When planning a visit to Traill County, it helps to distinguish between the experiences: Island Park centers on water and a walking and biking connection, while Rainbow Garden offers a range of garden features. There are also seasonal recreational opportunities and a broad range of architectural, museum, and cultural history. This lets you shape your time around the topics that interest you most.
Trails Along the Goose River and Garden Experiences
Island Park is located on North Dakota Highway 200 in Mayville and is largely surrounded by water from an oxbow area of the Goose River. From there, a 2.5-mile walking and biking trail leads to the eastern edge of Portland. The named endpoints give the route a clear framework; the park itself connects the trail with a landscape shaped by water.
The Mayville Golf Club also runs along the meandering Goose River. This means the river features in different recreational settings: as the setting for Island Park and as a landscape feature of the golf club. Mayville Disc Golf has a different focus. The disc golf course has 18 holes and was established in 2017. These offerings differ in form, and you need not combine them into a single itinerary.
At Rainbow Garden, you can choose among several garden features. Visitors may sample plants in the Herb Garden; if this is a particular focus of your visit, check in advance whether this option is currently available. The maze consists of a circular path leading to a center. The Rock Garden features large boulders that children can climb on. Together, these offer a distinctly shaped path, plants to sample, and an area for climbing.
Recreational Activities and Events
Mayville Water Park offers swimming; the facility is seasonal, so check current operating details before visiting. In Hillsboro, Woodland Park is suitable for picnics, family gatherings, and special events. Its seasonal outdoor pool has a children’s pool, a diving board, and a water slide. If you want to include swimming in your plans, confirm operating status well in advance.
Events also bring seasonal highlights. The annual classic car show, Cruise to the Island, takes place in September. Hillsboro Days usually falls during the third week of June. Since event dates can change, it’s a good idea to check the current calendar before planning your trip around them.
Architecture, Collections, and Culture
Plummer House is a three-story brick Queen Anne-style home dating to 1897 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Architectural details include restored woodwork. The Centennial Building houses military and pioneer collections; the Pioneer Ag Museum traces the development of agriculture over the years. Visitors interested in different aspects of regional history will find distinct areas of focus here rather than a single collection theme.
The Goose River Heritage Center collection includes, among other things, a barber shop, a classroom, pioneer clothing, a pioneer kitchen, military collections, and pioneer machinery. The museum complex also includes the nondenominational St. Olaf Chapel and the one-room Bloomfield #1 Schoolhouse, dating to the 1920s. Another exhibit is the historic Fokker aircraft “Alaskan,” housed in a separate building at the Hatton-Eielson Museum. The Delchar is a movie theater built in 1927.
Art, music, and theater are also part of the cultural landscape: Mayville State University has an active scene in all three. Alongside the historic buildings and collections, this offers a different perspective on the region than the trails and gardens. You can prioritize the different topics according to your interests, without needing to follow a particular order.
Regional Options and Cuisine
From Traill County, event venues, museums, and entertainment in Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks, and other neighboring cities within a 40-mile radius are just a short drive away. This regional option complements the parks, gardens, and cultural attractions described above without replacing them.
One local culinary specialty is Potato Klub, a German-Norwegian dish served at Paula's Steakhouse and Lounge. Restaurant offerings can change; if you have a particular interest in trying the dish, check the current menu in advance.
Discover more destinations: Hatton, Richland County, Mercer, Mckenzie County, Barnes County, Williams County, Burleigh County, Grand Forks.
For the broader travel overview: North Dakota.
