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Best Dispersed Camping near Fort Ransom, ND

16 Reviews

Dispersed camping near Fort Ransom, North Dakota centers around several primitive sites including Moon Lake, Sheyenne National Grassland, Limesand Seefeldt Dam, and Heinrich Martin Dam. Moon Lake provides the most developed dispersed option with a small lakeside camping area featuring picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. Sheyenne National Grassland permits backcountry camping across its public lands, with visitors allowed to set up camp in designated areas. The dam locations offer minimal facilities but provide quiet waterfront camping opportunities on small fishing lakes.

Access to these dispersed sites requires navigation on rural dirt and gravel roads that can become challenging in wet conditions. Moon Lake campers report following unmarked routes that feel remote, with one visitor noting, "Kind of felt like I was about to get lost trying to find it. Just about when you start wondering if there's actually a camp spot is about when you find it." Many locations lack cell service, and Moon Lake enforces a 10-day camping limit. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for reaching some areas, particularly in Sheyenne National Grassland where cattle gates must be navigated along trails.

The dispersed camping experience in this region features peaceful lakeside settings and prairie landscapes. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with visitors reporting sightings of killdeer, sandpipers, and muskrats at Moon Lake. According to one camper at Moon Lake, "Spending the night here was very calming and serene. The overnight was very quiet and dark, perfect for sleeping." The Sheyenne National Grassland provides a distinctive tall grass prairie environment where cattle occasionally roam freely. Most sites remain relatively uncrowded even during summer months, with visitors frequently reporting having entire camping areas to themselves. Water activities are possible at several locations, with Moon Lake offering swimming and boat access, while the dam sites support fishing and paddle sports.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Fort Ransom, North Dakota (5)

    1. Moon Lake

    8 Reviews
    Valley City, ND
    26 miles

    "stopped and immediately found Killdeer, Sandpipers, a muskrat and heard cows in the distance. nice tables and sun shelter, but the bathroom was locked. only ones here on a Thursday night. would definitely"

    "There are trash cans, a beach, a lake, and you need to Park on the grass. My 16,000lb bus parked in the grass without issue but it was bone dry when we parked there.

    The lot is definitely NOT level."

    2. Sheyenne National Grassland

    8 Reviews
    McLeod, ND
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (701) 683-4342

    "Beautiful sites,trails,very friendly and knowledgeable ranger. Took our 40' through the 1212 trail and was quite concerned I had gotten a little bold with following an unknown gps destination."

    "So you're gonna wanna look up a map about this area. Don't just park where the marker is that is not open land that is private. The Dyrt site/app map helped zoom in and find the roads."

    3. Limesand Seefeldt Dam

    1 Review
    Fort Ransom, ND
    22 miles

    4. Heinrich Martin Dam

    1 Review
    Jamestown, ND
    29 miles

    5. NCT Colfax Campground

    1 Review
    Wahpeton, ND
    50 miles
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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Fort Ransom, ND

12 Photos of 5 Fort Ransom Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Fort Ransom, ND

16 Reviews of 5 Fort Ransom Campgrounds

  • J
    May. 29, 2021

    Sheyenne National Grassland

    Unique Oak Haven

    My first and not going to be the last campout here. Beautiful sites,trails,very friendly and knowledgeable ranger. Took our 40' through the 1212 trail and was quite concerned I had gotten a little bold with following an unknown gps destination. It worked out but was very close as was also pulling a car hauler. Just for your info i was also traveling east to west. Definitely a pleasant adventure out here in North Dakota. I have to say a little paradise can be found here. I am doing the dispersed camping right in the oak valley next to the 1212. John

  • dallas H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 8, 2025

    Moon Lake

    Way out there

    Okay, so we went in april and it was snowy and muddy. Couldn’t park in the campground itself out of fear we would get stuck. You’re driving on crazy dirt roads to get out there. The bathroom was locked. With all that being said, it was really pretty and it’s surrounded by lakes. Great sunsets and you could hear wild life from all angles. Probably great during the summer but there’s only Like 4-5 spots so first come first serve for sure.

  • M
    Jun. 14, 2025

    Sheyenne National Grassland

    If you're a newbie like me...

    So you're gonna wanna look up a map about this area. Don't just park where the marker is that is not open land that is private. The Dyrt site/app map helped zoom in and find the roads. Also this: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/dpg/maps-guides. If it is during the week, you can stop by the Ranger office and probably pick up a map.

    It's really pretty out here. Make sure your vehicle has decent clearance but nothing too extreme. 2007 Toyota Sequoia with a 1.75 inch lift.

    When you get nearby, these grasslands just look for those signs for the roads on the map like 1212, 1215, 1217 etc.

  • Christina M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 23, 2019

    Sheyenne National Grassland

    Beautiful area for dispersed camping

    We dispersed camped for 1 night while walking along the North Country trail. It is a quiet and safe, we parked at the trail head and intended to hike to mirror lake but didn't make it in that far and found a nice place to stop along the way.

