South Dakota | State Parks

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge (Martin)

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established in 1935 as a Refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The Refuge is located in Bennett County in southwestern South Dakota. The Refuge lies in the shallow Lake Creek valley on the northern edge of the Nebraska Sandhills and includes 16, 410 acres of native sandhills, sub-irrigated meadows, impounded fresh water marshes, and tall and mixed grass prairie uplands.

Madison Wetland Management District (Madison)

The Madison Wetland Management District (WMD), a field station of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was established to preserve wetlands and manage habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. Headquartered in Madison, South Dakota, the District manages 38, 500 acres of purchased upland and wetland areas, called Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs).

Big Bend Dam Lake Sharpe (Chamberlain)

One of six large lakes on the Missouri River. Area contains numerous village sites of early Indian culture. Recreation opportunities include camping, swimming, boating, fishing, and hunting outside of recreation areas. This area is along the Lewis and Clark route.

Fort Randall Dam Lake Francis Case (Pickstown)

Situated on the Missouri River with numerous tributary streams and their embayments which afford protected boating and fishing sites. Established below Fort Randall Dam is one of the first refuges in the United States maintained specifically for bald eagles. Recreation opportunites at the lake include camping, picnicking, boating, water-skiing, swimming, fishing, nature watching, and sledding. Hunting is allowed outside recreation areas. This area is along the Lewis and Clark route.

Gavins Point Dam / Lewis and Clark Lake (Yankton)

This Missouri River lake provides a tree-covered shoreline characterized by picturesque chalky bluffs in the lower segment and a beautiful view of the Missouri Valley in the upper reach. The Lewis and Clark Visitor Center offers displays on the geology, exploration, early navigation, settlement and natural history of the area as well as a spectacular view of the lake. Recreational opportunities include camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, boating, sailing, swimming, bird-watching, and photography.

Oahe Dam Lake Oahe (Pierre)

Oahe Dam, SD takes its name from the Oahe Indian Mission established among the Lakota Sioux Indians in 1874. Lake Oahe's 230-mile long lake runs from Pierre, South Dakota to near Bismarck North Dakota, and the surrounding area is rich in historic sites--fort, trading posts, and Lewis and Clark campsites. The 2, 250-mile shoreline offers myriad of opportunities to outdoor recreationists including swimming, water-skiing, fishing, hunting, boating, camping, and picnicking.

Black Hills National Forest (Custer)

The name "Black Hills" comes from the Lakota words Paha Sapa, which mean "hills that are black". Seen from a distance, these pine-covered hills, rising several thousand feet above the surrounding prairie, appear black. The Black Hills are in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming, covering an area 125 miles long and 65 wide. They encompass rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, tumbling streams, deep blue lakes, and unique caves.

Belle Fourche Reservoir (Rapid City)

Belle Fourche Dam and reservoir are features of the Belle Fourche Project. The reservoir is located on Owl Creek, about 8 miles east of Belle Fourche, South Dakota. The name means "Beautiful Forks" in French and refers to the confluence of the Redwater and Belle Fourche Rivers. The primary historic site is Belle Fourche Dam, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

James Diversion Reservoir (Huron)

The James Diversion Dam and Reservoir are located on the James River in east-central South Dakota about 17 miles north of Huron. The reservoir covers 960 water surface acres. There is a public-use area, a picnic area, and boating. Available fish species include crappie, catfish, and walleye. Open year-round.

Shadehill Reservoir (Shadehill)

The Shadehill Unit of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, consists of Shadehill Dam and Reservoir on the Grand River in the northwestern part of South Dakota, immediately downstream from the confluence of the North Fork and the South Fork of the Grand River. Public-use area, camping, picnic areas, trailer dump station, swimming, boating, and hiking. Available species include walleye, catfish, and bass. Open year-round. Current reservoir levels.

Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway (Custer)

The highlights of this byway include the spectacular Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. The rugged terrain, massive granite outcroppings, and diversity of the landscape are traversed by and through pigtail bridges and narrow tunnels.

The Native American Scenic Byway (Lower Brule - Sioux Tribe)

The history of the Sioux and other indigenous peoples unfolds along this byway through cultural, historical, and archeological sites in the heart of the Sioux nation.

Jewel Cave National Monument (Custer)

With more than 129 miles surveyed, Jewel Cave is recognized as the third longest cave in the world. Airflow within its passages indicates a vast area yet to be explored. Cave tours provide opportunities for viewing this pristine cave system and its wide variety of speleothems including stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, frostwork, flowstone, boxwork and hydromagnesite balloons. The cave is an important hibernaculum for several species of bats.

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (Philip)

"Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction." President Eisenhower, January 1961 Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is one of the nation's newest national park areas. It was created to illustrate the history and significance of the Cold War, the arms race, and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) development. The NPS is currently involved in the planning process to determine the future of this site.

Cottonwood Springs Lake (Hot Springs)

Cottonwood Springs Dam, SD was constructed to reduce flood damages in the Fall River Basin. Located just 5 miles west of Hot Springs on U.S. Highway 18 and nestled in the rugged hills and evergreen trees of the southern Black Hills, Cottonwood Springs Lake is the place to go for nature lovers. This recreation area offers primitive camping only (no hookups), hiking, fishing (only electric motors), and picnicking. Area is not open to vehicle traffic during the winter months.

Fort Meade Recreation Area (Belle Fourche)

The Fort Meade Recreation Area is composed of approximately 6, 700 acres of forest and grasslands. The area is managed to protect, preserve, and enhance its cultural, historic, recreational, and wildlife values. Attractions include the Fort Meade Cavalry Post, the Old Fort Meade CavalryMuseum, the Fort Meade Post Cemetery, and the Centennial Trail. Therecreation area also adjoins the Black Hills National Cemetery and BearButte State Park.

