Location: Larimore Dam Recreational Area Myra Arboretum
Managed by: Grand Forks County
Management Address
Grand Forks County Office Building, 151 South 4th Street
Grand Forks ND 58201
The Larimore Dam Recreation Area and Myra Arboretum is located just off US Highway 2 along County road 4A on the Western edge of Grand Forks County. Construction on the Larimore Dam Recreation Area and the Myra Arboretum began in June of 1977 and was completed November of 1979. 333,749 cubic yards of fill were used in the construction. The height of the dam is 66 feet, with 72 acres of pool surface. Pool storage is 823 acre-feet with additional flood storage of 4,911 acre-feet. The drainage area covers 43 square miles. The project was built by the Grand Forks County Water Resource Board, Soil Conservation Service, and the USDA. It is also referred to as Upper Turtle River Watershed Project.
Description
The Myra Arboretum is a 26 acre garden which includes about 500 varieties of trees and shrubs. It serves the community as a resource for ecological, horticultural, and historical education. The Myra Arboretum is defined as a place where trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes. Located with the arboretum is many looped hard surface trails visitors can use to view the plantings. Benches are available for people with limited mobility. No formal parking area was noted, it seemed that visitors parked in the grass off the roadway. This may pose a problem if extremely wet weather is experienced for both the grass areea as well as the roadway which is gravel. No accessible route was noted between the grassy parking area and start of the trail. The Arboretum is encircled by a tall fence with a gate in order to keep deer and other herbivores out of the garden area. Persons with limited hand dexterity may find operating the gate difficult.
Location Info » For directions, click the marker in the map. »
Eastbound from Jct Hwy 18 & US 2: Go 2 mi E o n US 2, then 2 mi S & W on CR-4A//18th Ave NE (R)
Amenities
Larimore is the closest community to the Recreational area located three miles to the southwest. People can fulfill most of their retail needs there. Big Box Stores are found in Grand Forks to the East and Devils Lake to the West. Grand Forks is the closest of the two cities to the Recreational Area.
Lodging
This recreational area offers overnight as well as seasonal camping though at the time of the review we were not able to inspect the campground bathrooms. As noted above all of the on-site restrooms did not meet today’s accessibility standards. A motel is located in Larimore, North Dakota located three miles south from the recreational area as well as in Grand Forks, North Dakota located approximately 22 miles east. When making reservations caller will have to inquire about the accessibility of the accommodations. Grand Forks does have accessible hotels/motels available but it is unknown if Larimore’s motel offers an accessible room.
