Fall in Valley City, North Dakota | 5 Things Not To Miss

Valley City, North Dakota, may not be the first city that comes to mind when thinking about the fall travel season, but it should be. Not only has Expedia named Valley City the Most Beautiful town in North Dakota, Midwest Living magazine recommends the Sheyenne National Scenic Byway as one of the Great Midwest Fall Color Getaways.

Between the historic bridges along the Sheyenne River and the scenic miles of the North Country Hiking Trail, Valley City is an ideal spot to soak up the vibrant colors of fall.

Sheyenne National Scenic Byway

The Sheyenne National Scenic Byway encompasses 63 miles of roadway along the Sheyenne River. The route begins just north of Valley City at Lake Ashtabula and winds southbound to the city of Lisbon following ancient Native American footpaths and Pioneer Wagon trails.

Besides just taking in the fall colors, there are plenty of places to stop along the way. Twenty-seven award winning interpretive panels are placed along the route to give visitors an in-depth understanding of the history and culture of the area.

Little Yellowstone Park is a 27-acre campground filled with hiking trails, making it a great spot to stretch your legs. A spring fed stream runs through the middle of the campground, complete with picturesque foot bridges.

North Country Trail

As the longest scenic trail in the National Trails System, the North Country Trail stretches 4,600 miles from North Dakota to Vermont. There are two perfect spots along the trail to experience fall colors, both under five miles round trip.

A loop through Fort Ransom State Park takes you through both prairie lands and along wooded ravines, showcasing the diversity of landscapes in North Dakota. An out and back trail in Sheyenne State Forest takes you past the state’s only waterfall and features breathtaking vista views over the river valley. For trail specifics and maps, click here.

Historic Bridges Tour

Valley City is nicknamed the City of Bridges, thanks to the thirteen bridges that can be found throughout the area. Eight bridges make up the Historic Bridges Tour, which can easily be completed in under a day. Pick up some informational pamphlets and detailed maps at the Rosebud Visitor Center before starting the tour.

While some of the bridges are more ornate than others, they are all great spots to view fall foliage along the Sheyenne River. The most impressive of the bunch is the High Line Bridge, one of the longest and highest single-track railroad bridges in the United States.

Medicine Wheel Park

Medicine Wheel Park began as a class project at Valley City State University, and soon turned into a community wide collaboration. The main attractions of the park are the solar calendars; one horizon calendar (the medicine wheel) and one meridian calendar. The Medicine Wheel Calendar is a rock structure replica of a Native American solar calendar discovered in Wyoming.

Other sights not to miss include Native American Burial Grounds, woodland nature trails, scenic overlooks and a perennial garden. As pretty as these sights are in the spring and summer, the blazing reds, yellows and oranges of autumn leaves give them an extra bit of magic in the fall.

Sheyenne Valley Arts and Crafts Festival

Every September the Sheyenne Valley Arts & Crafts Association puts on a weekend long festival in nearby Fort Ransom. Over 150 local and regional artists showcase their goods, along with live music, demonstrations, and of course plenty of food.

If you are looking for a unique experience to add to your bucket list, fall in Valley City, North Dakota, is it. Experiencing even just one activity on this list will satisfy your craving for enjoying the beauty of fall in North Dakota. 

This post was sponsored by North Dakota Tourism. As always, all opinions are my own.