    There are cows around the prairie which leads to cattle gates along the trail, just a quick flip up of the gate and you are on your way! I recommend selecting an area where the cows are not currently in. Also, note since there area cows and these are equestrian trails keep your eyes open for any droppings along the trail :)

    Overall, lovely and cost effective option for a hike and camp.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2025

    Moon Lake

    Peaceful, Quiet Moon Lake

    gorgeous area! stopped and immediately found Killdeer, Sandpipers, a muskrat and heard cows in the distance. nice tables and sun shelter, but the bathroom was locked. only ones here on a Thursday night. would definitely come back!

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Moon Lake

    No potable water or gray dump. 10 day stay limit.

    There are trash cans, a beach, a lake, and you need to Park on the grass. My 16,000lb bus parked in the grass without issue but it was bone dry when we parked there.

    The lot is definitely NOT level. Lots of insects, so wear your vetiver.

  • Brittany
    Sep. 16, 2020

    Sheyenne National Grassland

    Dispersed camping

    Oldest son and I hiked into the east side of the Sheyenne Grasslands on the NCT. We had parked at the Ekre trailhead, deciding to hike past the Ekre campsite. We set up our tent as soon as we got into the boundaries as a thunder and lightening storm began. The next morning we hiked the 3 miles into Jorgens Hallow, the actual campground on the Grassland. There we refilled our water, used the vault toilets and continued on our way on the NCT across the grasslands.

  • Sean M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 2, 2020

    Sheyenne National Grassland

    Beautiful Place

    The tall grass prairie here is absolutely beautiful, and a rare place to be able to enjoy. There are two established campgrounds here, but dispersed camping is allowed anywhere on the property (with restrictions). It’s a very different kind of camping than I was used to in forests back east. It’s wide open here and cattle roam the land. It’s a great place to experience all the Great Plains has to offer for the outdoor lover.

  • Susan R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 27, 2025

    Moon Lake

    Lakeview for free

    Spending the night here was very calming and serene. I parked right next to the lake and watched the ducks. The overnight was very quiet and dark, perfect for sleeping. There are trees surrounding the little campground. It's in the middle of nowhere and totally worth the drive for a good night's sleep.

Guide to Fort Ransom

Dispersed camping near Fort Ransom, North Dakota centers around several primitive sites located in the transition zone between the Drift Prairie and the Sheyenne River Valley. The area receives approximately 20 inches of annual precipitation, creating a mix of prairie grasslands and wooded river valleys. Rural road access becomes significantly more challenging after rainfall, with many campers reporting difficult driving conditions that sometimes require rerouting.

What to do

Paddling the small lakes: The Heinrich Martin Dam offers a quiet paddling experience on its small fishing lake. "We did break out our inflatable and paddled the lake. If you want a quiet, free spot for a night and are passing through, this is a good stop," notes one visitor to Heinrich Martin Dam.

Hiking the North Country Trail: The trail crosses through Sheyenne National Grassland providing excellent day hiking opportunities. "We hiked past the Ekre campsite. The next morning we hiked the 3 miles into Jorgens Hallow, the actual campground on the Grassland. There we refilled our water, used the vault toilets and continued on our way on the NCT across the grasslands," shares a backpacker at Sheyenne National Grassland.

Fishing small impoundments: Local dams provide fishing opportunities with limited crowds. Limesand Seefeldt Dam has "essentially 3 dispersed spots on an overlook to a small fishing and kayaking lake. You get a pretty view and a quiet night of camping. Great little access for a paddle boat," according to one camper.

What campers like

Isolation and darkness: The remote setting creates excellent conditions for stargazing and quiet nights. A Moon Lake visitor notes, "It's in the middle of nowhere and totally worth the drive for a good night's sleep."

Oak woodland camping: The grassland offers unique wooded sections. "My first and not going to be the last campout here. I am doing the dispersed camping right in the oak valley next to the 1212. I have to say a little paradise can be found here," shares a visitor to Sheyenne National Grassland.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: The mix of prairie and water attracts diverse species. One camper at Moon Lake reports, "Stopped and immediately found Killdeer, Sandpipers, a muskrat and heard cows in the distance. Only ones here on a Thursday night. Would definitely come back!"

What you should know

Navigation challenges: Finding these remote sites often requires persistence. "You're driving on crazy dirt roads to get out there. Probably great during the summer but there's only like 4-5 spots so first come first serve for sure," cautions a Moon Lake visitor.

Seasonal facility limitations: Facilities vary by season with some closed during colder months. "Okay, so we went in April and it was snowy and muddy. Couldn't park in the campground itself out of fear we would get stuck. The bathroom was locked," shares one camper.

Map requirements: Travelers should obtain official maps before arrival. "So you're gonna wanna look up a map about this area. Don't just park where the marker is that is not open land that is private. The Dyrt site/app map helped zoom in and find the roads. If it is during the week, you can stop by the Ranger office and probably pick up a map," advises a visitor to Limesand Seefeldt Dam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Fort Ransom, ND?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Fort Ransom, ND is Moon Lake with a 4.5-star rating from 8 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Fort Ransom, ND?

TheDyrt.com has all 5 dispersed camping locations near Fort Ransom, ND, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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