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It's Better Outside


Come find excellent access to Lake Sakakawea and surrounding fishing waters. Plus, hunt vast public and private lands for deer, pheasants and much more. Many new hotels and restaurants provide a comfortable end to the day.

Equipment rentals are available!

Arnie's Rentals for ATVs, icehouses, snowmobiles, watercraft and more.
701-641-2536

Lewis & Clark State Park for kayak, paddleboard, canoe, snowshoes and fat tire bikes.
701-859-3071

Lund's Landing for kayak, canoe and other watercraft.
701-568-3474

Painted Woods Sporting Complex for shotguns to use on their clays course.
701-572-4867

Williston Parks for paddleboards.
701-774-9773

Bird Watching

Work your way through the North Dakota Bird Watching Checklist! The parks, wildlife management areas and grasslands surrounding Williston offer abundant opportunities to spot many of the 413 species listed.
Click on this link to get started.

Biking & Hiking

Enjoy short trails and great views at Lund's Landing, Fort Union Trading Post and the Missouri Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center.

Test yourself with longer trail systems in Lewis & Clark State Park or Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Canoing/Kayaking/Paddle Boarding

There is plenty of water to try! If you like some current, explore the Missouri River system or spend some time on Lake Sakakawea. Blacktail Dam, Epping Springbrook Dam or Trenton Lake are great choices for beginners. In the summer, Williston Parks offers paddleboard rentals in Spring Lake Park on specific days.

Fishing

Fish the Missouri River, Yellowstone River and Lake Sakakawea for walleye, northern pike, perch, trout and bass. Or come in May when the prehistoric paddlefish come to the Missouri & Yellowstone Confluence each year to spawn. For hunting and fishing licenses and information, visit the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website or call (701) 774-4320.

Golfing

There is a game for every skill level in the Williston area! A “must try” for golfers: The Links of North Dakota, a Top 100 traditional links style course  overlooking beautiful Lake Sakakawea. Click here for a list of all the golf courses in Williams County.

Hunting

The Williston area offers vast opportunities to hunt a great range of habitat. The river bottom and Badlands are plentiful with waterfowl, small and upland game, pronghorn and mule deer.

For hunting and fishing licenses and information, visit the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website or call (701) 774-4320.

Rock Crawling

North Dakota may be the fifth flattest state in the union, but it offers some world class off-road  
opportunities.  Fight your way over big climbs, down nasty descents and through tight squeezes. Contact the Williston Cliffhangers for information. (701)770-6413 or find them on their Facebook page.

Target Shooting

Find hundreds of acres of rolling hills and steep cuts at Painted Woods Sporting Complex. This facility offers sporting clays, 5-stand clay field, a variety of gun ranges and archery targets. Lessons and gun rentals available.
5050 145th Ave NW / (701)572-4867
Find them online and on their Facebook page.

Missouri Basin Bowmen is a non profit organization that maintains an indoor archery range located at Upper Missouri Valley Fairgrounds and outdoor archery range located at Cedar Coulee.
Find them at www.missouribasinbowmen.com or on their Facebook page.

You can also find the Williston Shooting Range, a free public outdoor pistol, rifle and shotgun range, across the river southwest of Williston on the Lewis and Clark WMA. It is maintained by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department public. Please pack out what you bring in.
gf.nd.gov, 701-744-4320
 

Nearby Recreation Areas

American Legion Park

Enjoy a sweeping view of the bluffs and river on a hike through the American Legion Park campground, located approximately 18 miles south of Williston. This area is walk-in hiking and day-use only.


City Parks

Williston enjoys exceptional parks. Beautifully maintained playgrounds, picnic areas, shelters and open spaces make being outside on a nice day even better. If you need to take the kids to run off a little energy after a long day or want to eat lunch under a tree, find a park near you! Whether you are looking for a skate park (Harmon Park), an ice skating rink (Western Star) or a dog park (Spring Lake Park), you can find it all their locations and features at the Williston Parks District website


County Parks

Williams County Parks maintains a number of beautiful recreation areas that offer opportunities for camping, fishing, hiking and more. Find more information about Blacktail Dam, Epping Springbrook Dam, Kota Ray Dam, Little Egypt and McGregor Dam on the  Williams County Parks website.


Cut Bluff Overlook

You can find this walk-in day use area about 3 miles southeast of Williston. Leave town going east on Highway 1804 and watch for its sign shortly after crossing the railroad tracks. You find yourself headed toward the river on a paved and then gravel road. This site was chose to commemorate Lewis and Clark's campsite near Cut Bluff on the south banks of the Missouri River. Explore the park's short trails and picnic shelter.

Lewis and Clark State Park

A tribute to Lewis and Clark’s adventures, this state park has interpretive trail markers highlighting their expedition. Throughout the park you’ll find self-guided nature trails that lead visitors into the habitats of many wildlife species, including white-tailed deer and ring-necked pheasant. The park has a marina and boat ramp that provide access for anglers and water sport enthusiasts. Lake Sakakawea is an angler’s walleye, sauger and northern pike paradise in the summer and ice fishing heaven in the winter.

16 miles E of Williston on Hwy 1804
(701) 859-3071
www.parkrec.nd.gov


Trenton Lake Recreation Area

Enjoy picnic areas, beach, fishing and playground at Trenton Lake approximately 12 miles SW of Williston.
701-572-8316
45 145 Ave Trenton, ND 58853
 

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

On September 8, 1883, 24-year-old Theodore Roosevelt was looking for adventure when he stepped off a train in Dakota Territory. Within 10 days, he had entered into a partnership to raise cattle on the Maltese Cross Ranch. Over the next few years, Teddy Roosevelt lived the life of a cowboy! Today, the colorful North Dakota Badlands provide the scenic backdrop to the park honoring our 26th President. The area is home to bison, mule deer, white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs and over 180 species of songbirds. The aesthetic beauty can be enjoyed while hiking over several North Unit trails.

60 miles S of Williston on Hwy 85
(701) 842-2333
www.nps.gov/thro

 


Painted Wood Sporting Complex
Painted woods is located west of Williston ND. It offers sporting clays, five stand, rifle and pistol ranges.
(701) 770-5271
145th Ave NW
Williston, ND 58801
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