List of South Dakota state parks facts for kids
The U.S. state of South Dakota operates 13 state parks, 43 recreation areas, 6 nature areas, and 1 trail, totaling approximately 96,000 acres. These sites are administered by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks.
These areas preserve natural geologic features, historic and sacred Plains Indian sites, and historic pioneer settlements and forts. They also provide recreational facilities and access to waterbodies, including the Missouri River, on which there are 25 recreation areas.
South Dakota State Parks and recreation areas range in size from the 19-acre Sandy Shore Recreation Area to the 71,000-acre Custer State Park. It was the first park established in the system, in 1919. Good Earth State Park at Blood Run is the most recent park, added in 2013. System-wide visitation in 2016 was 7,500,000.
List of state parks and recreation areas
| Name | Classification | County or counties | Size | Coordinates | Year established | Remarks | Image | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| acres | ha | ||||||||
| Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve | Nature area | Union | 1,600 | 650 | 42°32′21″N 96°31′41″W / 42.53905°N 96.528179°W | 1997 | Homestead and nature preserve on the Missouri River, this area contains one of the largest stands of cottonwood trees in the state. | ||
| Angostura Recreation Area | Recreation area | Fall River | 1,125 | 455 | 43°20′45″N 103°25′19″W / 43.345873°N 103.42202°W | 1954 | Shoreline and beaches on the eastern edge of Angostura Reservoir. | ||
| Bear Butte State Park | State park | Meade | 1,935 | 783 | 44°27′36″N 103°27′03″W / 44.45989°N 103.45085°W | 1961 | Geological laccolith, traditional landmark and sacred religious site for the Lakota Indians. |  |
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| Beaver Creek Nature Area | Nature area | Minnehaha | 165 | 67 | 43°33′29″N 96°32′30″W / 43.558174°N 96.541611°W | 1967 | Natural prairie, tilled field and a historic 1870s log cabin. | ||
| Big Sioux Recreation Area | Recreation area | Minnehaha | 430 | 170 | 43°34′23″N 96°35′40″W / 43.57305°N 96.594378°W | 1978 | Recreation area along the Big Sioux River hosting some of the largest trees in the state. | ||
| Big Stone Island Nature Area | Nature area | Roberts | 100 | 40 | 45°20′50″N 96°29′17″W / 45.34723°N 96.487953°W | 1976 | Island in Big Stone Lake that was previously a Plains Indian village and later a resort. | ||
| Burke Lake Recreation Area | Recreation area | Gregory | 106 | 43 | 43°10′59″N 99°15′36″W / 43.183192°N 99.260023°W | 1947 | Recreation area surrounding the 25-acre Burke Lake. | ||
| Buryanek Recreation Area | Recreation area | Gregory | 166 | 67 | 43°24′55″N 99°10′23″W / 43.415231°N 99.173167°W | 1983 | Missouri River area where George Shannon of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was lost in 1804. | ||
| Chief White Crane Recreation Area | Recreation area | Yankton | 186 | 75 | 42°51′04″N 97°27′36″W / 42.851249°N 97.460067°W | 2001 | Located on the Missouri River and known for its bald eagle habitat, the site is named for a Plains Indian leader who met the Lewis and Clark Expedition nearby in 1804. | ||
| Cow Creek Recreation Area | Recreation area | Sully | 257 | 104 | 44°33′20″N 100°28′34″W / 44.555685°N 100.47618°W | 2001 | Fishing area and boat launch on the shore of Lake Oahe on the Missouri River. | ||
| Custer State Park | State park | Custer | 71,000 | 29,000 | 43°46′14″N 103°23′47″W / 43.7706°N 103.3964°W | 1919 | South Dakota's first and largest state park. Located in the southern Black Hills and known for the scenic Needles Highway, Sylvan Lake, and as a wildlife habitat with a famous herd of bison. | .jpg) |
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| Farm Island Recreation Area | Recreation area | Hughes | 1,800 | 730 | 44°20′45″N 100°16′48″W / 44.345921°N 100.27995°W | 1946 | A former island (now connected to mainland via causeway) located on the Missouri River. | ||
