about the lake is the camping sites surrounding it.
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There are many campsites scattered across the state park, plenty of which have stellar lake views and are well worth booking long in advance to make sure you get them.
There are 85 modern campsites with electricity and water, 39 primitive campsites, and three group campsites. There are also a few delightful cabins for rent, as well as seasonal yurts.
Few things are as relaxing as waking up just before dawn and taking the kayak out onto the still water to watch the sunrise before the park wakes up and springs to life.
We suggest coming at least once during every season.
North Dakota experiences all four seasons, and each is ridiculously beautiful (even winter, which can admittedly be frigid at times). It's the perfect place to go when you want to get away from it, even when it's January.
Lake Metigoshe is just as beautiful during the cold months as it is during the warmer months.
