For this reason, and because much of the land bordering the water is in private ownership , it is recommended that all cooking be done on liquid or gas-fueled camp stoves. Most of the land that borders the river outside the National Park is private. Contact landowner in advance for permission to camp. As a courtesy, please pick up all litter and carry your non-combustible trash with you until you can properly dispose of it in a suitable waste receptacle. If you plan to camp in the National Park at locations other than the designated campgrounds, you must obtain a free backcountry use permit at one of the park visitor centers.
Campsite selection is sometimes difficult.
In years when the river rises high enough to occupy the flood plain, a thick deposit of mud limits campsites to higher terraces adjacent to the banks. Also, after the channel is ice free early in the season, it is common to have large heaps of mud-covered ice slabs lining the shores. The use of outboard motors is permitted but not recommended because the channel is frequently too shallow for their use, and the river's heavy silt load may destroy the engine's water pumps after a very brief running time. Fishing for channel catfish, goldeyes and sauger is permitted, but the quantity and quality of these fishes is unpredictable. North Dakota state laws and license requirements apply.