| Fisher Grove State Park | State park | Spink | 277 | 112 | 44°53′00″N 98°21′24″W / 44.883461°N 98.356702°W | 1946 | The first stagecoach road from Watertown to Pierre crossed the James River at this location. | ||
| Fort Sisseton Historic State Park | State park | Marshall | 125 | 51 | 45°39′34″N 97°31′42″W / 45.659398°N 97.528266°W | 1959 | The remains of historic Fort Sisseton, established in 1864, are preserved within the park. |  |
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| George S. Mickelson Trail | Trail | Lawrence, Pennington, Custer, Fall River | 1998 | A 109-mile long mixed-use trail running from Bear Butte to Edgemont along the historic Burlington Northern rail line through the Black Hills. |  |
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| Good Earth State Park at Blood Run | State park | Lincoln | 650 | 260 | 43°28′32″N 96°35′39″W / 43.475595°N 96.5942°W | 2013 | The largest Oneota cultural site discovered to date in the upper Midwest. | ||
| Hartford Beach State Park | State park | Roberts | 331 | 134 | 45°24′08″N 96°40′23″W / 45.402196°N 96.673074°W | 1945 | American Indian burial mounds and former trading post on Big Stone Lake. | ||
| Indian Creek Recreation Area | Recreation area | Walworth | 187 | 76 | 45°31′20″N 100°23′13″W / 45.522137°N 100.38682°W | 2001 | Camping area and boat launch on the Missouri River. | ||
| LaFramboise Island Nature Area | Nature area | Hughes | 555 | 225 | 44°21′40″N 100°21′45″W / 44.361169°N 100.36242°W | 2002 | Sand bar island in the Missouri River. | ||
| Lake Alvin Recreation Area | Recreation area | Lincoln | 59 | 24 | 1957 | Beach and fishing area surrounding Lake Alvin. | |||
| Lake Cochrane Recreation Area | Recreation area | Deuel | 88 | 36 | 44°42′51″N 96°28′44″W / 44.714191°N 96.478932°W | 1974 | Recreation area nestled between Lake Cochrane and Lake Oliver. | ||
| Lake Herman State Park | State park | Lake | 227 | 92 | 43°59′34″N 97°09′38″W / 43.992878°N 97.160426°W | 1946 | Wildlife habitat and historic Herman Luce settler's cabin on the eastern shore of Lake Herman. | ||
| Lake Hiddenwood Recreation Area | Recreation area | Walworth | 332 | 134 | 45°32′59″N 99°59′06″W / 45.549856°N 99.985001°W | 1947 | One of the earliest artificial lakes in South Dakota, established in 1927. | ||
| Lake Louise Recreation Area | Recreation area | Hand | 320 | 130 | 44°37′14″N 99°08′26″W / 44.620547°N 99.140553°W | 1945 | Area adjacent to the 164-acre Lake Louise. | ||
| Lake Poinsett Recreation Area | Recreation area | Brookings | 196 | 79 | 44°32′03″N 97°05′02″W / 44.534183°N 97.083956°W | 1976 | Camping area and boat launch on the southern shore of Lake Poinsett. | ||
| Lake Thompson Recreation Area | Recreation area | Kingsbury | 416 | 168 | 44°19′24″N 97°26′05″W / 44.323468°N 97.434631°W | 1998 | Located on the northern shore of Lake Thompson, better known as one of the "Twin Lakes" in Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie book series. | ||
| Lake Vermillion Recreation Area | Recreation area | McCook | 267 | 108 | 43°35′41″N 97°11′07″W / 43.594764°N 97.185172°W | 1967 | Fishing, swimming and boating area on the southern end of the 512-acre Lake Vermillion. | ||
| Lewis & Clark Recreation Area | Recreation area | Yankton | 928 | 376 | 42°52′04″N 97°31′17″W / 42.867723°N 97.521526°W | 1966 | Located upriver and adjacent to Gavins Point Dam on the former site of Fort Yankton. | ||
| Little Moreau Recreation Area | Recreation area | Dewey | 160 | 65 | 45°20′57″N 101°05′04″W / 45.349193°N 101.08448°W | 1962 | Grassland and former winter campgrounds of Plains Indian tribes. | ||
| Llewellyn Johns Recreation Area | Recreation area | Perkins | 114 | 46 | 45°46′31″N 102°10′39″W / 45.775402°N 102.17742°W | 1945 | Campground located where explorer Hugh Glass was attacked by a grizzly bear in 1823 and near the passage of George Armstrong Custer's 1874 expedition to the Black Hills. | ||
