About this city
Also known as: The Valley of the Gods
Walhalla is an exceptionally scenic, deeply historic rural city located in Pembina County in northeastern North Dakota, beautifully nestled along the banks of the winding Pembina River within the heavily forested, glacier-carved Pembina Gorge. Founded in 1845 as a crucial fur-trading post by pioneer Norman Kittson, it stands proudly as the second-oldest European-American settlement in the state. Its majestic name, drawn from the Norse mythological 'Valhalla' or 'valley of the gods,' perfectly reflects its dramatic terrain of high wooded hills that contrast sharply with the flat Red River valley prairies. Today, Walhalla balances its dense fur-trade historical legacy with premier four-season outdoor trail sports, high-altitude river adventure, and rich agricultural small grains harvesting.
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Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 1–2 days
Tour the oldest building in North Dakota at the Kittson Trading Post inside Walhalla State Historical Site, kayak or canoe through the dramatic rapids of Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area, and ski at the Frost Fire Park alpine slopes.
