CAMPING At STANTON, NORTH DAKOTA, stop at the Sakakawea State Park Campground by Lake Sakakawea, created by a dam on the Missouri RiverMandan Indian HomeNorth Dakota…a lovely place with accommodations for every need from cabins to hook-ups, tent and group sites, and reservations. You can rent or use your own boats from the marina launch. The area is high and has pleasant winds, even on hot days, and lots of shade. Nearby is a Federal Park service reconstruction of the Hadatsa Indian way of life at Knife River Earthlodge Villages. This is 14 miles West of the excellent Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Washburn on Hwy 83. You’ll enjoy brief or long stays in this area. There is a lot to see and wonderful outdoor recreation for the summer months.
If you are traveling west, you’ll want to plan some time to explore Theodore Roosevelt National Park and stay in the wonderful campgrounds there. The “Bad Lands”, a translation of the Sioux name, were so-called because they could not easily sustain their life without buffalo or grassy plains; however, we believe the English name gives them a “bad rap” because it deters tourists from venturing to see the fascinating unique beauty of the nature-carved spires, canyons, and twisty peaks. With the exception of Mount Rushmore’s famed portraits of South Dakota, all you miss in North Dakota’s continuation of the “Bad Lands” is the crowds. The amphitheater play is excellent and runs nightly at 8:30 in the summer. Be sure to plan to participate in the “pitchfork fondue” supper beforehand for a really unusual steak dinner in North Dakota outdoor style.
Driving North on #83, we looked at the map and discovered there are several notable Bird Sanctuaries and Wildlife Refuges just off the main highway. We chose to take a few back roads to the J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge in Upham, ND. J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge We had seen countless little ponds and small lakes on both sides of the highway throughout North Dakota, and all of them had a few ducks peacefully swimming along, as if they owned that particular pond. Even the large puddles from recent rains had their own puddle ducks, of many different varieties…really interesting to watch and photograph, although finding a place to stop on the narrow roads with little shoulders is difficult.
At the Wildlife Preserves you’ll find thousands of acres of wetlands and woodlands that are safe haven from the many hunters who seek these prizes and the deer, elk, and other game. There are walkways, piers, and good trails for you to enjoy if you are covered in insect repellent and wearing long pants tucked into socks. (We were told ticks, not snakes, are the thing to beware.) Just as we started onto one lake pier, a large white-tail deer ran out from beneath us, too fast for our camera. These Wildlife and Bird Sanctuaries, of which there are many in North Dakota, are for more patient bird watchers than we and often have organized groups out with binoculars. Photographers with long lenses and tripods will have a “field day” with many prizes to capture on film.
By contrast, fishermen and hunters of big game and small can easily find excellent guides and return with large trophies and loads of meat. Taxidermy and shipping are not a problem. We were fortunate to find one of the best guides around, Craig Ambach of Pierre, SD, who has been guiding fishing and hunting expeditions in the Dakotas for many years and has numerous large mounts to prove his success and many happy regular customers who’ll vouch for his expertise.
At the top center of North Dakota we found a wonderful place to camp: Lake Metigoshe State Park, on beautiful lakes and ponds, with deep wooded campgrounds and plenty of hook-ups and perfect Lake Metigoshe State Park,accommodations for any kind of camping. However, in North Dakota you really cannot know about camping until you turn in and look because many of the State Parks have lovely camping accommodations and excellent facilities but are not listed in Woodall’s Directory and most highway signs do not show camping, or show only tent camping, but we found all that we checked to have excellent RV camping also. They really need more markers, so if you find one you want to try, do not pass it up without looking. Lake Metigoshe has beautiful trails, paved roads for biking or skating, canoe portage pathways and all you need for boating and water sports. The entire park is a Wildlife Refuge with excellent interpretive programs and is open year-round. In winter skaters, sledders, snow-shoers and cross-country skiers love this area and can spot many deer and moose as they traverse. There are also snowmobile trails and ice-fishing.
We went to the nearby International Peace Garden and listened to the lovely carrillion ring it beautiful sounds every fifteen minutes as we gave thanks for the peaceful and friendly way Canada and the United States exist side by side. There is a youth music camp here in the summers and numerous concerts; if you are camping here be sure to ask the schedule. The 1,500 acre park is lovely with hiking trails, gardens, a tea-room, and the flower clock.
Real Travel Adventures 