Valley City: Highline Bridge and North Country Trail

For your stay in Valley City, you can plan your trip around several different themes: the North Country Trail runs through the center of Valley City, the Sheyenne River and the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway offer river and route connections, and Highline Bridge and the Rosebud Visitor Center add architectural and railroad-related highlights. Depending on whether hiking, a driving route, a river connection, or a single attraction is your main focus, you can plan around different priorities.

North Country Trail: Distinguish between directions and destinations

The North Country Trail runs through the center of Valley City. The local section leads north to Lake Ashtabula and south to Kathryn. This gives you a way to orient yourself in both directions: you can first focus on either the northern or southern section and use the respective destinations as reference points for your plans. The focus here is a trail route through the city, not the choice of a driving route or a single structure.

Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway

The Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway stretches for 63 miles through Valley City. This route information offers a different point of reference than the North Country Trail: for the byway, the route’s length is an important guide, while for the trail, it is the local north-south direction and the two destinations. If you would rather prioritize a driving route than hiking when planning your trip, the byway gives you a specific place to start.

The Sheyenne River and its wider course

The Sheyenne River through Valley City is part of a 199-mile river section that is seeking National Water Trail status. The length refers to this section of the river, not just the part that runs through Valley City. This places the local connection to the river in a wider context. For travelers interested in rivers and their scenic character, this combines a specific local connection with the longer course of the Sheyenne River.

Highline Bridge: Length and height

Highline Bridge in Valley City is 3,860 feet long and stands 162 feet above the riverbed. The two measurements describe different aspects of the structure: the first is the length of the bridge, while the second is its height above the riverbed. Together, they give a more precise sense of the bridge’s scale than a single measurement could. If you are interested in structures as a focus in their own right, Highline Bridge can be clearly distinguished from the hiking and river themes.

Rosebud Visitor Center and railroad connections

The Rosebud Visitor Center in Valley City is designed to resemble a historic railroad depot. Visitors can see a restored railroad car inside the center. The design and the car offer two distinct highlights: the building evokes a depot, while the car provides a specific exhibit to see. For travelers looking for a cultural and architectural focus, this offers a distinct point of interest alongside the trail, byway, and river.

Kayak kiosk at Bjornson Park Municipal Golf Course

A kayak kiosk operated by Valley City Parks and Recreation, with eight kayaks available for rent, is located on the grounds of Bjornson Park Municipal Golf Course. If you would like to include an activity in your trip plans, check current availability in advance.

For the broader travel overview: Barnes County.