Family-friendly swimming holes in North Dakota

Choosing a North Dakota swimming hole with kids

The two things that actually matter with children are the approach and the entry. Every listing here has an easy approach — short, marked, and walkable while carrying a cooler — and facilities on site, which usually means parking, restrooms, and somewhere to sit.

The entry matters just as much and varies spot to spot. A gradual sand or gravel shelf is very different from a ledge that drops to eight feet a step from shore. Read the individual listing, and walk the entry yourself before the kids get in.

Big shallow reservoirs warm into the mid-70s°F but are wind-stirred and turbid.

Facilities are not supervision

A restroom and a picnic table do not mean a lifeguard. The large majority of natural swim areas in North Dakota are unguarded, including many inside state parks, so an adult needs to be watching the water the whole time — not reading, not on a phone.

Keep young or weak swimmers in a properly fitted life jacket rather than arm bands or inflatable rings, which drift and flip. Designate one adult as the water watcher and rotate the job every fifteen minutes; drownings are quiet and fast.

Check for advisories before you drive. North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality publishes the water-quality and algal-bloom notices for North Dakota. Discolored water, surface scum, or a strong smell means keep everyone — and the dog — out.

Timing and conditions in North Dakota

North Dakota swims late june through august, best july. Very short season.

Wind builds dangerous chop quickly on the large reservoirs, and blue-green algae advisories are common in late summer on shallow bays.