Fargo's Largest Multi-Use Park Is An Urban Gem With Nature Walks, Riverside Campsites, And A Bridge To Minnesota

Fargo has an impressive amount of green space. The North Dakota city has created more than 150 public parks for its nearly 140,000 residents. So, where to begin? The largest outdoor playground, of course. At Lindenwood Park, you'll find nature trails and a waterfront campground. It's even home to a footbridge that leads into neighboring Minnesota.

Fargo was founded in 1871 as a stop on the Northern Pacific Railroad. The frontier town promised inexpensive farmland and lax laws along the Red River, which forms the border between Minnesota and North Dakota. But the Great Fire of 1893, which destroyed much of downtown Fargo, forever changed the young city. As Fargo began rebuilding, its building codes and fire regulations were immediately modernized. Within 20 years, the Fargo Park District also started creating parks, starting with Island Park, the location where the devastating fire is believed to have originated.

In 1917, Fargo bought "the Linden Woods," along the Red River, which became the city's second public park. Over the following decade, the space, renamed Lindenwood Park, added a campground, running water, benches, and picnic facilities. The park expanded to 90 acres, making it the largest multi-use park in the city now. Meanwhile, Fargo is also known as a walkable destination full of intriguing attractions and shops.

When you arrive in Lindenwood Park, you'll find numerous trails, some gravel and some paved. Hikers and bikers use them most of the year, before cross-country skiers and snowshoers take them over in the winter. The Red River Primitive Trail hugs the curves of the Red River for 2 miles. It starts near the American Legion Memorial Fountain and ends near the campground.

Other trails run parallel to the Red River Primitive Trail. The Lindenwood Park Tree Tour also starts near the fountain. You'll see ponderosa pines, weeping willows, American elms, and perhaps even deer along this educational path that's quite stunning during fall foliage. Keep an eye out for pileated woodpeckers — you can't miss their bright red plumes atop their head — as you wander between the trees. Or, if you prefer winter sports, you'll want to return after it snows to follow the Lindenwood Full Length Classic, a more than 6-mile out-and-back trail.

As you follow these trails, you'll also notice that a pedestrian bridge crosses the river. The lift bridge, along with a similar one in Fargo's Oak Grove Park, can be raised and lowered according to water levels and flood threats. This one connects Lindenwood Park with neighboring Minnesota. If you walk across the bridge, you'll end up in Gooseberry Mound Park in Fargo's twin city, Moorhead, which mixes campus vibes, artistic charm, and a classic Midwest feel.

You can also spend the night in Lindenwood Park. Despite the majority of the park being in Lincoln, a residential neighborhood south of downtown Fargo, Lindenwood Campground provides a "wilderness feeling" thanks to its location in the woods and along the river in the park. "If you stay by the water, it's exceptional," according to one Google reviewer. The campground features 46 back-in campsites, which each have an electric hookup, fire pit, and picnic table. Shared bathrooms, showers, and dump stations, as well as firewood bundles and a large playground, are available for campers, too.

Though there's never any cost to visit Lindenwood Park, you must pay to rent shelters and equipment in it. The park has five picnic venues, each outfitted with electricity and charcoal grills, that can be reserved for groups in advance. A variety of bikes, ranging from fun cycles to surreys, are available in half-hour increments. Plus, single-person kayaks can be used for an hour at a time. There's also a nightly fee to stay at the campground, which is open from May 1 until the beginning of October each year.

It's easy to reach Lindenwood Park from Fargo's Hector International Airport (FAR). The largest airport in North Dakota, which receives nonstop flights from major cities all around the country, lies just 5 miles north of the park. For more ideas while you're in the city, check out the best family-friendly destinations for a perfect day trip from Fargo.