Several people have warned me about the Williston, ND area and suggest that I do not drive through there on my upcoming trip. At first I wondered, how can a place be so bad in this country that a woman shouldn’t travel there alone? Besides, I am a tough gal, not afraid of much : )

Well, I read up on the area, and yep, I definitely do not want to drive through that remote area alone. Williston is in the heart of the Bakken Oil Field and it sounds like a lawless mess up there–a modern-day boom town with a dark, seedy side. The New York Times and other national media outlets have done extensive reporting about the shenanigans up there.

How they live in Williston:

No women to dance with:

It looks like I could make some extra cash “preaching” up there, but I decided to re-route below the entire Bakken oil field. I will miss some prime birding spots but will pass through some others just as awesome. The change will also be a more direct route into the mountain high-country, my ultimate destination.

New Route:

Adios Bakken Oil Field- cut off a triangle of travel through Williston on top of this route