Walk the Village Trail

Arial view of the Lower Hidatsa Site.

KNRI Staff

Walk down the Village Trail and see the remains of the Awatixa Xi'e Village (Lower Hidatsa Site) and Awatixa Village (Sakakawea Site). Starting at the Visitor Center, this flat, gravel trail is 1.3mi/2.1km long passing two village sites, restored prairie grassland, and has a loop at the second village site that includes a walk along the Knife River. Interpretive signs along the trail explain the history of the sites.

At these sites, circular depressions were left in the ground by the earth lodge homes that the Hidatsa lived in. Lower Hidatsa Site was occupied from about 1525 to the 1780s when the first smallpox epidemic forced them to leave their village.

Sakakawea Site is where Sakakawea was living when Lewis and Clark arrived in 1804 and stayed the winter. Sakakawea (Sacagawea/Sacajawea) gave birth to her son Jean Baptiste (Pomp) that winter and then left with Lewis and Clark on their journey. This site was occupied from 1790s until 1837 when smallpox returned a second time. 

Details

Duration

15-90 Minutes

Activity

Hiking

Pets Allowed

Yes with Restrictions

Pets are allowed if they are on a leash.

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Location

Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is the location where the Hidatsa tribe lived for hundreds of years. Circular depressions were left behind by their earth lodge homes that are available to see along the park trails. A reconstructed earth lodge is available for touring. A museum and film are located inside the visitor center.

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

Time of Day

Day, Dawn, Dusk

The trail is open from sunrise to sunset.

Accessibility Information

The Village Trail is flat and made of gravel between the villages. The section of trail beside the river is mowed grass.

Stairs lead down to the section of trail beside the river. There is a fishing hole with a small dirt parking lot at the end of the trail.

The Village Trail is 1.3 miles round trip. To see just the Lower Hidatsa Site is a .5 mile round trip hike.

Service animals are allowed.