Sunflowers, Wheat, Canola, Lake Sakakawea and Big Blue Skies, North Dakota

Sunflowers, Wheat, Canola, Lake Sakakawea and Big Blue Skies, North Dakota

 

Summer Search for Nux Baa Ga Trail and Elbowoods 

Our search for the Nux Baa Ga Trail and Elbowoods took us across the colorful face of North Dakota.  Fields of bright yellow and gold, and grasslands of emerald green were beautiful against the bright blue summer skies!  

A sole farmhouse still stands in central North Dakota, surrounded by a brilliant yellow canola field, as testimony to small farms which no longer exist. West of Garrison, North Dakota, not far from the shores of Lake Sakakawea.

A sole farmhouse still stands in central North Dakota, surrounded by a brilliant yellow canola field, testimony to small farms which no longer exist.

 

Locate the Lost Town of Elbowoods 

We searched for Elbowoods, the town beneath the lake, from the north side of Lake Sakakawea.   In a previous adventure we had investigated its resting place from the south side of the lake.

The history of Old US Highway 8, Old Four Bears Bridge, and Elbowoods, North Dakota is found on information boards at Indian Hills Recreation Area, North Dakota.

The history of Old US Highway 8, Old Four Bears Bridge, and Elbowoods, North Dakota is found on information boards at Indian Hills Recreation Area, North Dakota.

 

Hike the Nux Baa Ga Trail

An additional goal for our day of adventure was to hike the Nux Baa Ga Trail. It’s part of the Lewis and Clark Trail in North Dakota. 

The Nux Baa Ga Trail is located at the Indian Hills Campground, west of Garrison, North Dakota. It is part of the Lewis and Clark Trail system.

The Nux Baa Ga Trail is located at the Indian Hills Campground, west of Garrison, North Dakota. It is part of the Lewis and Clark Trail system.

The Nux Baa Ga Trail at Indian Hills Recreation Area, on Good Bear Bay of Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota is part of the Lewis and Clark Trail System.

The Nux Baa Ga Trail at Indian Hills Recreation Area, on Good Bear Bay of Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota is part of the Lewis and Clark Trail System.

 

Indian Hills Recreation Area

Indian Hills Recreation Area, more specifically Indian Hills Resort and Campground, is west of Garrison, North Dakota. 

Indian Hills Resort Area, Garrison, North Dakota

Indian Hills Resort Area, Garrison, North Dakota

 

Astounding Vistas from the Nux Baa Ga Trail

The Nux Baa Ga Trail offers astounding landscapes in all directions.  A single track trail, it consists of rolling hills over looking Good Bear Bay and Lake Sakakawea.

The Nux Baa Ga Trail heading west, on the north shores of Lake Sakakawea near Good Bear Bay at Indian Hills Recreation Area, Garrison, North Dakota.

The Nux Baa Ga Trail heading west, on the north shores of Lake Sakakawea near Good Bear Bay at Indian Hills Recreation Area.

Looking west across Lake Sakakawea from a hilltop over Good Bear Bay. On the Nux Baa Ga Trail at Indian Hills Recreation Area, North Dakota.

Looking west across Lake Sakakawea from a hilltop over Good Bear Bay, North Dakota.

Buffalo Berry Patches dot the rolling landscape on the Nux Baa Ga Trail above Lake Sakakawea at Indian Hills Recreation Area.

Buffaloberry patches dot the rolling landscape on the Nux Baa Ga Trail above Lake Sakakawea at Indian Hills Recreation Area.

Brilliant red Buffalo Berries can be found in abundance on the Nux Baa Go Trail at Indian Hills Recreation Area, west of Garrison, North Dakota

Brilliant red Buffaloberries can be found in abundance on the Nux Baa Go Trail.

Dotted Blazing Star, North Dakota wildflower on the Nux Baa Ga Trail, Indian Hills Recreation Area.

Dotted Blazing Star, a North Dakota wildflower on the Nux Baa Ga Trail at Indian Hills Recreation Area.

Prairie June Grass Dots the Landscape Above Good Bear Bay at Indian Hills Recreation Area, North Dakota

Prairie June Grass dots the landscape above Good Bear Bay at Indian Hills Recreation Area, North Dakota

Nux Baa Ga Trail Leads to Stormy Summer Skies at Indian Hills Recreation Area in North Dakota.

Nux Baa Ga Trail leads to stormy summer skies at Indian Hills Recreation Area in North Dakota.

An informational sign on the Nux Baa Ga Trail relates the history of Four Bears Bridge which spanned the Missouri River at this area. The bridge was relocated to New Town before Lake Sakakawea flooded the area, submersing US Highway 8 and the town of Elbowoods at this location.

An informational sign on the Nux Baa Ga Trail relates the history of Four Bears Bridge. It was relocated to New Town before Lake Sakakawea flooded the area, and submersed US Highway 8 and the town of Elbowoods.

Information about the formation of contemporary towns in the Indian Hills area is presented in this historical information board on the Nux Baa Ga Trail, overlooking Lake Sakakawea .

Information about the formation of contemporary towns in the Indian Hills area is presented in this historical information board on the Nux Baa Ga Trail, overlooking Lake Sakakawea .

Indian Hills Resort, viewed looking to the north from the Nux Baa Ga Trail, on the north shore of Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota.

Indian Hills Resort, viewed looking to the north from the Nux Baa Ga Trail.

Shelters for Picnics and Historical Information, Indian Hills Recreation Area, west of Garrison, North Dakota

Picnic shelter and information kiosk at Indian Hills Recreation Area.

A unique shelter near the Nux Baa Ga Trailhead presents historical signage which relates the story of the flooding of Elbowoods due to the construction of the Garrison Dam and information about local land owners.

A unique structure near the Nux Baa Ga Trailhead presents historical information about the area.

History of Indian Hills Resort and Campground on Information Board at Indian Hills Recreation Area

History of Indian Hills Resort and Campground at Indian Hills Recreation Area

The Missouri River is the longest river in the United States. It was no longer free flowing in North Dakota after 1953, with the construction of the Garrison Dam.

The Missouri River is the longest river in the United States. Its free flow was stopped in 1953.

Information boards at Indian Hills Recreation Area, west of Garrison, North Dakota relate the story of the construction of Garrison Dam, which formed Lake Sakakawea and displaced hundreds of families and was the demise of many towns as they became submerged.

The construction of Garrison Dam displaced hundreds of families and was the demise of many towns as they became submerged.

In 1953 the construction of the Garrison Dam on the Missouri River, which formed Lake Sakakawea, flooded the town of Elbowoods. It was located in the area of Indian Hills Recreation Area, west of Garrison, , north of Halliday, North Dakota.

The Missouri River flooded the town of Elbowoods when Garrison Dam was constructed.

The history of the relocation of towns and populations on the Missouri River in North Dakota is displayed at the information kiosk at Indian Hills Recreation Area, west of Garrison, North Dakota.

Entire towns and populations were relocated when Lake Sakakawea was formed.

 

Astounding End to a Successful Day of Exploration

Summer storms began to brew during our hike! Fantastic scenes unfolded later in the day as our hike came to a successful conclusion. 

Severe summer storms rolled in from the northwest just as our hiking adventure came to a close!

Severe summer storms rolled in from the northwest just as our hiking adventure came to a close!

A brilliant bright blue sky turned into a deep blue sky as storms developed and thundered through the Indian Hills area at Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota.

A brilliant bright blue sky turned into a deep blue sky as storms developed and thundered through the Indian Hills area at Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota.

 

Headed to Theodore Roosevelt National Park?   Find out the differences between the North and South Units here.  Discover the park’s hidden gem, Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch

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