Knife River Indian Villages

Learn about the agricultural lifestyle of the Hidatsa and Mandan Indians at the Knife River Indian Villages visitor center, then step outside to explore a furnished dome-shaped earth lodge replicating a typical home. Three historic village sites are linked by 11 miles of trails that offer opportunities for hiking, fishing, bird watching, picnicking and viewing wildlife. Some of the trails are open for cross-country skiing during the winter. Where the villages once flourished, depressions in the earth mark the spots where earth lodges stood, families lived and cultural ceremonies were held. It was here, near Stanton, North Dakota, that Lewis and Clark met up with Charbonneau, the French interpreter, and his wife, Sacagawea, who guided the explorers through the Rockies to the Pacific. For those planning a trip in the summer, the annual Northern Plains Indian Culture Fest is held in July.