Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

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About Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

Earthlodge people hunted bison and other game, but were in essence farmers living in villages along the Missouri and its tributaries. The site was a major Native American trade center for hundreds of years prior to becoming an important market place for fur traders after 1750.

Things To Do

15-90 Minutes

Walk the Village Trail

Walk down the Village Trail (1.3 mi/2.1km) and see the remains of the Awatixa Xi'e Village (Lower Hidatsa Site) and Awatixa Village (Sakakawea Site). There is a loop at the second village site that includes a walk along the Knife River.

Available Activities

Arts and Culture

Craft Demonstrations

Cultural Demonstrations

Live Music

Compass and GPS

Geocaching

Fishing

Freshwater Fishing

Food

Picnicking

Guided Tours

Self-Guided Tours - Walking

Hands-On

Citizen Science

Arts and Crafts

Hiking

Junior Ranger Program

Wildlife Watching

Birdwatching

Park Film

Museum Exhibits

Shopping

Bookstore and Park Store

Weather

Summers are warm and sunny with temperatures occasionally reaching 100 degrees F and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Winters are invigorating, with extremely cold temperatures as low as -35 degrees F. High winds and sunny skies are common in winter.

Snow is sporadic in the relatively dry climate, but blizzards are common.

Getting There

Plane: Closest Commercial Airports are Bismarck (60 miles) Minot (85 miles) Dickinson (102 miles). Hazen, ND (15 miles from site) has an airport for small planes. Car: One-half mile north of Stanton, ND on County Road 37.

One hour northwest of Bismarck, ND and one and a half hours southwest of Minot, ND. Public Transportation Charter and tour bus parking available at Visitor Center parking lot.

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Hours

Standard Hours

Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is open from sunrise to sunset, every day of the year. Even when visitor center is closed, the park itself remains open.