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    McDowell Dam

    4.0 (1 review)
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    McDowell Dam Photos

    Recommended Reviews - McDowell Dam

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    4 years ago

    Very nice, quiet recreation area. Trails are beautiful.

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    Fort Lincoln State Park

    Fort Lincoln State Park

    4.3(15 reviews)
    10.4 mi

    What a gem of a park! We camped for one night (could have easily stayed longer if we'd had more…read moretime) and enjoyed fishing and the historic sites. Ranger Austin was a friendly wealth of information and my 5 yo really enjoyed wearing the buffalo head dress he brought over. Our campsite faced the Missouri, which was sweet. However, all of the campsites are pretty close together. If I were to go back, I'd opt for site 1, which faces the river and has a little more space to it as it is close to a parking lot, but not obtrusively so. Also, the bathrooms were spotless and boasted the nicest campground shower I've ever had.

    For a state with an abysmal and brutal record (in fact to the present day) of encounters with…read moreindigenous Americans (oh wait, that's not very distinguishing among other states is it?) this state park does quite an excellent job of presenting a rebuilt indigenous people's village. The cultural and linguistic explanations about the native people's way of seeing and thinking is especially noteworthy. The reconstructed "earthlodges" sit on the site of an actual, large settlement of a northern plains tribe from the 1700s. If you tour this site, you'll learn about the spread of smallpox from the Spanish populations further south, up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, that weakened the entire population even before contact with the european invaders from the east. There are exhibit narratives about a tribal leader traveling to the east to meet with U.S. leaders, however, these narratives omit the brutal part of the european-native confrontation. Notably, the Whitestone massacre from the 1860s, where 300+ women and children at a big harvest camp were brutalized and killed, not too far from this exact site. (A "genocidal" action of the U.S. Army that provides historical precedent for the likes of Boko Haram.) Yes, history is told by the vanquishers, but in this case, a very dedicated woman of indigenous origin has spoken of her heritage through storytelling over many years, and her painstaking, tenacious work has paid off in the quality and insights available at this exhibit. You'll be enriched by insights into the native peoples' worldview. Additionally, I recommend a stop at the visitors center because the media there really brings alive the structures you see in the native village. The military forts at this state park are so predictable...and deceitful (because right to the present, few european americans want to admit and reconcile with the perpetration of atrocities.)

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    Fort Lincoln State Park
    Fort Lincoln State Park
    Fort Lincoln State Park

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    DogTown - Top of dog town looking fown

    DogTown

    5.0(3 reviews)
    8.8 mi

    Awesome dog park bro! The best in the Midwest. Well taken care of and lots of room for the little…read moredoggos and the big doggos too. Woof woof

    It's a great park with plenty of friendly and responsible dog owners!…read moreHere are a list of rules from the website: Park Hours: Open 5 am -11 pm Use the Dog Park at your own risk. Owners are legally responsible for their dogs and any injuries caused by them. Dogs are allowed off leash in dog park areas only; Mandan City Ordinance 16-03-02. Owners must carry a leash at all times. Dogs should be leashed before entering and prior to leaving the dog park. Dogs must wear a collar, carry ID tags, be properly licensed and vaccinated, be parasite free and in healthy condition. Owners must remain in the dog park with their dogs at all times. Dogs must be leashed when maintenance crews are working in the dog park. No children under the age of 12 allowed in the dog park without adult supervision Owners must pick up and dispose of dog feces. No more than two dogs per handler at any time. Female dogs in heat and dogs less than four months of age are prohibited from entering the dog park. Dogs must be removed from the dog park at the first sign of aggression or excessive barking. Violators of these rules will be subject to removal from the dog park and suspension of dog park privileges. All users need to abide by City and Park Ordinances. Keep all gates closed No smoking No alcohol No bicycles, skateboards, or motorized allowed inside the fence.

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    DogTown
    DogTown - Rules

    Rules

    DogTown - Bottom of dog town from edge of top

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    Bottom of dog town from edge of top

    McDowell Dam - parks - Updated May 2026

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