Butte Saint Paul State Recreation Area in North Dakota, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-11-01. Check linked official notices before travel.

Butte Saint Paul State Recreation Area is a hilltop walking destination in North Dakota’s Turtle Mountains. Its short uphill trail leads toward views of wooded hills and lakes, with a stone commemorative marker at the summit. Plan a focused walk and birdwatching stop rather than a long trail circuit.

A short climb with a wider view

• Summit walk: follow the uphill route described in North Dakota State University’s outdoor guide.
• Turtle Mountain scenery: look across the trees and lakes below the high point.
• Birdwatching: bring binoculars and leave time to watch quietly along the walk.

Plan the walk around current conditions

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for the drive as well as the climb

An uphill walk needs time for the return descent. Choose a pace that suits your group and turn back before conditions exceed your comfort level. For winter travel, carry a charged phone, tell someone your route and expected arrival time, and leave with a full fuel tank. The state winter-driving guidance explains road reports and travel advisories.

Leave the summit as you found it

Keep to the existing walking route, leave the stone marker undisturbed, and take your litter away. Watch birds without approaching or disturbing them. These simple choices protect the setting that makes the short walk worthwhile.

Locate the recreation area in the Turtle Mountains

North Dakota State University’s outdoor destination guide, page 24, places Butte Saint Paul in the San Haven area, North Dakota 58329. Use the full recreation-area name when planning your destination. The agency’s Bismarck headquarters is a contact address, not the hilltop arrival point.

The Turtle Mountain Byway also identifies Butte St. Paul as a point of interest. Its route follows roads through the St. John area and west along Highway 43. Use that information for the regional driving plan, with the recreation area as a separate stop.

Other Turtle Mountain stops by road

Lake Metigoshe State Park is another Turtle Mountain destination, with its official park address listed as 2 Lake Metigoshe State Park, Bottineau. Turtle Mountain State Recreation Area lies six miles northwest of Bottineau; its published approach uses Town Line Road, 101st Street NE, 11th Avenue NE and Sjule Road. Treat these as separate road stops, with their own access rules and visitor plans.

Give the summit walk your attention

Walk uphill to the summit marker, pause to take in the trees and water below, then allow enough time to descend at an unhurried pace. Birdwatching can be part of the same outing. The appeal here is the change in viewpoint, so leave time to look around instead of measuring the visit only by walking distance.

The stone summit marker

A stone commemorative marker stands at the top of the hill. Make it the landmark for your walking plan. Carry drinking water and the equipment you need for the outing, and choose clothing suited to the weather.

Part of North Dakota’s wooded uplands

The Turtle Mountains extend across northern North Dakota and southern Manitoba. The North Dakota Geological Survey explains that these higher uplands receive more precipitation than the surrounding grasslands, helping support forest. Aspen dominates much of the regional woodland, alongside trees such as birch and bur oak. This describes the broader landscape around the hill, rather than a tree inventory for the recreation area.

Make room for birdwatching

The university guide identifies birdwatching as one of the activities at Butte Saint Paul. Look and listen during the walk, and use binoculars to keep your distance. A visit does not depend on finding a particular species.

Ask North Dakota Parks and Recreation

For recreation-area inquiries, contact the North Dakota Parks and Recreation central office at 701-328-5357 or [email protected]. Ask about the local approach and conditions for your chosen date.