Home/Recreation
The Prairie is
Your Backyard
Four-season outdoor recreation minutes from your front door. Swimming, fishing, hiking, camping, horseback riding, and ball games under the wide North Dakota sky.
Lake Elsie
3 miles northwest of Hankinson, within the Sheyenne National Grassland
Spring-fed. Crystal clear.
Lake Elsie, 3 miles northwest of Hankinson
Public Beach Facilities
- Sandy swimming beach
- Picnic shelter
- Picnic tables and benches
- Restroom facilities
- Grills
- Boat dock
- Boat trailer parking lot
Fishing
Species
- Boat ramp
- Fishing pier
American Legion Memorial Site
- 17-acre learning site on south shore
- Veteran's memorial building
- Shelter with kitchen and bathrooms
- Outdoor patio with pergola and fire pit
- Fruit tree orchard
- Tent-camping sites
- Canoe launch
- Walking trails
- Fishing pier
Event Venue and Lodging
Lake Elsie Wedding Barn
The Lake Elsie Wedding Barn hosts events on the water, and the Lady on the Lake Bed & Breakfast offers overnight stays so visitors can experience the lake life firsthand.
lakeelsieweddingbarn.com →Four Seasons of Recreation
Something to do every month of the year, right outside your front door.
Spring
April — May
- Opening weekend fishing at Lake Elsie
- Trail hiking through Sheyenne grassland
- Youth baseball and softball season
- City parks open for the season
- City Clean-up Days community event
Summer
June — August
- Swimming at Lake Elsie's sandy public beach
- Boating and fishing from the dock
- Camping at Hankinson Hills Campground
- Youth swimming lessons at the city pool
- Softball and pickleball at Main Park
- Horseback riding in the open grassland
Fall
Sept — Oct
- Fall fishing for walleye and northern pike
- Hiking the 8-mile Hankinson Hills Trail loop
- Hunting season in the Sheyenne Grassland
- Oktoberfest community celebration
- Bird watching and wildlife photography
Winter
Nov — March
- Ice skating at Hankinson Main Park rink
- Ice fishing on Lake Elsie and Grass Lake
- Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on trails
- Holidays in Hankinson seasonal events
- Indoor recreation at Hankinson Health Club
USDA Forest Service
Hankinson Hills Campground
Primitive camping in the Sheyenne National Grassland, just minutes from Hankinson.
Managed by the US Forest Service, Dakota Prairie Grasslands. Located 3 miles northwest of Hankinson within the Sheyenne National Grassland. First-come, first-served. No reservations. 14-day stay limit.
15
Total campsites
6
Equestrian sites
Site Amenities
- Picnic table per site
- Fire ring per site
- Parking pad
- Large picnic shelter
- Group fire ring
- 3 vault toilets
- Potable water (hand pump)
Trails
Trails Through Oak and Prairie
Three marked trails totaling 42 miles, all accessible within minutes of Hankinson.
Hankinson Hills Trail
8-mile loopThrough oak trees and open prairie. Marked and graveled.
Oak Leaf Trail
4-mile loopA shorter loop through the oak groves of the Sheyenne.
North Country National Scenic Trail
30 miles accessibleOne of America's longest trails passes through the Sheyenne National Grassland.
Horseback Riding
- Designated horse camping sites
- Open prairie riding across the grassland
- Horse feed and straw must be certified weed-seed free
Hankinson City Parks
Eight full city blocks of amenities, right in the heart of town.
Main ParkHankinson Main Park
2nd Avenue and 7th Street SW. Eight full city blocks.
- Playground areas
- Softball diamonds
- Basketball court
- Tennis court
- Pickleball courts
- Railroad museum
- Ice skating rink
- Horseshoe pits
- 3 picnic shelters ($20/day)
- 11 camper hookups
- Dump station
- Restrooms
RV hookups: $30/day or $180/week. Electric and water.
North ParkNewHankinson North Park
Prairie Drive and 6th Street NE. Inside the Prairie Pines development.
- Playground equipment installed
- Picnic shelter
- Trees planted throughout
- Basketball court (planned)
- Restrooms (planned)
Summer Recreation Program
Youth softball, baseball, and swimming lessons each summer for Hankinson kids.
More Lakes Nearby
Willard Lake
Located in Richland County near Hankinson. Available for fishing and outdoor recreation. GPS: 46.0646, -96.9442
Grass Lake
699 acres, maximum depth 14 feet. Northern Pike, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and Crappie. The Hankinson Hills Campground sits on Grass Lake.
Live where the outdoors is your backyard.
Prairie Pines lots start at $5,000. Lake Elsie lakefront property is available now.
Explore more of Hankinson
Housing
Prairie Pines lots from $5,000 with a 2-year property tax exemption.
Read moreCareers
Local employers in Hankinson, plus the I-29 commute to Wahpeton and Fargo.
Read moreEducation
Hankinson Public School, low student-to-teacher ratio, K-12 in one building.
Read moreCommunity
Clinic, pharmacy, grocery, dining, churches, and annual events on Main Avenue.
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