By:
Submission
The Eggerts Landing Campground is located on Lake Ashtabula in eastern North Dakota. With thick forests, secluded sites and lake access, it is the most popular campground in the area.
Lake Ashtabula was created by the construction of the Baldhill Dam on the Sheyenne River in 1944, and is situated in one of the most scenic river valleys in the region, offering visitors a wide range of recreation opportunities year-round.
Summer activities include fishing, boating, swimming and picnicking, while Ice fishing and cross-country skiing are popular during winter months.
There is no shortage of recreation opportunities and outdoor fun in and around the lake. Visitors can swim, picnic and hike within the campground. A fishing pier is a short walk away. The name "Ashtabula" is a Native American word meaning "Fish River," which suits the lake's fish population; popular species include walleye, northern pike, white bass, yellow perch and black bullhead. With seven boat ramps, three accessible fishing piers and four automated fish cleaning stations, the lake is very convenient for anglers. Nearly 3,000 acres of land around the lake is managed as wildlife habitat by the Corps of Engineers and open to the public for wildlife viewing, birding, hiking and hunting. Hunters and anglers should contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department for seasons, restrictions and licenses; fishing licenses and bait may be purchased from concessionaires around the lake. Campers can also reach the 63-mile Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway and access nearly 35 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail within a short drive.
There are 41 campsites with 37 of the sites offering electrical service. Other features of the campground include a swimming beach, flush toilets, playground and hiking trail.
A dump station, fishing pier, boat ramp, restaurant and additional hiking trails are within walking distance. The nearest town is Valley City, 10 miles away.
The campground is heavily wooded offering shade and privacy for most sites. The lake area lies amidst the 'prairie potholes' region of glacially-carved lakes in North Dakota.
Spring and fall bring bountiful views of migratory water birds to Lake Ashtabula, including the unique white pelican, which can be seen in large flocks during summer.
The region also provides habitat for white-tailed deer, sharptail grouse, wild turkey and gray partridge.
The main route to the park is via Interstate 94 to Valley City exit 292. Follow the signs through Valley City and follow County Road 21 north from Valley City for 10 miles.
I desperately needed to get away from all the apartments and city .A friend recommended it .I was not disappointed .I went the day after Labor Day and I was by myself .I don't fish but it in lovely lovely place to be .Meditated the whole time I was there .
I'd give it a five star review if I'd written this the first time I stayed there. The campground has wonderfully private and shaded spots, with electric (no water) hookups. If you get a site along the lake, there are great walking paths and you can quickly get right to the edge of the lake. The restroom/shower house is very clean and well-maintained.
However...
Our first evening there in August 2023 was wonderful. Quiet hours started at 10 and while you could hear the normal light laughter and sounds of a campground, it was typical. The next night, however, a group came into the campground that became a problem. Our group of three sites finally doused the campfire around 11 p.m. realizing that this group was still very loud. Really loud. Playing cornhole, kids still up screaming, adults talking and laughing loudly, periodically hollering at kids when they started fighting. We hoped they would quiet down, but around 11:20, we went over and asked if they would since quiet hours started at 10. "We'll keep that in mind," a woman said sarcastically. As we walked away, I could hear them laughing. They got louder as they drank more. The kids were still up and screaming at 12:15 p.m. when we went back to again ask them to quiet down. Two adults, a man and woman, clearly drunk, got in our face and basically, in a shouting match, said since they were friends with the ranger and camp host and came every weekend, they didn't have to be quiet because no one would do anything to them since they were good buddies and all. The woman said several nasty things, name calling and such. I have another member of our party who heard all of this from their camper.
We called the ranger number, but it was after midnight and there was no answer. The camp host was gone that evening. We left a voicemail and the next morning talked to the host (who said he didn't know them) and day ranger (who also didn't know them, he said). The day ranger promised to let the permanent ranger know. Later that afternoon, we watched as the permanent ranger spent significant time in their spot, came over to our spot and said "we like to keep it easy here" and that he'd drive through around 10 p.m., and then went back over to their spot to play cornhole.
The group didn't seem to gather across from us that night, so it was quieter. I don't know which site they and their friends went to and don't care. However, my point is that if the ranger is buddies with people who are breaking the rules and bragging obnoxiously that their friendship and coming every weekend gives them the ability to do so, this is not a campground you'll want to go to. If they want to "keep it easy" at this campground, they need to encourage people to be respectful of others, remain professional and maintain the camp according to their published rules, and not be buddies with campers. Each camper pays the same amount of money to camp there with the expectation that there will be respect towards each other.
