Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
Also known as Fort Abraham Lincoln, Fort McKeen
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- 86 campsitesAlso cabins
- Official site
- parkrec.nd.gov(701) 667-6340
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Morton County, about 5 miles south of Mandan, Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park covers about 870 acres.
Things to do include horseback riding, historic sites, winter sports, canoeing and kayaking, and fishing. Water access includes a boat ramp. Overnight options include 86 campsites across 5 camping areas, with tent sites, primitive or hike-in sites, group camping, equestrian camping, and showers. Roofed lodging includes cabins.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor center | Daily | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | — |
| Visitor center | Tue–Sat | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | — |
Official wording
Visitor Center: Open daily 9 am-5 pm
Visitor Center: Open 10 am-4 pm Tuesday-Saturday, Closed Sunday & Monday
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/North Dakota/New_Salem).
Fees and passes
Per vehicle, year-round ('All vehicles entering a state park must display a valid entrance permit year-round'); no resident/nonresident difference except resident senior/disabled-veteran discounts. Primitive areas such as Crow Flies High SRA state 'Free entrance'.
Statewide fee rule from North Dakota's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
North Dakota park passes
- Daily vehicle entrance — $7. One vehicle, one day Details
- Annual single vehicle permit — $35. One vehicle, all state parks Details
- Annual family permit — $61.25. 2 vehicles in the same household Details
- Senior annual permit (ND residents 65+) — $28 Details
From the North Dakota state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- reserveNDparks.com
- Phone
- 800-807-4723
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: cabins.
Pets are not allowed in cabins. Pets are welcome but must stay on a leash. Most parks have off-leash areas or dog parks for your four-legged friends.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Campsites electricity & water; Price: $25-30 per night | 51 | Electricity & water | — |
| Modern Group Campsites electricity, water & the ability to put multiple units on one site; Price: $25-30 per night, per unit | 15 | Electricity, water & the ability to put multiple units on one site | — |
| Primitive Campsites water; Price: $15 per night | 15 | Water | — |
| Primitive Group Tent Campsite Price: $15 per night, per unit | 1 | — | |
| Primitive Horse Campsites water; Price: $15 per night | 4 | Water | — |
Camping details from the park
Campsite Types
51 Modern Campsites
(electricity & water)
Price: $25-30 per night
15 Modern Group Campsites
(electricity, water & the ability to put multiple units on one site)
15 Primitive Campsites
(water)
Price: $15 per night
1 Primitive Group Tent Campsite
4 Primitive Horse Campsites
(water)
Price: $15 per night
Detailed information about each campsite is available on the reservation system.
Book Now
Campground Map
- Campground Map
Full Park Map
- Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
Camping Information
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
- Camping CabinsPrice: $70-85 per night (two-night minimum stay required)
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is home to two seasonal camping cabins. The Good Boy and Sheheke cabins are all situated next to one another along the Missouri River. The cabins are located in the main campground. The Good Boy Cabin is the only accessible cabin in the park.
Camping Cabins
Book Now
Looking for an economical getaway during the summer, our camping cabins are a great choice. Open seasonally, these cabins have air conditioning, heat and a small refrigerator. The cabins sleep five with one full bed and three single beds, set up bunkbed style.
- Game or fish cleaning in or around cabins is not allowed.
Things to do
FishingHistoric sites and toursRanger and interpretive programsCanoeing and kayakingHikingBikingHorseback ridingWinter sportsPicnickingCamping
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scouts Trail System | 8.8 mi | — | Open to: hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding, mountain bikingHikingSnowshoeingHorseback ridingMountain biking |
| Little Soldier Loop Trail | 1.8 mi | — | Open to: hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding, mountain bikingHikingSnowshoeingHorseback ridingMountain biking |
| Young Hawk Interpretive Trail | 1.1 mi | — | Open to: hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding, mountain bikingHikingSnowshoeingHorseback ridingMountain biking |
| Scattered Corn Trail | 0.4 mi | — | Open to: hiking, snowshoeing, mountain bikingHikingSnowshoeingMountain biking |
| Bob Tailed Pass | 1.1 mi | — | Open to: hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding, mountain bikingHikingSnowshoeingHorseback ridingMountain biking |
| Little Sioux Trail | 1 mi | — | Open to: hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding, mountain bikingHikingSnowshoeingHorseback ridingMountain biking |
| Bloody Knife Trail | 1.9 mi | — | Open to: hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding, mountain bikingHikingSnowshoeingHorseback ridingMountain biking |
| Keller Loop Trail | 2 mi | — | Open to: hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding, mountain bikingHikingSnowshoeingHorseback ridingMountain biking |
| Mato-tope Trail | 1.4 mi | — | Open to: hiking, snowshoeing, mountain bikingHikingSnowshoeingMountain biking |
| Roughrider Trail | 22 mi | — | Open to: hiking, snowshoeing, mountain bikingHikingSnowshoeingMountain biking |
Trail descriptions from the park
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park's non-motorized trail system covers nearly 20 miles in a series of loops and several connecting segment trails that are open for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Most of the trail system surface is either grass, dirt or hard-packed single-track, with manageable grades with only a few steeper sections.
