An Hour From Fargo Is North Dakota's Sprawling National Grassland With Wildflowers, Camping, And Fishing

North Dakota is one of the northernmost of America's Great Plains states, with a reputation that all too often meanders around "flyover country" status. While South Dakota at least has iconic monuments like Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills, the northern Dakota state lacks as many defining features that set it apart from the vast prairies of the Upper Midwest. Not that North Dakota is barren, of course. Quite the contrary — drive across the state's vast landscape and you'll come across remarkable ecosystems and geographic wonders, all unburdened by the heavy crowds afflicting better-known spots. An hour south of Fargo lies one of North Dakota's unsung natural treasures, hidden in plain sight across the state's flat expanse. Though the name "Sheyenne National Grassland" isn't quite as evocative as South Dakota's "Badlands National Park," this extraordinary prairie expanse is a hidden masterwork of Great Plains artistry. 

The Sheyenne National Grassland is a patchwork complex of federally managed areas across southeastern North Dakota's prairies. The flat terrain here doesn't immediately grab one's attention like a prominent mountain or Great Lake would, but look closely across Sheyenne's thousands of acres, and you'll quickly discover beautiful forest systems, thriving biodiversity, and more complex geology than you may expect from the Great Plains. Such biodiversity produces what may be one of North Dakota's best displays of wildflowers across a seemingly endless grassland tableau, and the area's river access points serve as terrific gateways to epic North Dakota paddling and fishing trips. And, as part of the U.S. National Forest System, Sheyenne National Grassland has developed campgrounds where you can experience a one-of-a-kind overnight adventure in the heart of North Dakota's forgotten prairies.

North Dakota's often-overlooked Theodore Roosevelt National Park is one of the Midwest's most underrated national parks — and that has the benefit of "national park" branding! Sheyenne National Grassland flies even further under the radar, with a sprawling area of North Dakota prairies and ancient river deltas across southeastern North Dakota. Sheyenne National Grassland's roughly 70,000 acres protect one of the last remnants of North Dakota's ancient tallgrass prairies, which were largely extirpated by farming and human development. Ironically, the sandy soil of these particular grasslands made them less ideal for agriculture, and thus saved them from the plow. 

Much of the area was once covered by a gigantic glacial lake called Lake Agassiz around 10,000 years ago. Though long gone, Lake Agassiz left behind a remarkable network of prairies, hills, and even rugged sand dunes that stand out against the North Dakota plains. Sheyenne National Grassland's biggest draw may be its spectacular wildflowers. States like California and Texas get the most attention for spectacular wildflower "superblooms" across the United States, but the fertile North Dakota oak savannas across the Sheyenne National Grassland also bear dazzling scenes of colorful prairie smoke, spiderwort, wallflowers, and other native flower species. Most notably, Sheyenne National Grassland supports a significant population of rare western prairie fringed orchids. Usually blooming in July, fringed orchids add a distinctive touch to the Sheyenne grasslands with tall stems, lance-shaped leaves, and milky white flowers.

With wide-open spaces and abundant scenery, Sheyenne National Grassland is ripe for amazing hikes. The Hankinson Hills Trail, for example, is an easy, eight-mile loop around the Hankinson Hills Campground. The full route provides a comprehensive tour of Sheyenne National Grassland's ecological diversity, with scenery ranging from oak savannas to wildflower-filled prairies. Sheyenne National Grassland even contains 30 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail, America's longest continuous trail that stretches nearly 5,000 miles from North Dakota to Vermont. Even if you're just hiking Sheyenne National Grassland's portion of the North Country Trail, you'll have excellent opportunities to see the area's threatened prairie fringed orchids and other plant species native to the Dakota grasslands. 

Sheyenne's recreational opportunities are not just on land. The Sheyenne River Water Trail provides some of Sheyenne National Grassland's best fishing opportunities. Anglers will love the river's hearty populations of bass, walleye, perch, pike, and muskellunge. The Sheyenne River also connects Sheyenne National Grassland with North Dakota's Mirror Pool Wildlife Management Area and its extensive fishing opportunities. Besides fishing, the Sheyenne River Water Trail is a perfect route for scenic paddling among the grassland's panoramic landscape. 

Sheyenne National Grassland has two main campgrounds: the 15-site Hankinson Hills Campground and the 14-site Jorgen's Hollow Campground. Both campgrounds are designated as "semi-primitive," with no water or electric hookups and only vault toilets available to campers (though Hankinson Hills does have a picnic pavilion). Regardless, both campgrounds provide thorough immersion into Sheyenne's pristine prairie ecosystem and convenient access to its scenic trails. If even these campgrounds sound too luxurious for you, Sheyenne National Grassland also allows (free) dispersed camping.