State Park · North Dakota
North Dakota's four-season resort park in the Turtle Mountains near the Canadian border: clear small lakes, 13-plus miles of forested hiking and biking trails, a variety of cabins and a yurt, and winter cross-country skiing and ice fishing.
Field briefing
Lake Metigoshe State Park changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
Summer brings kayaking and canoeing on School Section and Eramosh Lakes, birding in the Turtle Mountain woodlands, and an outdoor learning center for all ages. Winter flips the script with groomed cross-country ski trails, snowshoes and kicksleds for rent, and ice fishing on the clear lakes. Several cabins and a lakeside yurt are available year-round for those who want a roof over their head.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Cool and greening in the Turtle Mountain woodlands, with migrating birds and wet trails.
Pack Rain shell, layers, and waterproof footwear for the soft post-snowmelt trails.
Warm and pleasant in this wooded northern park, with kayaking, birding, and family programs.
Pack Bug spray, water, and sun protection; wood tick awareness on brushy trail segments.
Crisp with strong color in the mixed forest and open wetlands, good birding through October.
Pack Warm layer, headlamp for shorter days, and footwear for leaf-covered paths.
Cold and snowy, a destination for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing on the lakes.
Pack Insulation, ski or snowshoe gear, and ice-fishing equipment; several cabins are open year-round.
Old Oak Nature Trail
North Dakota's first National Recreation Trail, a 3-mile self-guided interpretive loop built in 1974 through forest and wetlands with wildlife checklist plants and a two-hour hiking pace.
East Side multi-use trail network
Eight miles of looping trails through forested, grassland, and wetland terrain, open year-round for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Moose and pine martens have been spotted.
Osprey Cabin backcountry experience
The park's most distinctive lodging: a primitive cabin on the east shore of Lake Eramosh, reached only by a 2-mile hike or a 1.5-mile canoe or kayak paddle with a short portage.
Lock the boat, ferry, tide, or water access first, then fit the route list around that schedule. For one day in Lake Metigoshe State Park, make Old Oak Nature Trail the non-negotiable, add East Side multi-use trail network only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Osprey Cabin backcountry experience as the flexible finish.
Turn Lake Metigoshe's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Lake Metigoshe State Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Lake Metigoshe State Park packing list
0 of 23 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
23 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Lake Metigoshe asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
The park offers a wide range of lodging: four named cabins (Slemmen Lodge, Loon Lodge, Kingfisher, White Pelican), two simpler yurts (Blue Heron, Cormorant), and the Osprey backcountry cabin on Lake Eramosh. All require a two-night minimum stay. Standard camping has 84 modern sites with electricity and water, 39 primitive sites, and 3 group sites. Reserve through Reserve North Dakota Parks.
Camping reservations
Lodging here ranges from full-service lakeside cabins to primitive backcountry huts, with a standard campground for RVs and tents. Reserve cabins up to a year ahead; campsites up to 95 days ahead.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Campsites can be booked 95 days in advance. Cabins, yurts, and the Osprey backcountry cabin can be reserved up to 365 days ahead.
Where to book or verify
Official reservation portal for Lake Metigoshe campsites, cabins, and yurts.
Official park page for trails, lodging, rentals, and seasonal programs.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Treat the vehicle plan as part of the itinerary.
Road distance, road surface, fuel, and daylight can matter as much as the final trail or viewpoint.
Getting there
Arrival note
Lake Metigoshe State Park is 14 miles northeast of Bottineau, near the Canadian border in the Turtle Mountains, about two and a half hours north of Minot.
Car strategy
A car is essential for reaching the park and moving between the campground, lodging units, and trailheads.
Local movement
The International Peace Garden on the US-Canada border is about 20 miles east and worth pairing with a trip to Metigoshe.
Pair this with lodging: the closest bed is not always the simplest one if road time, road quality, or fuel stops dominate.
It is known as one of North Dakota's most popular year-round vacation destinations: clear kettle lakes for kayaking, canoeing, and ice fishing, 13 or more miles of forested trails open to hiking, biking, skiing, and snowshoeing, and a variety of cabins and a yurt for overnight stays near the Turtle Mountains.
Yes. The park is a winter destination with groomed cross-country ski trails across its East and West Side trail networks. The park also rents skis, snowshoes, kicksleds, and skishoes, and the warming house stays open during the ski season.
Yes. There are four named cabins (ranging from the four-person Kingfisher to the eight-person Slemmen Lodge), two yurts with lake views, and the remote Osprey Cabin on Lake Eramosh that is only reachable by hiking or paddling. All require a two-night minimum stay.
The park is about 14 miles northeast of Bottineau in the Turtle Mountains, near the Canadian border. Drive north on ND-14 from Bottineau and follow the signs. The drive from Minot takes roughly two and a half hours.