sheyenne river valley national scenic byway

I live on the byway and what a beautiful drive it is. Many winding roads through the Sheyenne River Valley. You will find many places to stop and take in the scenery and various small towns will allow you access to interesting dining experiences along your journey.

Lovely scenery and a very nice drive. We may return in fall when teh leaves are changing and it would be spectacular.

We left Valley City around 430 pm to drive this road. It was a beautiful septmeber evening and the sky was blue which made it even prettier. The road is an easy drive with gentle rolling hills and valleys. About a mile N of the small town of Katheryn on the top of the hill on the east side there is an old building, outhouse sized. Someone has placed a sign there that says "next rest area 17 miles" Stop for a photo. The road leads to Fort Ransom State Park which is a small but nice state park with walking and horse trails, snowmoblie too. There is a farm area there where they have moved buildings to, so you can see what old time farms were like. We spent about 2.5 hours driving looking and stopping for photographs.

I real treat. My husband who is from Georgia/Florida area was amazed to see hills in the Dakotas. I think that was as far west as he had been until now, and he was so pleased with this trip! Beautiful rolling hills and sunset views.

Very pleasant drive. Compared with the rest of eastern North Dakota (flat, boring, and no trees) this area is hilly with a lot of trees.

I wanted to add some corrections to the previous review, so that no one gets confused. I have been in this area for the last four summers, and use the byway to get to work every day.The byway starts at Lake Ashtabula, however it ends in Lisbon, NOT Fort Totten. Fort RANSOM is a little town on the byway, I'm guessing that might have been the mixup.South of Kathryn it is mostly gravel, however it is paved for two miles between Fort Ransom State Park, and the town Fort Ransom (for campers that want to take strictly paved roads from the highway to the park).In review of the byway, I absolutely LOVE driving this way--it's gravel where I drive, but it's so beautiful between Highway 46 and Fort Ransom--the roads winds and twists, almost like something out of a story....The towns along the way are small, but very cute. Some have dwindled in the last few years, most notably Kathryn, but there are still places to eat. Kathryn and Fort Ransom have bars with very good food. Fort Ransom has a little inn to stay at. Lisbon has most of your needs as well--hotels, restaurants, an Alco. As far as gas stations--be careful. With the recent economy, you might be hard-pressed to find any gas stations between Valley City and Lisbon. Fort Ransom had one until a month ago, but they closed. I will update this if the general store/gas station is up and running again....There are many historical sites to stop at along the way, grab a map at either the visitor center in Valley City, or Fort Ransom State Park for a map.Check the web too for things and activities going on--Fort Ransom has a Fourth of July rodeo, Sodbuster Days in July and September, and a huge arts and crafts festival in late September--perfect to see the fall colors! Ransom County Fair in Lisbon is in Late August. Rodeos in McLeod, Sunflower festival in Enderlin, lots of stuff. I'm the kind of person who likes to take in as much as I can (kill two birds with one stone), so why not see some events while on the byway?I love one-room schoolhouses, and north of Valley City on the byway is a schoolhouse that has been restored. I don't know when they're open for tours, but I like taking pictures.

Road follows the Sheyenne River from Lake Ashtabula South to Fort Totten. Though from Kathryn south it's all gravel. Some interesting sights along the way. I didn't make it to the Rosebud visitor center though... Next time. Oh and hit up Pizza Corner on your way through Valley City