| Mina Lake Recreation Area | Recreation area | Edmonds | 300 | 120 | 45°26′51″N 98°44′27″W / 45.447464°N 98.74082°W | 1950 | Boating, fishing and swimming area on the shore of the man-made Mina Lake reservoir. | ||
| Newton Hills State Park | State park | Lincoln | 948 | 384 | 43°13′09″N 96°34′13″W / 43.219041°N 96.570193°W | 1949 | Rolling hills and woodland on the southern end of the Coteau des Prairies geological formation. | ||
| North Point Recreation Area | Recreation area | Charles Mix | 1,055 | 427 | 43°04′59″N 98°33′01″W / 43.083064°N 98.550327°W | 2001 | Located on the eastern shore of Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River above Fort Randall Dam. | ||
| North Wheeler Recreation Area | Recreation area | Charles Mix | 43°10′19″N 98°49′32″W / 43.171927°N 98.825552°W | 2001 | Small park and campground with access to Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River. | ||||
| Oahe Downstream Recreation Area | Recreation area | Stanley | 933 | 378 | 44°26′13″N 100°23′59″W / 44.436944°N 100.39978°W | 2002 | Located on the Missouri River just below Oahe Dam. | ||
| Oakwood Lakes State Park | State park | Brookings | 293 | 119 | 44°26′59″N 96°58′55″W / 44.449753°N 96.981982°W | 1945 | A former gathering spot for American Indians, the park is nestled among eight connected lakes and contains a historic 1869 log cabin. | ||
| Okobojo Point Recreation Area | Recreation area | Sully | 135 | 55 | 44°34′33″N 100°29′44″W / 44.57596°N 100.49547°W | 2001 | A sandy peninsula on the shore of Lake Oahe on the Missouri River. | ||
| Palisades State Park | State park | Minnehaha | 434.5 | 175.8 | 43°41′16″N 96°31′02″W / 43.687645°N 96.517166°W | 1972 | Distinctive Sioux quartzite rock formations along Split Rock Creek. |  |
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| Pease Creek Recreation Area | Recreation area | Charles Mix | 600 | 240 | 43°08′25″N 98°43′55″W / 43.140208°N 98.731855°W | 2001 | River access at the confluence of Pease Creek and the Missouri River. | ||
| Pelican Lake Recreation Area | Recreation area | Codington | 152 | 62 | 44°51′08″N 97°12′30″W / 44.852222°N 97.208448°W | 1978 | Camping, boating and other activities on the southern shore of Pelican Lake. | ||
| Pickerel Lake Recreation Area | Recreation area | Day | 368 | 149 | 45°29′08″N 97°14′53″W / 45.485552°N 97.248138°W | 1949 | Comprising east and west sections on the 955-acre Pickerel Lake. | ||
| Pierson Ranch Recreation Area | Recreation area | Yankton | 60 | 24 | 42°52′25″N 97°28′56″W / 42.873642°N 97.482167°W | 2001 | Primarily a campground located between Lewis & Clark Recreation Area and Chief White Crane Recreation Area on Gavins Point Dam. | ||
| Platte Creek Recreation Area | Recreation area | Charles Mix | 252 | 102 | 43°17′55″N 98°59′52″W / 43.298531°N 98.997651°W | 1983 | Fishing and river access at the junction of Platte Creek and Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River. | ||
| Randall Creek Recreation Area | Recreation area | Gregory | 184 | 74 | 43°03′04″N 98°33′19″W / 43.051021°N 98.555139°W | 2002 | Just downstream from Fort Randall Dam on the Missouri River and noted as a habitat for bald eagles. | ||
| Revheim Bay Recreation Area | Recreation area | Walworth | 296 | 120 | 45°31′22″N 100°24′27″W / 45.522778°N 100.4074°W | 2001 | Day-use park on the Missouri River near Mobridge. | ||
| Richmond Lake Recreation Area | Recreation area | Brown | 349 | 141 | 45°32′24″N 98°36′40″W / 45.539902°N 98.611093°W | 1947 | Recreation area on Richmond Lake with separate units for camping, wildlife viewing and boat access. | ||
| Rocky Point Recreation Area | Recreation area | Butte | 350 | 140 | 44°42′33″N 103°42′45″W / 44.709229°N 103.71253°W | 2005 | Located on the 8,000-acre Belle Fourche Reservoir. | ||
