Cross Ranch State Park

The Cross Ranch State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The 238 -acre park is located eleven kilometers south-west of Washburn in Oliver County on the Missouri River and, together with the adjacent Cross Ranch Nature Preserve, a protected area of high ecological and historical significance.

Geography

Unlike other state parks in North Dakota the landscape of the Cross Ranch has remained untouched in many areas. The park extends over eleven kilometers along the western bank of the Missouri River on one of the last remaining natural stretches of the river in North Dakota, which has not been altered by reservoirs and dams. By glaciation in the ice ages led the Missouri River with a lot of sand and boulders, leading to the formation of several shore terraces along the river. After the end of the ice ages of Missouri led with much less sediment and the river dug deeper into the glacial sediments, so that it lies approximately 15 meters lower than the adjacent glacial shore terraces today.

Just north of the park is a part of the total 2263 acres of Cross Ranch Nature Preserve adjoins a nature reserve, which consists of three non-contiguous parts. The 744 -acre northern part, which is adjacent to the state park, also includes a stretch of the Missouri River. The other two parts are located west in the hills above the floodplain of the river, the middle part comprises about 930 acres, which is five kilometers further south southern part of more than 580 acres in size.

Flora and Fauna

In the park and in the Nature Preserve, there are three different ecosystems. Along the Missouri River extends a six square kilometer floodplain, which is the most extensive lowland forest, the there are in North Dakota. The floodplain consists of Canadian black poplars and willows, which pass on the higher shore terraces in ash - maple, elm and red -maple forest. Although the Missouri River is the dam of Lake Sakakawea not a naturally flowing river more, still have it and its banks in the park habitat for 162 species of birds, including several endangered species such as the American Tern and Yellow-footed plover. On their migration raced Whooping Cranes and Canada Geese on the sand banks in the river, while bald eagles dive for food in the river. The domestic glass eyes in the river perch and pike fishing are popular fish, on the other hand is rarely the Shovelnose. The higher up the park areas are still covered with natural mixed grass prairie. Live here, birds among others, wild turkey, prairie Pieper and burrowing owl. In the central and southern part of the Nature Preserve 1986 bison were settled, which now form a herd of 150 animals. The third habitat is the ravines in the prairie, the buffalo berries, hawthorn and other shrubs are thickly forested with Bur Oak, thus providing shelter and food for many animals such as white-tailed and mule deer, badgers, raccoons and coyotes.

History

In addition to its ecological importance, the park is also of great cultural and historical significance. More than 100 archaeological sites have been discovered on the territory of the park and Nature Preserve, which belong to the Mandan - Hidatsa culture and older, up to 8,000 -year-old cultures. 1879 bought A.D. Gaines, an agent of the Northern Pacific Railway, about 44 square kilometers of land for a ranch. Gaines earned by Theodore Roosevelt the right also to perform as a fire sign the Maltese Cross. Near the place Bentley was founded at the same time, which was renamed in 1884 in Sanger, and was by his station and by a steam boat connection to the thriving community. 1952 but the station was closed, and by 1985 the place was completely deserted. Today, some abandoned buildings just stand there and Sanger is a ghost town. 1956 bought Bob and Gladys Levis the Gaines Ranch and renamed them in Cross Ranch. The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit conservation organization recognized the importance of riparian forests and prairies of undestroyed and acquired the ranch in 1982 to found the Cross Ranch Nature Preserve, the first wildlife reserve of the Nature Conservancy in North Dakota. The Nature Conservancy and the Burlington Northern Railroad gave the state a portion of the land for the establishment of a State Park, which was established on the occasion of the centenary of the State in 1989. The rest of the Ranchlands continues to belong to the Nature Conservancy and managed by her. The remains of the ranch including the Gaines family cemetery can still be found in the Nature Preserve.

Tourist Facilities

The visit of the park is chargeable, the parking area was but little developed, so as not to destroy the nature of the area. The visitor facilities are located in the territory of the state parks in the Nature Preserve there are no facilities other than trails. In the park, the River People visitor center which provides information on the natural history of the Missouri River. Through the park and Nature Preserve lead six trails with over 25 kilometers in length, of which 16 km are groomed trails for cross-country skiing than in winter. In the park there is a camp and a boat ramp to the Missouri River. Canoes can be rented at the park, in the river you can fish. Since 1991 takes place in the park every year in June, the Missouri River Bluegrass Festival, a local country music festival.