No matter the weather, get outside for year-round fun in Bismarck-Mandan!
The people of the Bismarck-Mandan love their surroundings and embrace the ability to get outside. Exhilarating activities aren’t limited to the warmer months. Instead, recreation opportunities abound year-round, heating up as the temperature drops. The following items that stretch your legs and your minds are only a sample of what awaits you outdoors - seek out more with the Bismarck-Mandan Convention & Visitors Bureau.
4 Seasons of Outdoor Recreation
Hunting & Fishing
Fishing the numerous lakes and rivers or hunting for various game is a favorite pastime in the region. North Dakota Game and Fish is the ultimate resource for licenses, fishing locales, hunting land and more.
The outer Bismarck-Mandan area is prime territory for big game, upland game, waterfowl and other birds. Local businesses like Rolling Plains Adventures offer unique hunting packages from the Black Leg Ranch in Mckenzie, including buffalo. Hunters can hone their skills at Capital City Sporting Clays or simply compete at sporting clays at the Nishu Bowmen Indoor Archery Range.
The Missouri River is a draw for year-round fishing, with numerous ramps and docks easily accessible from both the Bismarck and the Mandan sides. Other area favorites include Harmon Lake, a 145-acre reservoir north of Mandan and the 55-acre McDowell Dam Reservoir, east of Bismarck.
Fun on the Water
The Missouri River is also a source of outdoor recreation above the surface. Cruising the river aboard the 150-passenger Lewis and Clark riverboat is popular from April through October. The McDowell Dam Recreation Area has a public beach to swim or rent paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, paddle boards or rowboats. Harmon Lake has sandy beaches and draws non-motorized watercraft enthusiasts as a no-wake waterbody. Missouri Kayak Adventures will get you out on the Missouri River with their canoe, kayak and paddle board rentals.
For a different type of water fun, families head to Raging Rivers Water Park, with a seemingly endless number of water slides, from speed slides to test thrill seekers and slides that offer a whitewater feel. A Lazy River and Kiddie Pool satisfy those just looking to splash a bit.
Golf
The Bismarck-Mandan area is fortunate to have seven different golf courses offering a variety of experiences at both public and private venues with varying levels of challenge. Bismarck’s Park and Recreation District manages three public courses, including the nine-hole Pebble Creek Golf Course and two 18-hole courses - Riverwood Golf Course and Tom O’Leary Golf Course. The Fore Seasons Golf Center at Pebble Creek has an indoor driving range, a batting cage and open recreational turf.
On the west side of the river, Mandan offers the public Prairie West Golf Club and Mandan Municipal Golf Course. The public Hawktree Golf Club is an 18-hole course featuring black sand bunkers. The private Apple Creek Country Club has graced the prairies east of Bismarck since 1948. The 18-hole, par-72 course is 6,807 yards and routinely holds tournaments at various levels.
Around Town
Individuals and families enjoy the region’s many beautiful parks, walking trails and sporting activities. Bismarck Parks & Recreation and Mandan Parks & Recreation have detailed listings of many amenities, including parks, fitness trails and an Imagination Playground.
The Clem Kelley Athletic Complex has ten ball diamonds and one soccer field throughout its 42 acres, while a hiking trail connects the property to the Missouri River trail system.
The Bismarck Horse Club offers trail rides and other equestrian events at the Walt Neuens Memorial Horse Arena.
State Parks and Campgrounds
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park offers outstanding views of the Missouri River Valley. Historic structures include the fort itself, the home of General George and Libbie Custer, On-A-Slant Village and six rebuilt Mandan earth lodges dating back to the 1500s.
Cross Ranch State Park is unique for its location on the last free-flowing, undeveloped stretches of the Missouri River. The main campground offers RV sites, log cabins, yurts and tent camping. An extensive trail system is an area favorite for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
The General Sibley Park & Campground in Bismarck offers tent and camper sites with electrical hookups, a 24-hole disc golf course and a boat ramp. The Fort Rice Campground and Rec Area south of Mandan has both electric and primitive campsites. Both Burleigh County and Morton County have a listing of other campgrounds throughout the area.
Biking
Bismarck-Mandan has more than 100 miles of biking trails. One popular route is the Missouri Valley Millennium Legacy Trail, five miles of asphalt along both sides of the Missouri River. Maps for many area trails in Bismarck and Mandan can be found here.
Bismarck Parks and Recreation offers BisParks BCycle, a bike share program, for anyone wishing to rent a bike from numerous stations throughout the community.
Outdoors in the Winter
When the lakes and rivers freeze over, the locals know the ice fishing warms up. Search for area hot spots in Bismarck-Mandan on the North Dakota Game & Fish website.
The winter temperatures offer numerous ice skating locales as well. The Mandan Park District maintains outdoor rinks at Legion Park, Borden Harbor and KC Park. Bismarck has multiple ice skating and hockey rinks, many with warming houses, including one next to the Bismarck Municipal Ballpark.
Huff Hills is North Dakota’s largest ski destination for downhill skiing and snowboarding. Winter enthusiasts enjoy the 450-foot drop, 16 runs and three lifts, a beginner area, challenging runs and SnowSchool instructors.
The Tom O’Leary Sledding Hill in Bismarck offers a fun-filled family atmosphere and includes a warming house.
Many campgrounds, golf courses and regional areas provide cross-country skiing & snowshoeing in Bismarck-Mandan.
Parks & Rec
There is no better way to introduce your child to the world of sports, make new friends and learn the fundamentals than by signing up for one of our many youth sports programs offered year-round by Mandan Park District and Bismarck Parks and Rec.
Want to join in the fun? Bismarck Parks and Rec Adult Programs and Mandan Park District Adult League Sports are great opportunities for adults to get exercise, have fun with family and friends and meet new people. So grab your friends or coworkers and create the dream team!
Fitness Facilities
The Bismarck Mandan area has no shortage of fitness facilities to help you stay active year round! The Missouri Valley Family YMCA is a full service facility with fitness studios, pools, weight lifting area, cardio areas, racquetball courts, a cycle studio, indoor track and so much more! It also offers a variety of programs such as fitness classes, camps, sports leagues, swim lessons, and personal training. To help support the growing community, Y members also receive access to its partner facility, Family Wellness and vice-versa. These two facilities are working together to make health & wellness accessible to everyone in the Bismarck Mandan area.
Looking for a fitness community? We are home to a variety gyms and studios such HOTWORX, Pure Barre Bismarck, [solidcore], Soul Haven Studio, and Verge Fitness.
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Finally, while it’s not technically outdoors, Bismarck-Mandan racket sports enthusiasts have a new option for winter recreation. Construction of the Mandan Tennis Center, a 41,600 square feet sports dome, was completed in the spring of 2023.
