Icelandic State Park

Icelandic State Park encompasses a total area of 912 acres of recreational public land, right by Lake Renwick and five miles west of Cavalier city, Akra Township, Pembina County, North Dakota. Within the park is the Gunlogson Homestead and Nature Preserve as well as the Pioneer Heritage Center. To get to the park, travel on Highway 5 which is near the U.S./Canadian border.

This public park was established in 1964 soon after G. B. Gunlogson gave 200 acres of his family's lands to the state for the main purpose of preserving evidence of North Dakota's Icelandic heritage. The Gunlogson State Nature Preserve is an arboretum dominated by Basswood and mature Elm along with hundreds of other plant species including Hazel, Maple, Dogwood, Birch, Hawthorn, Silverberry, and Ash. You can also find rare species of plants as well as birds including the Western Wood-Pewee, Piliated Woodpecker, and the Finescale Dac (a freshwater fish). This nature preserve also lies along the Tongue River.

Icelandic State Park is popular for water sports and several other activities. Some of the activities that you can enjoy at the park include swimming, boating on Renwick Dam, kayaking, fishing, both primitive and modern camping, and hiking.

Some of the amenities that you can find at the park include museum and historic buildings, a beach, a 6-mile bike path, visitor center, playground, campground, picnic shelters, cabins, showers, electrical hookups, RV dump station, fishing dock, and boat ramp. Also, right adjacent to the park sits the Cavalier Country Club, a 9-hole public golf course.

Like all North Dakota state parks, you can bring your pets with you including your dog at no extra cost. You must adhere to Park rules which include the following. Attending to your dog at all times including cleaning after them, keeping them in a secure enclosure or leashed (leash must be no more than six feet long) and keeping them away from designated swimming areas and inside public buildings.