Upham North DakotaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Upham, North Dakota.
1. Tommy Turtle Statue
ICONIC LOCAL LANDMARK
Tommy Turtle Statue stands as one of Upham's most recognizable landmarks with a 4.3 rating based on 25 reviews. Visitors can take memorable photos with this whimsical roadside attraction that has become a symbol of the area. The turtle statue represents the local wildlife and cultural heritage of the region.
2. Mystical Horizons
ASTRONOMICAL WONDER SITE
Mystical Horizons offers visitors a unique astronomical experience with its 4.5 rating from 16 reviewers. The site features stone structures designed to mark solstices and equinoxes, often called the 'Stonehenge of the Prairie.' Visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the horizon while learning about celestial alignments and astronomical phenomena.
3. Lake Metigoshe State Park
OUTDOOR RECREATION PARADISE
Lake Metigoshe State Park provides abundant outdoor activities with its impressive 4.4 rating based on 39 reviews. The park features beautiful lakeside scenery, hiking trails, and camping facilities in the Turtle Mountains. Visitors can enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, and wildlife observation throughout all four seasons.
4. W'eel Turtle
UNIQUE ART INSTALLATION
W'eel Turtle is an artistic attraction crafted from recycled materials that captures the imagination of visitors to Upham. This creative sculpture showcases local artistic talent and environmental consciousness through its innovative design. Tourists often stop to take photos and appreciate the craftsmanship of this distinctive roadside feature.
5. Dakota Territory Air Museum
AVIATION HISTORY SHOWCASE
Dakota Territory Air Museum displays an impressive collection of historic aircraft with a notable 4.6 rating from 84 reviewers. The museum preserves North Dakota's rich aviation heritage through exhibits featuring vintage planes, military aircraft, and aviation memorabilia. Visitors can explore both indoor and outdoor displays that chronicle the evolution of flight in the region.
6. International Peace Garden
TRANQUIL BORDER MONUMENT
International Peace Garden straddles the US-Canada border, symbolizing the long-standing friendship between the two nations. The garden features meticulously maintained floral displays, reflection pools, and peace monuments spread across 2,300 acres. Visitors can explore the botanical gardens, peace chapel, and interpretive center while literally walking between two countries.
7. White Horse Hill National Game Preserve
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AREA
White Horse Hill National Game Preserve (formerly Sullys Hill) offers visitors opportunities to observe native wildlife in their natural habitat. The preserve features scenic driving routes, hiking trails, and observation points for spotting bison, elk, and prairie birds. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy the interpretive center to learn about local ecosystems and conservation efforts.
8. Frontier Village
HISTORIC PIONEER SETTLEMENT
Frontier Village recreates an authentic pioneer town with historic buildings relocated from throughout the region. Visitors can step back in time exploring the old schoolhouse, church, jail, and various shops filled with period artifacts. The village provides a glimpse into North Dakota's frontier past through interactive exhibits and seasonal historical reenactments.
9. Historic 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse
PRESERVED ARCHITECTURAL GEM
Historic 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse stands as North Dakota's oldest surviving courthouse building, showcasing Victorian architecture and period furnishings. The meticulously restored structure provides visitors with insight into territorial-era governance and judicial proceedings. Guided tours highlight original features including the courtroom, judge's chambers, and county offices that have been preserved to their 19th-century appearance.
10. Painted Canyon Overlook
BREATHTAKING BADLANDS VISTA
Painted Canyon Overlook offers spectacular panoramic views of the North Dakota Badlands with a remarkable 4.7 rating from 277 reviews. The site provides an accessible introduction to Theodore Roosevelt National Park's dramatic landscape of colorful striped buttes and rugged terrain. Visitors can enjoy the interpretive center, picnic area, and hiking trails while taking in the awe-inspiring natural scenery.
11. Enchanted Highway
ROADSIDE METAL SCULPTURES
Enchanted Highway features a collection of massive scrap metal sculptures spaced along a 32-mile stretch of rural highway, earning a 4.6 rating from 309 reviewers. Each unique sculpture depicts different themes including pheasants, deer, fish, and even a giant grasshopper family. The route leads travelers to Regent where they can visit the gift shop and stay at the distinctive castle-themed hotel and restaurant.
12. Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit
PRESIDENTIAL WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit preserves the landscape that inspired the conservation ethic of the 26th president, earning a 4.8 rating from 268 visitors. The park offers a 36-mile scenic drive with pullouts showcasing badlands formations, prairie dog towns, and free-roaming bison herds. Visitors can explore hiking trails, ranger programs, and Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin while experiencing the wilderness that shaped American conservation history.
13. Badlands Overlook
DRAMATIC GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS
Badlands Overlook provides visitors with sweeping views of North Dakota's distinctive eroded landscape with a 4.8 rating based on 177 reviews. The viewpoint showcases multicolored sedimentary layers exposed through millions of years of erosion, creating an otherworldly vista. Photographers particularly appreciate the site during golden hour when the angled sunlight brings out the vivid colors and textures of the rugged terrain.
14. Enchanted Castle Hotel & Restaurant
MEDIEVAL-THEMED DINING EXPERIENCE
Enchanted Castle Hotel & Restaurant offers visitors a unique medieval-themed dining and lodging experience at the terminus of the famous Enchanted Highway. The distinctive castle-shaped building features knight and dragon sculptures outside, complementing the metal artwork theme of the highway. Inside, guests can enjoy local cuisine while surrounded by castle-inspired decor before browsing souvenirs from their Enchanted Highway journey.
15. Bottineau Winter Park
FOUR-SEASON RECREATION AREA
Bottineau Winter Park offers year-round outdoor activities in the scenic Turtle Mountains near Upham. In winter, visitors enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and tubing on varied terrain suitable for all skill levels. During warmer months, the park transforms for hiking, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing opportunities with beautiful forest and meadow landscapes.