Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway

State: North Dakota
Length: 63 miles / 100.8 km
Time to Allow: Allow at least 9 hours to tour this Byway.

Travel through 75 miles of North Dakota following the Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway. The byway sits in the lower southeast corner of the state right next to South Dakota and Minnesota, and starts at the tail end of Lake Ashtabula. While you can drive the trip in just nine hours or less, take a few days to fully see the sights and learn about Native Americans, Vikings, and pioneer lore. Add in quaint towns and 27 interpretive sites to make this a journey to remember.

Spend a night or two at the Mel Rieman Campground at the tail of Lake Ashtabula to start your trip outdoors. Here you can boat, swim, camp, fish, or simply enjoy the outdoors. The nearest town is Valley City, ten miles away. It’s close to the Baldhill Dam as well, with beautiful scenery of the river valley. The town offers eight historic bridges and a winding river through beautiful parks and interesting architecture.

The large Medicine Wheel Park makes for a gorgeous place to picnic, or you can visit twelve burial mounds from the Plains Woodlands Indians from hundreds of years ago. Also, you can take a walking tour of the solar system and check out a meridian calendar. Walk hundreds of miles of trail on the North Country National Scenic Trail too. Check out several museums as well as dining and shopping with local antique and quilt shops.

Drive through the gorgeous scenery to the town of Kathryn for a bite to eat and necessities. You can also visit the Wadeson Cabin State Historic Site built-in 1876. It served as a country store, home, and community hall for years. Take a slight detour to the Clausen Springs Recreation Area for a peaceful lake with a fishing dock and swimming area. It’s a great place to camp and views wildlife too.

Next, check out the Standing Rock State Historic Site with a series of Native American burial mounds overlooking the Sheyenne River. The cemetery dates back to 100 B.C. and are considered sacred. Then, continue on to visit the Fort Ransom State Park, where you can visit a military fort from 1867 that housed 200 American soldiers, and it has a moat. You will also want to see the pyramid Hill and Viking Statue at the top of the hill. The accommodations are unique, too, as you can stay in a covered wagon or even a yurt for the night.

End the byway in the town of Lisbon and visit Dead Colt Creek for boating, fishing, camping, and more. RVs can stay here and enjoy all of the available amenities and activities. Lisbon offers tons of local charm with family-owned shops and unique restaurants. Make sure to grab a cup of coffee at Hodenattes for coffee and lunch.

Nearby is the Sheyenne National Grasslands, with opportunities for hiking and camping in a wide-open prairie. The camp also offers horseback riding with free hay for equines. Small streams and rivers offer options for fishing too. It’s the perfect place to end your trip with tons of nature and even some geocaching.

More North Dakota Byways

You can check out additional Byways in North Dakota by clicking on the list of byways below, or by going to the North Dakota Byways home section. To find even more of scenic byways in the United States, visit our scenic byways map.