Cross Ranch State Park
Cross Ranch State Park is a public recreation area covering 569 acres (230 ha) on the west bank of the Missouri River nine miles (14 km) south of Washburn in Oliver County, North Dakota.[4] The Nature Conservancy's Cross Ranch Nature Preserve, a 6,000-acre (2,400 ha) preserve which features a roaming herd of more than 200 adult bison, lies adjacent to the state park.[5]
Cross Ranch State Park | |
---|---|
Missouri River from Cross Ranch State Park | |
Location in North Dakota | |
Location | Oliver County, North Dakota, United States |
Nearest city | Washburn, North Dakota |
Coordinates | 47°12′26″N 101°00′17″W[1] |
Area | 569.07 acres (230.29 ha)[2] |
Elevation | 1,759 ft (536 m)[1] |
Designation | North Dakota state park |
Established | 1989[3] |
Administrator | North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department |
Website | Cross Ranch State Park |
History
In the late 1800s, A.G. Gaines, a scout and land agent for the Burlington Northern Railroad, owned an 11,000-acre ranch where the park and preserve now stand.[6] Although the subsequent owners, Bob and Gladys Levis, wished for the land to become a state park, and its purchase was approved by the state legislature in 1979, Bismarck businessman Robert McCarney funded a statewide referral that killed the proposal.[7] The Nature Conservancy purchased the ranch from the Levis in 1982. It then donated land for the state park in 1989, while holding onto 6,000 acres for use as a nature preserve.[5]
Activities and amenities
The state park and nature preserve provide 13 miles (21 km) of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing. The park also offers boating, canoeing, cabins, yurts, and campsites.[4]
References
- "Cross Ranch". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- "State Parks Data Table". North Dakota Geographic Information Systems. December 26, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- "Timeline". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- "Cross Ranch State Park". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- Gehring, Brian (May 24, 2012). "Cross Ranch area offers history and eco-diversity". Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, N.D. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- "History of Cross Ranch State Park". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- "Historical Overview". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
External links
- Cross Ranch State Park North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department
- Cross Ranch State Park Map North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department
- Cross Ranch Preserve The Nature Conservancy