Angostura Reservoir (Hot Springs)

The Angostura Dam and Reservoir are located at the southeast edge of the Black Hills on the Cheyenne River in southwestern South Dakota near the Nebraska border. Recreation on this 4, 706 acre reservoir is managed by the SD Department of Game, Fish and Parks for the Bureau of Reclamation and includes campgrounds, boat ramps, fishing pier and a marina. Fish species include walleye, bass, northern pike, perch, bluegill, and crappie.

Deerfield Reservoir (Hill City)

Deerfield Dam and Reservoir, Rapid Valley Project, are twenty-five miles west of Rapid City, South Dakota on Castle Creek. Reservoir contains 400 surface acres and has 16 miles of shoreline. Public use area, camping, picnic areas, concession, swimming, boating, hiking, and fishing. Available species include rainbow trout, brown trout, and rock bass. Open year-round. Current Reservoir Levels.

Pactola Reservoir (Rapid City)

The Rapid Valley Unit of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program consists of Pactola Dam and Reservoir located on Rapid Creek about 15 miles west of Rapid City, South Dakota. The Dam is a zoned earthfill structure, 230 feet high, 40 feet wide at the crest, and 1, 255 feet long. Numerous facilities associated with outdoor recreation are provided at Pactola Reservoir, including picnic grounds, campgrounds, boat ramps, a visitor center and scenic overlooks.

Huron Wetland Management District (Huron)

The public lands of Huron Wetland Management District (WMD), called Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), are a part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. National wildlife refuges and WPAs are vitally important to wildlife and people. They provide food, water, cover, and space for hundreds of species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and plants.

Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge (Lake Andes)

The Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex consists of Lake Andes and Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) and Lake Andes Wetland Management District (WMD). The Complex headquarters is located on the east side of Lake Andes. Lake Andes NWR was established in 1936 under Executive Order. It consists of 938 acres of fee title lands and a 4, 700-acre easement. Karl Mundt NWR was established in 1974 for bald eagle protection and is closed to the public.

Pocasse NWR (Columbia)

Pocasse NWR is located in north-central South Dakota in the Missouri Coteau. This region is composed of intermediate and short grass prairie. It is partly of glacial origin and partly a result of stream erosion by the tributaries of the Missouri River. It is comprised of a 40-50 miles band of rolling glacial hills and rugged river "breaks" located within 10 miles of the Missouri River.

Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Columbia)

Congress established Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in 1935 as a "refuge and breeding grounds for migratory birds and other wildlife." The Refuge is 21, 498 acres of prime wildlife habitat consisting of open lakes and wetlands, grasslands, woodlands, and croplands. Sand Lake NWR is home to more than 266 bird species, 40 mammal species, and a variety of fish, reptiles, and amphibians.

Sand Lake WMD (Columbia)

The 9, 000 square mile Sand Lake Wetland Management District (WMD), located in north-central South Dakota, encompasses a rich diversity of wildlife habitat. The eight county district (Brown, Campbell, Edmunds, Faulk, McPherson, Potter, Spink, and Walworth Counties)is located within three distinct physiographic regions, the Missouri Coteau, the James River Basin, and the Lake Dakota Plain.

Waubay National Wildlife Refuge (Waubay)

Waubay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established in 1935 as a safe haven and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. "Waubay, " in the Lakota Sioux language, means "a place where numbers of birds make their nests." The Refuge encompasses 4, 650 acres of wetlands, native tallgrass prairie, and bur oak forest that provide a wide variety of nesting habitat for more than 100 species of waterfowl, song birds, and upland game birds.

Waubay Wetland Management District (Waubay)

Wetland Management Districts were established to manage Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) - small parcels of land purchased to provide nesting habitat for waterfowl. Waubay Wetland Management District is located in the "Coteau des Prairie, " or prairie hills region of South Dakota. It includes more than 300 WPAs ranging from 40 acres to more than 1, 600 acres in size, comprising a total of 40, 000 acres.

Wind Cave National Park (Hot Springs)

One of the world's longest and most complex caves and 28, 295 acres of mixed-grass prairie, ponderosa pine forest, and associated wildlife are the main features of the park. The cave is well known for its outstanding display of boxwork, an unusual cave formation composed of thin calcite fins resembling honeycombs. The park's mixed grass prairie is one of the few remaining and is home to native wildlife such as bison, elk, pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, and prairie dogs.

Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge (Lake Andes)

Badlands National Park (Interior)

Located in southwestern South Dakota, Badlands National Park consists of 244, 000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest, protected mixed grass prairie in the United States. The Badlands Wilderness Area covers 64, 000 acres and is the site of the reintroduction of the black-footed ferret, the most endangered land mammal in North America. The Stronghold Unit is co-managed with the Oglala Sioux Tribe and includes sites of 1890s Ghost Dances.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial (Keystone)

The four figures carved in stone on Mount Rushmore represent the first 150 years of American history. The birth of our nation was guided by the vision and courage of George Washington. Thomas Jefferson always had dreams of something bigger, first in the words of the Declaration of Independence and later in the expansion of our nation through the Louisiana Purchase. Preservation of the union was paramount to Abraham Lincoln but a nation where all men were free and equal was destined to be.

Cold Brook Lake (Hot Springs)

On the south fringe of the Black Hills. Visit nearby Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, and Wind Cave National Park. Cold Brook Lake offers a great variety or recreational activities year around including fishing, swimming, ice fishing, skating, cross-country skiing archery, and electric motor boating.

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