White Horse Hill National Game Preserve
4.7(419)google
5.0(1)yelp
Hiking TrailBird WatchingScenic LookoutFamilyOutdoorFreeBisonForestLake
Overview
White Horse Hill National Game Preserve (Dakota: Šúŋkawakháŋ Ská Pahá, formerly known as Sullys Hill National Game Preserve) is a National Wildlife Refuge and nature center located on the shore of Devils Lake in Benson County, North Dakota, within the Spirit Lake Tribe reservation.
Practical Info
Every day8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Suggested Duration2.5-4 hours
Best TimeLate spring (May) or early October for the blazing autumn foliage offer the finest experience. Hiking or taking the scenic drive loop between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM is highly recommended; early morning mist rolling off Devils Lake frames the rolling bur oak hills, maximizing your chances of filming native elk and wild bison.
Getting ThereNestled beautifully inside the reservation land 12 miles south of Devils Lake. Driving a vehicle is required as no transit serves this rural lakefront fringe. Travel south from the town center via ND-20 S across the massive water causeways, turn right onto Highway BIA-4 following the federal preserve banners, and pull into the free paved lots.
Travel Tips
- As a federally sovereign wildlife preserve, drone operations are illegal across all sectors; unpermitted foraging or moving botanical matter triggers immediate federal prosecution.
- The auto-tour route forces proximity to wild bison and elk herds requiring a mandatory 25-yard safety radius; opening car doors or stepping onto the pavement to approach herds is strictly illegal.
- The wooden summit overlook boardwalk is fully exposed to severe summer convective patterns; immediate evacuation to hardtop metal vehicles is required at the first auditory sign of thunder.
Reviews
Positive
- A spectacular game preserve on the shores of Devils Lake! Standing on the high ridge timber outlook offers a stunning, grand water view.
- Lives up to its name; driving along the clean gravel loops offers close-up, authentic encounters with roaming purebred bison and elk herds.
- The modern nature visitor center is kept immaculate with intuitive educational displays, costing zero admission fees—high-value stop.
- Newly installed smooth wheelchair-accessible loop boardwalks carry ample benches and bins, showcasing top-notch management order.
Heads up
- Though wildlife is rich, wary elk herds retreat deep into heavy forest brush during hot summer middays, making them tough to spot from cars.
- The driving paths utilize raw dirt and crushed gravel, creating heavy clouds of blinding white dust whenever trail rigs cruise past.
- Beyond the main headquarters building, the long wilderness driving loops feature zero public restrooms, causing minor inconvenience.
- Severe winter blizzards and sheets of ice force the steep, narrow overlook access road to barricade completely for months in off-seasons.