Bismarck, ND – Exciting upgrades are on the horizon at several North Dakota state parks, providing an improved experience with more powerful and reliable electricity and on-site water access at many campsites, and a large upgrade project at Rough Rider State Park.
Rough Rider State Park
Beginning August 18, crews will begin enhancing Rough Rider State Park to add more campsites and additional amenities. The park will be closed for overnight camping, including access to the office. However, the Maah Daah Hey Trail will remain available to the public. View Rough Rider State Park Master Plan
Improvements include:
- Little Muddy Breaks equestrian loop will increase to 12 double campsites and 15 single campsites.
- These sites will shift from well water to rural water hydrants and receive 30–50-amp power.
- Each equestrian site will have individual horse corrals.
- The modern Whitetail flats campsites will expand to 4 double sites and 20 single sites.
- These sites will also shift to rural water hydrants and 30-50-amp power.
- Improvements include additional host sites.
- Upgrades to the septic dump system and improved water pressure across the park.
- Road upgrades and additional trees throughout the park.
- Improved parking and access to the Maah Daah Hey trail system.
- An area of the park will be prepared for a future comfort station.
While crews work on refreshing Rough Rider State Park, Icelandic State Park, Grahams Island State Park and Fort Ransom State Park campers will experience temporarily reduced campsite availability starting in September. Campers in nearby campgrounds may experience some inconveniences during construction if adjacent water or electrical lines in those campgrounds become affected.
The improvement projects will upgrade many campsites from 20 and 30-amp to 20, 30 and 50-amp power while also adding individual water hydrants on each campsite within select campgrounds.
Construction will begin at Icelandic and Grahams Island state parks on Sept. 2. Fort Ransom State Park closures will begin on Sept. 8.
Though construction will impact campsites, all other reservations and facilities such as swim areas, playgrounds, primitive sites, and vault toilets will remain open and special events will continue as scheduled.
Icelandic State Park
- Campsites 53-100 (South Loop) and Campsites 27-42 (small section of West Loop) will be closed for water and electrical upgrades.
- All other campsites and primitive sites will remain open.
Grahams Island State Park
- Campsites 1-41 (Ziebach Campground) and Campsites 100-144 (Howard Campground) will be closed for water and electrical upgrades.
- The Ziebach Campground comfort station will also be closed.
- The Howard comfort station will be operational until normal fall closure at the end of September.
- The restroom located near the fish cleaning station will remain open.
- Campsites 145-188 (LaRose campground) will remain open.
- All primitive campsites will also be available.
Fort Ransom State Park
- Campsites 12-27 (Modern sites) will be closed for water and electrical upgrades.
- Modern sites campground comfort station will also be closed.
- All equestrian campsites will remain open except for site 8 which will be closed for approximately two weeks.
- All primitive campsites will also be available.
“We’re excited to roll out these upgrades across several parks this fall,” said Cody Schulz, ND Parks and Recreation Director. “From improved amenities to enhanced outdoor spaces, it’s all about making visits in our parks more enjoyable and memorable.”
The mission of the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department is to enrich generations through experiences that connect people and places.