Discover Lamoure

Lamoure can be explored through two distinctive features: the Chan SanSan Scenic Backway and the James River. The Backway runs through town; parks, a canoe route, and historic sites offer further points of interest for planning your trip. First consider whether you would like to focus primarily on the route, the parks and river, or cultural history.

The Chan SanSan Scenic Backway

The Chan SanSan Scenic Backway follows the James River Valley south for 35 miles. Its route passes through Adrian, Dickey, Grand Rapids, and Lamoure. It is considered one of only ten Scenic Byways and Backways in North Dakota. This makes Lamoure part of a described route that connects several towns in the valley. The towns mentioned and the southerly direction help you understand the Backway as a route, without confusing it with the canoe route on the James River.

Interpretive panels along the Backway also give the route a cultural dimension: they explain the history of Native Americans and early settlers. Visitors interested in these topics can find historical information along the route, while the James River and its valley provide the scenic setting for the Backway.

Parks in Lamoure

Sunset Park is on the northwestern edge of town. Its amenities include picnic shelters, modern playground equipment, a disc golf course, a wiffleball field, and modern restrooms. There is also a small basketball court. This combination makes the park a destination for a variety of recreational activities: you can take advantage of the available sports facilities and equipment, as well as the picnic areas.

James River Damsite Park is on the southwestern side of Lamoure. It has a picnic shelter with a view of the James River. The two parks offer different features: Sunset Park focuses on the listed play and sports facilities, while James River Damsite Park offers a shelter with a river view. This distinction can help you choose parks to visit based on your interests.

Canoe route on the James River

A popular canoe route begins in Grand Rapids and continues downstream to the James River Damsite in Lamoure. It differs from the Chan SanSan Scenic Backway not only in mode of travel, but also in its specifically named endpoints and direction along the river. Canoe rentals are not available for this route. If a canoe trip is an option for your visit, take this limitation into account when planning.

Events and history

The North Dakota Farm Toy Show takes place on Father’s Day weekend. The exhibition at LaMoure Public School has been part of the local community for more than 30 years. If you plan to time your visit around the show, check the event dates before you travel. This keeps the event as a specific part of your planning without assuming a date.

There are also historic sites in the area around Lamoure. North of Grand Rapids, at the bends of the James River, is LaMoure County Memorial Park. It is accessible via paved roads. The LaMoure County Museum there includes a two-story museum building, a one-room schoolhouse, a country church, and an addition housing larger exhibits. The different buildings and the addition give you an idea of the range of topics covered by the exhibits.

A decommissioned Minuteman missile stands west of Lamoure. It resembles the missiles that were kept in silos across the Northern Plains during the Cold War. Another historical topic in the area is the Red Wing Boat: in the early 20th century, it was used on the James River to transport supplies and passengers. The two topics point to different periods—the missile to the Cold War, and the boat to river traffic in the early 20th century.

The County Courthouse in town is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Together with the interpretive panels along the Backway and the historical topics in the surrounding area, it complements the outdoor and recreational offerings with a look at the region’s history. You can choose to focus on parks and the river, the route, or historical topics, and include the relevant sites in your trip plans.

For the broader travel overview: Lamoure County.