A self-guided City of Bridges Tour with a History Bridges Guide makes Valley City’s bridges a thread of discovery. The Rosebud Visitor Center offers the tour with a guide. The structures span different dimensions and dates: the VCSU Footbridge is a three-span suspension bridge, 150 feet long, built in 1901 and unique in North Dakota. The West City Park Bridge dates from 1929 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. The Rainbow Bridge was built in 1925–1926, is supported by concrete arches and was also added to the Register in 1997. The Highline Bridge is on an entirely different scale: it is 3,860 feet long and stands 162 feet above the Sheyenne River riverbed.
Bridges, Trails and River Scenery
The Barnes County Courthouse in Valley City also tells the story of the town’s architecture. The Neoclassical courthouse was built in 1925; the architectural firm Toltz, King, and Day was commissioned for the project. For those who want to look beyond individual structures, the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway offers a regional route: it begins in Barnes County north of Valley City and runs to Lisbon.
Across the wider region, the Sheyenne River valley shapes the landscape. Between Baldhill Dam and Lisbon, it can be up to 330 feet deep and one mile wide. The valley is the largest meltwater channel in eastern North Dakota and was formed by meltwater from the Wisconsin Glacier about 13,000 years ago. These measurements describe the wider landscape, not Valley City alone.
Closer to the recreation areas, there are different ways to experience the river. The 545-acre Clausen Springs Recreation Area is a wildlife management area and multipurpose recreation area surrounding Clausen Springs Lake. The North Country National Scenic Trail runs along the park’s northern boundary; a two-mile loop trail also circles the lake. The area also has a fishing pier and a swimming area. The North Country Trail also passes through downtown Valley City and continues north to Lake Ashtabula and south to Kathryn.
Lake Ashtabula lies 15 miles north of Valley City and has three designated swimming areas. In spring and fall, it offers views of migrating waterfowl. This is a different seasonal focus from the Sheyenne River Water Trail: it covers 199 continuous river miles from the northern end of Lake Ashtabula to the eastern end of Sheyenne National Grassland and is suitable for canoeists and kayakers.
Culture and History in Valley City
Medicine Wheel Park brings landscape and cultural history together. The 30-acre park includes a circular path and an overlook. Its large circle measures 213 feet in circumference; the 28 spokes radiating from the center represent the number of days in the lunar cycle. The park also includes twelve Native American burial mounds. These mounds are similar to the burial grounds used by the Plains Woodland Indians 500 to 2,000 years ago.
Science and history meet at Valley City State University, too. The VCSU Planetarium is the only planetarium in North Dakota. Its 24-foot-high dome has 50 reclining seats; shows range from basic astronomy to how Lewis and Clark used the night sky. Admission to the shows is free.
The Barnes County Historical Society and Museum is dedicated to the county’s history across 18,000 square feet. On display is “Gundy the Triceratops,” a Cretaceous fossil estimated to be about 65 million years old. Valley City’s interpretive panels offer another historical perspective: they explain the role of the city and Barnes County in the World War II war effort. Valley City is designated as North Dakota’s only WWII Heritage City. A state historical marker in Veterans Memorial Park also commemorates Herman Stern’s work, which helped more than 125 Jewish refugees from Germany find a new life in the United States.
The cityscape also features a collection of murals about local history, culture and community. These include a tribute to Peggy Lee, the City Park mural and an interactive community mural on Central Avenue. Together with the bridges and courthouse, these places offer different ways to explore Valley City’s history.
Recreation and Seasonal Experiences
Little Yellowstone Park is home to a 27-acre recreation area along the Sheyenne River. A small spring-fed stream flows through the park, and trails with small bridges cross the water. Another waterside offering can be found at Valley City National Fish Hatchery: during the spring, summer and fall months, it offers a nature trail, a pollinator garden, a youth archery range and a children’s fishing pond. Equipment can be borrowed on site.
Events also bring different highlights throughout the year. The North Dakota Winter Show takes place every March and includes PRCA rodeo performances, livestock shows, draft horse events, an arts and crafts show and live entertainment. In August, the annual Sheyenne RiverFest combines canoeing or kayaking on the Sheyenne River with an arts and crafts and vendor show at Chautauqua Park. For a local culinary touch, Brockopp Brewery serves freshly brewed beer.
Valley City is on Interstate 94 between Fargo and Jamestown. It is less than an hour from Fargo and 30 minutes from Jamestown. This puts the city’s bridges and cultural sites, as well as the trails, lakes and river landscapes of the surrounding area, within reach when planning a trip.
Discover more destinations: Valley City, Burleigh County, Walsh, Mercer, Ward, Grand Forks, Pierce County, Eddy County
For the main travel overview: North Dakota.
