How to Become a Park Ranger in North Dakota

If you are ready for a career change or your first job, you may find it in North Dakota.

Would you like a job where you never have to worry about what to wear? (You wear a respected uniform)

Are you a people-oriented individual who enjoys wildlife, the environment, and occasional adventure?

Then, you should explore the opportunity offered by the state of North Dakota as a Park Ranger.

Requirements to Become a Park Ranger in North Dakota

Park rangers typically require a bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Some acceptable fields are :

• Park Management
• Natural Resources
• Fish and Wildlife Management
• Hospitality Management

A valid North Dakota driver’s license or the ability to obtain one.

Work experience that includes staff supervision.

The completion of a satisfactory employment interview.

At least three professional, verifiable references.

Be able to pass a background check.

You may be required to live on-site in state-provided housing.

All applicants must apply online through the North Dakota Job Seekers Website.

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

All successful applicants are required to have a North Dakota Peace Officer License within one year of hire.

Park Ranger Duties in North Dakota

Resource, Fiscal, and Personnel Management duties.

Providing support to the park manager.

Overseeing reservations and special areas within the park.

Collection of fees.

Supervise seasonal park staff and volunteers.

Review employees and make work schedules.

Enforce state park rules to protect guests.

Interact with the public.

Provide cultural, environmental, educational, and historical special events.

Work with the maintenance supervisor to make sure that everything is well-maintained.

Making sure that all visitors have a positive experience at the park.

State Parks in North Dakota

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is the oldest state park in North Dakota.

It was created in 1907.

The Visitor Center Museum offers local history and artifacts.

The park provides insights into the lives of the Mandan Native Americans through reconstructed earth lodges.

Learn about the life of frontier soldiers at Fort Abraham Lincoln and Fort McKeen.

Visit the blockhouse, the barracks, and the officer’s quarters.

Camping is available on the banks of the Missouri and Heart Rivers.

Guests have access to the commissary store and the coffee bar for a quick latte or cappuccino.

Icelandic State Park

Icelandic State Park is a 912-acre park that contains buildings from the early settlement of North Dakota.

It also includes the 200-acre Gunlogson Nature Preserve, the oldest in the state.

The park has three seasonal rental cabins.

Icelandic State Park is on the shores of Lake Renwick.

The lake offers opportunities for swimming, boating, and fishing.

The park is open in the winter for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Pembina Gorge State Park

With over 2,800 acres, the Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area is an area of outstanding beauty.

It contains the largest undisturbed forest in North Dakota.

Thirty miles of multi-use trails provide adventure lovers with year-round access to groomed trails.

It is North Dakota’s newest state park, designated in 2024.

It is being developed, and campsites and cabins are being added.

Rough Rider State Park

Rough Rider State Park is located amid the rugged landscape of the Badlands.

It is close to Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Popular springtime activities are canoeing and kayaking on the Little Missouri River.

The park provides access to the 144-mile Maah Daah Hey Trail.

Primitive and modern (water & electric) camping is available for people and horses.

Little Missouri State Park

Little Missouri State Park is the largest of the North Dakota State Parks.

It is a quiet park in the western part of the state.

The 40 miles of hiking trails in the park run through the Badlands.

Both primitive and modern (with electricity) campsites are available.

The park is equestrian-friendly with corrals and trails for riders to use.

This is an isolated park away from the hubbub of daily life.

Park Ranger Salary in North Dakota

North Dakota Park Rangers can earn quite a range of salaries.

The lower 10 percent can earn between $28,000 and $30,000.

The highest 10 percent earn between $51,000 and $54,000.

The average earnings are $41,000 to $43,000 for Park Rangers in North Dakota.

It is usual for new hires to be at the lower end.

More experience or education can push salaries to the higher end.

Find Park Ranger Career Guides by State

About Chelsea Wilson Chelsea Wilson is the Community Relations Manager for Washington University School of Law’s distance learning LLM degree program, which provides foreign trained attorneys with the opportunity to earn a Master of Laws degree from a top-tier American university from anywhere in the world.