| Roy Lake State Park | State park | Marshall | 560 | 230 | 45°42′35″N 97°26′56″W / 45.709686°N 97.448803°W | 1946 | Fishing, beaches and campgrounds on Roy Lake in the glacial lakes area of South Dakota. | ||
| Sandy Shore Recreation Area | Recreation area | Codington | 19 | 7.7 | 44°53′38″N 97°14′27″W / 44.893844°N 97.240953°W | 1969 | Beach area on the banks of Lake Kampeska. | ||
| Shadehill Recreation Area | Recreation area | Perkins | 2,150 | 870 | 45°45′40″N 102°13′07″W / 45.761144°N 102.21849°W | 1952 | Extensive shoreline of Shadehill Reservoir, one of the larger lakes in western South Dakota. | ||
| Sheps Canyon Recreation Area | Recreation area | Fall River | 6,565 | 2,657 | Campground, water access and horse riding trails on the western side of Angostura Reservoir. | ||||
| Sica Hollow State Park | State park | Marshall, Roberts | 900 | 360 | 45°44′32″N 97°14′34″W / 45.7421°N 97.242668°W | 1968 | A significant historical site for the Sioux Indians, the park's name comes from the word for evil or bad in Dakota, referring to the red-tinted bogs in the area. | ||
| Snake Creek Recreation Area | Recreation area | Charles Mix | 695 | 281 | 43°23′24″N 99°07′10″W / 43.389979°N 99.119491°W | 1983 | Access and activities on Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River. | ||
| Spearfish Canyon Nature Area | Nature area | Lawrence | 127 | 51 | 44°21′00″N 103°56′40″W / 44.349956°N 103.94432°W | 2008 | Popular waterfall viewing area in Spearfish Canyon. |  |
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| Spirit Mound Historic Prairie | Nature area | Clay | 320 | 130 | 42°52′03″N 96°57′16″W / 42.867608°N 96.954431°W | 2001 | A prominent hill on the prairie, Spirit Mound is the site of Plains Indian legends and was visited by members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. |  |
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| Spring Creek Recreation Area | Recreation area | Hughes | 149 | 60 | 44°32′46″N 100°29′10″W / 44.546055°N 100.486216°W | 2001 | A day-use park at the junction of Spring Creek and Lake Oahe on the Missouri River. | ||
| Springfield Recreation Area | Recreation area | Bon Homme | 24 | 9.7 | 42°51′21″N 97°53′05″W / 42.855881°N 97.884586°W | 1957 | Access to Lake Oahe on the Missouri River. | ||
| Swan Creek Recreation Area | Recreation area | Walworth | 106 | 43 | 45°19′09″N 100°18′00″W / 45.319177°N 100.3°W | 1983 | Bluffs and water access on the eastern shore of Lake Oahe on the Missouri River. | ||
| Union Grove State Park | State park | Union | 282 | 114 | 42°55′13″N 96°47′07″W / 42.920242°N 96.785321°W | 1947 | Prairie woodland along Brule Creek with rich birdwatching and fall foliage. | ||
| Walkers Point Recreation Area | Recreation area | Lake | 41 | 17 | 43°57′25″N 97°01′43″W / 43.956806°N 97.028614°W | 1990 | Camping and access to the 2,800-acre Lake Madison. | ||
| West Bend Recreation Area | Recreation area | Hughes | 154 | 62 | 44°10′15″N 99°43′16″W / 44.170744°N 99.721021°W | 1984 | Recreation area with marina on Lake Sharpe of the Missouri River. | ||
| West Pollock Recreation Area | Recreation area | Campbell | 243 | 98 | 45°53′04″N 100°20′08″W / 45.884314°N 100.33565°W | 2001 | Water access and hunting area on Lake Oahe of the Missouri River. | ||
| West Whitlock Recreation Area | Recreation area | Potter | 260 | 110 | 45°02′53″N 100°15′58″W / 45.048094°N 100.26607°W | 1983 | Missouri River access and historic campsite for Arikara and Mandan Plains Indians. | ||
Proposed expansion
The state is currently exploring establishing a new state park in Spearfish Canyon. The proposed Spearfish Canyon State Park would encompass 1,600-acres including Spearfish Falls, Roughlock Falls, and portions of Little Spearfish Canyon. The land is currently owned by the state of South Dakota and the federal government.
See also
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List of South Dakota state parks Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.