Scouts Trail System
Distance: 8.8 miles
Open to: hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding, mountain biking
The non-motorized, multi-use Scouts Trail System covers 8.8 miles in a series of loops and connecting trails. Most of the surface is hard-packed single-track, with manageable grades and only a few steeper sections. The trail system joins the paved Mandan-Fort Lincoln Bike Trail at the north end of the main park road. The Scouts Trail System is open for hiking, biking and horseback riding. The Scouts Trail System can be accessed near the valley picnic shelter or the horse campground.
Little Soldier Loop Trail
Distance: 1.8 miles
This trail segment starts at the Valley picnic shelter and meets up with the Young Hawk Interpretive Trail. The trail provides excellent vistas of the On-A-Slant Village, Missouri and Heart rivers and the city of Bismarck.
Young Hawk Interpretive Trail
Distance: 1.1 miles
This trail starts and ends at the Valley picnic shelter. The trail contains several numbered posts and a corresponding trail guide describing the history, plant and wildlife of the area. Trail guides can be found at the Visitor Center.
Scattered Corn Trail
Distance: 0.4 miles
Open to: hiking, snowshoeing, mountain biking
This trail, named for the first female Corn Priest of the Mandan Tribe, starts along the Visitor Center parking lot and takes you to the On-A-Slant Indian Village. At the age of 12, Scattered Corn, learned the art of building an earthlodge and by the time she was 18, she had built a total of four earthlodges for her own use. In 1934, with the assistance of the Civilian Conservation Corps, she designed and reconstructed five earthlodges at the park.
Bob Tailed Pass
Distance: 1.1 miles
A 1.1-mile trail that connects Little Soldier and Bloody Knife Trail Loops. The trail segment winds through prairie, shrublands and woodlands. The trail runs past the Post Cemetery.
Little Sioux Trail
Distance: 1 mile
This trail loops visitors through the native prairie, buffaloberry and snowberry shrublands and green ash woodlands. The trail goes to the furthest reaches of the state park.
Bloody Knife Trail
Distance: 1.9 miles
A 1.97-mile loop trail starting just south of the Post Cemetery running south to the horse corrals. A portion of this trail is designated for horse and hiking use only. The trail is close to the reconstructed Cavalry Post. Bikes are not allowed within the Cavalry Square. The scenic trail offers excellent bird watching opportunities.
Keller Loop Trail
Distance: 2 miles
The newest trail to be added to the Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park trail system is the 2.02 mile Keller Loop. This multi-use trail connects to the Scouts Trail and winds through the rugged western hills of the park. The trail is named for the Keller family who sold this property to the State of North Dakota and continue to support the park.
Mato-tope Trail
Distance: 1.4 miles
Open to: hiking, snowshoeing, mountain biking
Beginning at the confluence of the Missouri and Heart Rivers, the trail loops the campground by running along the rivers and next to the old Northern Pacific Railroad line. The trail is named in honor of Mato-tope (Four Bears). He grew up in On-a-Slant and was the son of Chief Good Boy. Mato-tope was the second Mandan Chief named Four Bears.
Roughrider Trail
Distance: 22 miles
Open to: hiking, snowshoeing, mountain biking
Map
The Roughrider OHV Trail is located just south of Mandan along Highway 1806 and runs from Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park to Fort Rice Campground. At a total of 22 miles, the Roughrider Trail connects the park to wildlife management areas, Morton County parks, a gun range, boat ramps, and state historic sites. A trailhead and parking lot are located at the south end of Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park.
Trail Maps:
- View a PDF trail map.
- All North Dakota State Park and Recreation trail information is available on the OuterSpatial App.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Flush toilets
- Showers
- Picnic shelters
- Playground
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Park or camp store
- Group facilities
Water
- Boat ramp
Camping
- RV dump station
- Tent camping
- Primitive or backcountry camping
- Group camping
- Equestrian camping
Lodging
- Cabins
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 4480 Ft. Lincoln Road
Mandan, ND 58554 - Nearest town
- Mandan — about 5 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 46.7622, -100.8490
- Phone
- (701) 667-6340
- falsp@nd.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- North Dakota State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- parkrec.nd.gov Destinations menu + StateParks_DestinationFinder ArcGIS layer
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Interior of the Custer Home at Fort Abraham Lincoln Showing a Harp and Piano (54a4ec00ee5a43d4b09f7322c16bc9ee).tif — Public domain (copyright expired), Unknown Photographer ( Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument )
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology