State guide
When to catch North Dakotathrough the year
We follow 1 place in North Dakota for spring migration and wildflowers: spring at Long Lake Refuge and summer at Long Lake Refuge. Each timing below is the place's own source, in its words; none is a forecast.
When are you going?
Fall in North Dakota
Good in fall
- Long Lake RefugeBest waterfowl and shorebird viewing
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Next peak here after fall
Winter in North Dakota
Good in winter
- Long Lake RefugeWinter: snowy owls, grouse, pheasants and many white-tailed deer
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Next peak here after winter
Spring in North Dakota
- BEST VIEWING · SPRING WATERFOWL AND SHOREBIRDSLong Lake RefugeSpring waterfowl and shorebirdsWildlife refugeApril through May“April through May” · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Summer in North Dakota
- SEASON · WILDFLOWERSLong Lake RefugeWildflowersWildlife refugeApril through August“April through August” · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Next peak here after summer
Places in North Dakota
Long Lake RefugeWildlife refugeNext: Spring waterfowl and shorebirds · april through MayPhoto: USFWS
Planning a North Dakota trip
Browse by season and event
- Spring migration · 1 place hereSpring migration, everywhere →
- Wildflowers · 1 place hereWildflowers, everywhere →
Questions people ask
When do the wildflowers bloom at Long Lake Refuge?
The flowering period runs April through August. Lavender-blue pasque flowers open on the hillsides in spring, sometimes in snow; summer brings narrow-leaved puccoon, western wallflower, scarlet mallow, purple prairie coneflower and wild prairie rose, North Dakota's state flower.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Can I pick the flowers at Long Lake Refuge?
No. Walking the refuge to see wildlife and plants is allowed, but collecting is prohibited.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge: Wildlife Watching ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Why is Long Lake Refuge's history tied to shorebirds?
It is both a Globally Important Bird Area and a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site, serving more than 20,000 shorebirds a year for breeding and stopovers.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Nearby state guides: South Dakota · Minnesota · Nebraska · Wisconsin
North Dakota in pictures
How we know
- Sep 28Park ServiceThe flowering period extends from April through August; best waterfowl and shorebird viewing periodsSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge: Wildlife Watching in a new tab)