Sheyenne National Grassland spans approximately 70,000 acres of tallgrass prairie near McLeod, North Dakota. Summer temperatures typically reach 85°F with winter lows often dipping below zero. This prairie ecosystem contains unique oak savanna habitats, where grasslands intermingle with oak woodlands, creating varied terrain for camping and recreation opportunities.
What to do
Hike the North Country Trail: Access the trail directly through Jorgen's Hollow Campground where sections vary from flat grassland to gentle hills. "Great stargazing. Clean water and vault toilets. Great access to the NCT. Great signage. Well kept," notes Rachel O.
Enjoy prairie wildlife viewing: The grasslands host numerous butterfly species and prairie birds. "Abundant flowers and butterflies. Even a couple prairie chickens. What a wonderful night," reports Dillon M. about his stay at Jorgen's Hollow.
Explore Mirror Pond: This scenic destination makes an excellent day hike destination. "Returned here just for a hike not to camp this time, we love it so much! Only saw 1 other group on the trail, did 5 miles out to Mirror pond, enjoyed lunch there and did the 5 miles back," writes Christina M. about her Sheyenne Grassland experience.
Camp among oak trees: The oak savanna creates unique camping environments. "My first and not going to be the last campout here. Beautiful sites, trails, very friendly and knowledgeable ranger. 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," shares John about his experience at Sheyenne National Grassland.
What campers like
Clear navigation with numbered access routes: The grassland trail system uses numbered markers that help with orientation. "When you get nearby, these grasslands just look for those signs for the roads on the map like 1212, 1215, 1217 etc.," advises Matthew L.
Uncrowded trail experiences: Even on holiday weekends, the trails often remain quiet. "Lots of campsites here and not many of them being used this Memorial Day weekend. This allowed for a pretty distanced visit and relatively quiet experience in the middle of the country," reports Rachel O. from Jorgen's Hollow Campground.
Dog-friendly environment: Multiple dog friendly campgrounds near McLeod accommodate pets with ample space. "Arrived after dark picked a site and in the morning was happily surprised to find it had some trees surrounding it. In the evening the best part was listening to the trees in the breeze," explains Don C. about the spacious sites at Jorgen's Hollow.
Reliable water sources: Water is available at established campgrounds. "Central hand pump for water. Vault restrooms are at each end. The North Country Trail goes right through camp," notes Art S.
What you should know
Vehicle clearance requirements: Access roads require moderate clearance vehicles. "Make sure your vehicle has decent clearance but nothing too extreme. 2007 Toyota Sequoia with a 1.75 inch lift," advises Matthew L.
Cattle gates and pastures: The trail system crosses active grazing land. "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," suggests Christina M.
Weather considerations: The open prairie can experience significant winds with little natural protection. "Only down side was that you got to feel the ND winds (10-30mph+) all the time," explains Dan C. about his stay at Fort Ransom State Park Campground.
Insect preparation: Biting insects can be prevalent in warmer months. "Only downside was the abundance of biting flies and mosquitoes," warns Katie L. about her stay at Hankinson Hills.
Tips for camping with families
Family-friendly trails: The grasslands offer easier hiking suitable for children. "I went camping in the Grasslands with my family last fall, we enjoyed it so much, we went back for a second time the following weekend. We also hiked a trail and saw so many different plants," shares Mandy A.
Educational opportunities: Children can learn about prairie ecosystems and wildlife. "There's good trails to walk and it's generally quiet. Sites aren't very private, but the people were nice. It seemed to be more of a 'locals' campground," notes Glenn I. about Hankinson Hills Campground.
Water activities nearby: The Sheyenne River provides additional recreation options. "Kids enjoyed the ice cream and refreshments for sale at the gift shop. We were able to get down to the river from our primitive site and cool off," mentions Brittany about Fort Ransom State Park.
Campground amenities for kids: Some area campgrounds offer additional facilities. "The lake is very pretty. The swimming area is very nice. They have full bathrooms with showers," notes Teresa T. about her stay at Dead Colt Creek Rec Area.
Tips from RVers
RV site selection: Choose sites based on shade availability and privacy needs. "We were in the A lot. Our spot was pretty spacious, but a lot of the spots in this area were pretty tight. Would recommend staying in the B lot, spots are spaced apart more, facing the river, and are further away from the Interstate," advises Ross B. about Lindenwood Campground.
Navigation with larger rigs: Some grassland trails can accommodate large RVs but require careful driving. "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," cautions John about his experience at Sheyenne National Grassland.
Utility options: Various campgrounds offer different hookup configurations. "Each site had water and electric though which was convenient," notes Jeff B. about Lindenwood Campground, which contrasts with more primitive options in the grasslands.
Seasonal availability: Not all campgrounds operate year-round. "Parked in a shaded spot. Very quiet and well kept. Used Roverpass.com to reserve the spot," mentions Greg D. about his stay at Sandager Park, which typically operates from early spring through November.
