Sunset in Fargo, North Dakota

<p>I'm going to be in Fargo, North Dakota a good part of the Summer. Anybody know of some good sunset locations within 30 - 40 minute drive from downtown? Prairie sunsets are the best. Also any other interesting places. Thanks in advance.</p>

There are two place I'm familiar with in the area.

The Sheyenne National Grasslands and Bluestem Prairie Preserve.

Sheyenne National Grasslands are about 45 minutes to an hour away, Bluestem Prairie Preserve is about 1/2 hour away.

Both will require a some hiking to find the spots for the best photos, and bring a macro along if you have one because the wildflowers will be abundant from now to early September.

 

Sheyenne National Grasslands:

<a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/dakotaprairie/">http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/dakotaprairie/</a>

 

Bluestem Prairie Preserve:

<a href="http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/minnesota/preserves/art6940.html">http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/minnesota/preserves/art6940.html</a>

 

 

Check out some of the other Nature Conservancy sites in the area. They are making a big push to restore some of the lost tall grass prairies.

 

<a href="http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/minnesota/preserves/">http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/minnesota/preserves/</a>

 

Good luck.

<blockquote>

<p>Prairie sunsets are the best</p>

</blockquote>

<p>And that's a very healthy attitude to have in North Dakota, even though Fargo is not the "real" North Dakota of the Bismarck-Mandan area. :)</p>

<p>Seriously, these grasslands environments are insufficiently appreciated by people too used to being closed in by trees, with the result that they are less well preserved than they should be. Do some reading on grasslands if you're not already familiar with their special character. One nice book is the <em>Grasslands</em> volume in the Audubon Society Nature Guides series.</p>

<p>Steve,</p>

<p> I used to live about a 100 miles away in Morris Minnesota. My favorite sunsets in the area were prairie potholes. They are abundant in North Dakota and Western Minnesota. As for sites I would highly suggest picking up a copy of "North Dakota, Wildlife Viewing Guide" by Joseph Knue. It's cheap and suggest several sites in ND that are good for wildlife that can easily double-up for a landscape photographer. Google Satellite can confirm any good sites.<br>

In Minnesota straight east is Buffalo River State Park and just south of that park is a larger Nature Conservancy site maintained largely for Greater Prairie Chicken. Unfortunately when I was at the site I was really focusing on Prairie-Chicken photography and not the lay of the land, but a Google image can find any good ponds for you.<br>

I recall a place (not a name though) of a shop downtown Fargo that was famous for real fountain vanilla coke. If your into Americana its worth a stop at least to see the shop. </p>

 

<p>Been on the road and busy. A belated thanks to you guys. Steve</p>