At Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, visitors can explore Mandan history and later military history at specific sites. Trails also wind through the surrounding hills, offering views of the Heart River and Missouri River floodplains. Established in 1907, the park is the oldest state park in North Dakota. For anyone exploring Morton County, it offers a particularly vivid introduction to the region’s history and landscapes.
Historic Sites and Their Stories
On-a-Slant Village is a state historic site with six reconstructed earth lodges, including a large council lodge. A self-guided tour offers insights into the lives of the Mandan, who once lived there. Here, history comes to life not only through a date, but also through the reconstructed buildings and the layout of the village.
The military history can be traced through several periods. Fort McKeen was established in June 1872 on a bluff above the confluence of the Heart River and Missouri River. By 1874, Fort Abraham Lincoln was a command with nine companies and about 650 soldiers. Reconstructions on the site include the commanding officer’s quarters, the central barracks, the granary, the commissary, and the stables. The reconstructed Victorian Custer House is open for living history tours.
Fort Rice is another historic stop on the Upper Missouri River: it became one of the most important military posts along this stretch of the river. Other stories can be found in later buildings. The Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sims and its parsonage were established in 1884. During a visit in October 2008, the church was described as the oldest Lutheran church in North Dakota west of the Missouri River. The New Salem Historical Society/Custer Trail Museum is a museum complex with ten buildings.
Trails Through the Hills and Along the Rivers
The non-motorized trail network at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park covers just under 20 miles and consists of loops and connecting trail sections. Scenic trails through the surrounding hills offer views of the river floodplains. The Young Hawk Interpretive Trail connects the route with local themes: numbered posts refer visitors to a guide describing the area’s history, plants, and wildlife.
Another trail description begins at the confluence of the Missouri River and Heart River. From there, a loop follows the rivers past the campground and alongside the former Northern Pacific rail line. For a different kind of outing, the Roughrider OHV Trail is 22 miles long and runs between Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park and Fort Rice Campground. The routes can be distinguished by their described paths and intended use, without assuming a particular walking or driving time.
The Old Red Old Ten Scenic Byway also offers a distinctive perspective on the landscape. The route starts at the Mandan Depot on Main Street and heads west to Dickinson. Between Mandan and Dickinson, it passes through rolling rural terrain and small towns. Alongside the trails in the park, it offers a road route whose character is shaped by the transition between open land and small communities.
Riverbanks, Lakes, and Places to Stay
Fishing is available along the banks of the Heart River and Missouri River in Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park. Fish Creek Dam offers fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass, rainbow and brown trout, and crappie. Sweet Briar Lake is home to walleye, pike, perch, bluegill, crappie, and largemouth bass; the lake has 10.5 miles of shoreline. These details offer concrete points of reference if rivers, fish species, or a lake’s size shape your travel plans.
Places to stay differ in the type of accommodation they offer. At Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, visitors can stay in a cabin or at a campground along the rivers. Graner Park has 75 campsites with electrical hookups and direct access to the Missouri River. Sweet Briar Lake Recreation Area offers basic camping without permanent facilities. These options give you different starting points: a cabin or campground in the state park, sites with electrical hookups at Graner Park, or basic camping at Sweet Briar Lake.
Discover more destinations: Saint Anthony, Mandan, Ramsey, Cavalier County, McHenry County, Bottineau County, Billings County, LaMoure County.
For the broader travel overview: North Dakota.
