Watford City
Around Watford City
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Countryside and towns · North Dakota · 16k people
Watford City
Locals say the Badlands
Badlands sunsets and open skies
badlands burnt orangeWatford City Wolves navyWatford City Wolves gold
Welcome to the Badlands! Whether you're here for the oil patch, the ranching, or the wide-open spaces, you'll find a community that takes pride in its rugged beauty and close-knit towns. Stop by Watford City for supplies and a friendly chat, and don't miss the view from the North Unit.
Clubs for Watford City
No clubs for Watford City yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Watford City. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Watford City. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit) Badlands scenery, bison, and hiking trails.
- Lake Sakakawea Huge reservoir for fishing, boating, and camping.
- The Badlands Iconic rugged landscape of the region.
- Four Bears Bridge Spans Lake Sakakawea, connecting the reservation.
- Maah Daah Hey Trail Long-distance trail through the badlands.
- Outdoors Hiking the Maah Daah Hey Trail
- Outdoors Fishing for walleye on Lake Sakakawea
- With kids Picnicking at the North Unit
- With kids Swimming at Lake Sakakawea beaches
- Evenings Small-town taverns in Watford City and Beach
- Evenings Live music at the county fair
- Locals love Badlands overlooks
- Locals love Lake fishing spots
Through the year
- McKenzie County Fair summer Livestock shows, carnival rides, and local food in Watford City.
- Golden Valley County Fair summer Small-town fair with 4-H exhibits, rodeo, and community parade in Beach.
- Four Bears Powwow summer Annual gathering at Four Bears Village with dancing, drums, and traditional food.
- Watford City Rodeo summer Local rodeo with bull riding, barrel racing, and a small carnival.
Semi-arid with cold winters and hot summers. Wind is common year-round. Best: Late spring to early fall is the best time to be out, with mild days and long light.
Talk like a local
- “oil patch”
- The oil fields and the industry that drives the local economy.
- “gumbo”
- Sticky, heavy clay mud common after rain.
- “badlands”
- The rugged, eroded landscape of the region.
- “flatlander”
- Someone from the flatter eastern prairies.
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Watford City Wolves High school (NDHSAA)
- Beach Buccaneers High school (NDHSAA)
Eat and drink
- Knoephla soup A creamy chicken and dumpling soup brought by German-Russian settlers
- Fleischkuekle A fried meat pie, also from German-Russian tradition
- Lefse Norwegian soft flatbread, often served with butter and sugar
- Chokecherry jam Made from wild chokecherries gathered along riverbanks
- Bison burgers From local ranches and the nearby national park
Where people go
- Badlands The rugged, colorful terrain that defines the region
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit) Iconic badlands scenery, bison, and hiking trails
- Lake Sakakawea A massive reservoir for fishing, boating, and ice fishing
- Oil fields Pumpjacks and rigs from the Bakken formation, a major part of the economy
- Ranch land Cattle ranches and open range that stretch for miles
- Grain elevators Tall structures that dot the small towns, symbols of the agricultural heart
- Ice fishing shacks Temporary shelters on the frozen lake in winter
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Nearby
Every areaWillistonNorth DakotaRooted in the prairie, fueled by the Bakken.Glendive–SidneyMontanaRanch country on the YellowstoneStanleyNorth DakotaWide skies, deep waters, and a strong sense of home.DickinsonNorth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the badlands.Lake SakakaweaNorth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the big waterEstevanSaskatchewanPrairie energy, warm heartsMinotNorth DakotaWhere the prairie sky meets the magic of home.WeyburnSaskatchewanPrairie heart, small-town soul.
McKenzie and Golden Valley counties, ND. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.