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Summertime in North Dakota brings an abundance of colorful crops, with thousands of acres of sunflower fields painting the landscape in vibrant, sunny yellow hues. To celebrate this, North Dakota Tourism has introduced the 2024 ND Sunflower Trail, highlighting over a dozen stunning sunflower fields that will reach their peak color from late July through August.
“The state’s sunflower growers are eager to partner with North Dakota Tourism on this field guide program and share a little of what makes North Dakota unique with others,” said Josh Greff, a sunflower grower in southwest North Dakota. “There’s really nothing like seeing a field full of vibrant yellows when the sunflowers reach their peak color. Helping visitors to have a legendary experience is a valuable opportunity for growers to support both the tourism and agriculture industries in North Dakota.”
For those planning a picture-perfect trip to witness North Dakota’s sunflower bloom, this year’s sunflower map showcases new locations where sunflowers stretch toward the golden rays of sunlight, standing out against the cool blue sky. North Dakota Tourism will update the map weekly, ensuring visitors can find the most colorful fields during their visit.
North Dakota’s sunflower roots trace back to Ukrainian immigrants who settled in the state through the Homestead Act of 1867. Sunflowers have long been integral to Ukraine’s economy, and Ukrainians proudly recognize it as their national flower. As they settled throughout North Dakota, they cultivated the land into expansive fields of brilliant yellow flowers.
Sunflower enthusiasts chasing iconic photo opportunities will find fields across the state and should keep in mind the following tips for capturing the blooms:
Generally, landowners and growers welcome visitors to view the fields as long as they are respectful and avoid entering or driving into the fields.
For the perfect golden hour shot, arrive early to scout your location and capture images 1-2 hours after sunrise or before sunset.
Visiting on a cloudy day? These days often provide the best conditions for vivid close-up shots.
Celebrate National Sunflower Day on Saturday, August 3, with a photo shoot, and share your love of the sunny blooms on social media using #NDLegendary and #NDFieldFinders.
In partnership with growers, North Dakota Tourism has placed mailboxes with free, edible sunflower seeds at several field locations. For details on each participating field, including locations, seed availability, and bloom updates, please visit “Let the Amazing Sunflower Put a Smile on Your Face.” You can also find more sunflower recipes, videos, and little-known facts are available at “Brighten Your Day with the Amazing Sunflower.”
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