Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway
Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway is a National Scenic Byway in North Dakota. Within North Dakota it covers roughly 65 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
North Dakota's Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway follows the Sheyenne River for 63 miles from north of Valley City to Lisbon. It passes through Kathryn and Fort Ransom, and the valley itself is the largest glacial meltwater trench in eastern North Dakota, carved roughly 13,000 years ago as the Wisconsin ice sheet melted, leaving rolling hills and a river valley that stands out sharply from the flat farmland around it. North Dakota designated it one of its first three state scenic byways in 1997, extended the route 16 miles north to the Baldhill Dam area in 2000, and secured National Scenic Byway status in 2002, making it the state's first nationally recognized byway. Forty-one interpretive panels along the drive cover the valley's history, wildlife, archaeology, and geology in more depth than almost any other North Dakota route. Small farm towns, quiet river bottomland, and glacially sculpted terrain make this one of the state's most consistently scenic full-length drives.
- Sheyenne River
- Valley City to Lisbon
- 63 miles
- 1997 first state byway
- 2002 National Scenic Byway
- glacial meltwater valley
- Fort Ransom
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What is a National Scenic Byway?
National Scenic Byways are roads recognized at the federal level for at least one outstanding quality — scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological or recreational — that gives travelers a reason to seek them out rather than just pass through.
Where to Stay along Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway
4 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway.
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