Rate Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
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The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I obtain a park entrance pass?
Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
About this location:
National Historic Site
Operating Hours & Seasons
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
Visitor Center & Earthlodge Hours: Standard Summer Hours in effect Memorial Day through Labor Day. Standard Winter Hours in effect Labor Day through Memorial Day. Visitor Facilities (Visitor Center and Earthlodge) operate on Central Time and are closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Days, unless otherwise noted in a park alert or press release. Park Grounds (trails) shall remain open daily from sun up to sundown, unless otherwise noted in a park alert or press release.
Standard Hours
- Sunday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Monday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Tuesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Wednesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Thursday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Friday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Saturday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
Knife River Indian Villages NHS has to seasons where hours change. Summer season is Memorial Day to Labor Day. Winter season is Labor Day to Memorial Day. Winter Hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Central Time Summer Hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Time
Standard Hours
- Sunday:8:00 AM-4:30 PM
- Monday:8:00 AM-4:30 AM
- Tuesday:8:00 AM-4:30 AM
- Wednesday:8:00 AM-4:30 AM
- Thursday:8:00 AM-4:30 AM
- Friday:8:00 AM-4:30 AM
- Saturday:8:00 AM-4:30 AM
Fees & Passes
Entrance Fees:
- $0.00 – Knife River Indian Villages NHS Entrance Fee
Park has no entrance fee.
About
Explore the lives of the Northern Plains Indians on the Upper Missouri
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.
Directions
Plane Fly into Bismarck or Minot, ND. 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.
Visitor Centers
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site Visitor Center
The Visitor Center is located off Highway 37 just north of the city of Stanton, ND. The Visitor Center’s entrance is in the shape of a giant eagle welcoming visitors. Once inside, visitors can view the movie, tour the exhibits or shop in our bookstore. Outside and behind the Visitor Center are a reconstructed earthlodge (furnished with replica artifacts in the summer) and the beginning of one of the three trails located at the park.
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.
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