List of South Dakota state parks

The U.S. state of South Dakota operates 13 state parks, 43 recreation areas, four nature areas, two historic sites and one trail, totaling approximately 96,000 acres. These sites are administered by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks.

South Dakota State Parks (Hover mouse over pog to popup clickable link)

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.[1]

List of state parks and recreation areas
Name Classification County or counties Size[2] Coordinates[3] Year established[4] Remarks Image
acres ha
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve Union 1,600 650 42.53905°N 96.528179°W / 42.53905; -96.528179 1997 Homestead and nature preserve on the Missouri River,[5] this area contains one of the largest stands of cottonwood trees in the state.[4]
Angostura Recreation Area Recreation area Fall River 1,125 455 43.345873°N 103.42202°W / 43.345873; -103.42202 1954 Shoreline and beaches on the eastern edge of Angostura Reservoir.[6]
Bear Butte State Park State park Meade 1,935 783 44.45989°N 103.45085°W / 44.45989; -103.45085 1961 Geological laccolith, traditional landmark and sacred religious site for the Lakota Indians.[7]
Beaver Creek Nature Area Nature area Minnehaha 165 67 43.558174°N 96.541611°W / 43.558174; -96.541611 1967 Natural prairie, tilled field and a historic 1870s log cabin.[8][9]
Big Sioux Recreation Area Recreation area Minnehaha 430 170 43.57305°N 96.594378°W / 43.57305; -96.594378 1978 Recreation area along the Big Sioux River[10] hosting some of the largest trees in the state.[4]
Big Stone Island Nature Area Nature area Roberts 100 40 45.34723°N 96.487953°W / 45.34723; -96.487953 1976 Island in Big Stone Lake that was previously a Plains Indian village and later a resort.[11]
Burke Lake Recreation Area Recreation area Gregory 106 43 43.183192°N 99.260023°W / 43.183192; -99.260023 1947 Recreation area surrounding the 25-acre Burke Lake.
Buryanek Recreation Area Recreation area Gregory 166 67 43.415231°N 99.173167°W / 43.415231; -99.173167 1983 Missouri River area where George Shannon of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was lost in 1804.[12]
Chief White Crane Recreation Area Recreation area Yankton 186 75 42.851249°N 97.460067°W / 42.851249; -97.460067 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.[13]
Cow Creek Recreation Area Recreation area Sully 257 104 44.555685°N 100.47618°W / 44.555685; -100.47618 2001 Fishing area and boat launch on the shore of Lake Oahe on the Missouri River.[14]
Custer State Park State park Custer 71,000 29,000 43.7706°N 103.3964°W / 43.7706; -103.3964 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.[15]
Farm Island Recreation Area Recreation area Hughes 1,800 730 44.345921°N 100.27995°W / 44.345921; -100.27995 1946 A former island (now connected to mainland via causeway) located on the Missouri River.[16]
Fisher Grove State Park State park Spink 277 112 44.883461°N 98.356702°W / 44.883461; -98.356702 1946 The first stagecoach road from Watertown to Pierre crossed the James River at this location.[17]
Fort Sisseton Historic State Park State park Marshall 125 51 45.659398°N 97.528266°W / 45.659398; -97.528266 1959 The remains of historic Fort Sisseton, established in 1864, are preserved within the park.[18]
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.[19]
Good Earth State Park at Blood Run State park Lincoln 650 260 43.475595°N 96.5942°W / 43.475595; -96.5942 2013[20] The largest Oneota cultural site discovered to date in the upper Midwest.[21]
Hartford Beach State Park State park Roberts 331 134 45.402196°N 96.673074°W / 45.402196; -96.673074 1945 American Indian burial mounds and former trading post on Big Stone Lake.[22][23]
Indian Creek Recreation Area Recreation area Walworth 187 76 45.522137°N 100.38682°W / 45.522137; -100.38682 2001 Camping area and boat launch on the Missouri River.[24]
LaFramboise Island Nature Area Nature area Hughes 555 225 44.361169°N 100.36242°W / 44.361169; -100.36242 2002 Sand bar island in the Missouri River.[25]
Lake Alvin Recreation Area Recreation area Lincoln 59 24 1957 Beach and fishing area surrounding Lake Alvin.[26]
Lake Cochrane Recreation Area Recreation area Deuel 88 36 44.714191°N 96.478932°W / 44.714191; -96.478932 1974 Recreation area nestled between Lake Cochrane and Lake Oliver.[27]
Lake Herman State Park State park Lake 227 92 43.992878°N 97.160426°W / 43.992878; -97.160426 1946 Wildlife habitat and historic Herman Luce settler's cabin on the eastern shore of Lake Herman.[28]
Lake Hiddenwood Recreation Area Recreation area Walworth 332 134 45.549856°N 99.985001°W / 45.549856; -99.985001 1947 One of the earliest artificial lakes in South Dakota, established in 1927.[29]
Lake Louise Recreation Area Recreation area Hand 320 130 44.620547°N 99.140553°W / 44.620547; -99.140553 1945 Area adjacent to the 164-acre Lake Louise.[30]
Lake Poinsett Recreation Area Recreation area Brookings 196 79 44.534183°N 97.083956°W / 44.534183; -97.083956 1976 Camping area and boat launch on the southern shore of Lake Poinsett.[31]
Lake Thompson Recreation Area Recreation area Kingsbury 416 168 44.323468°N 97.434631°W / 44.323468; -97.434631 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 43.594764°N 97.185172°W / 43.594764; -97.185172 1967 Fishing, swimming and boating area on the southern end of the 512-acre Lake Vermillion.[32]
Lewis & Clark Recreation Area Recreation area Yankton 928 376 42.867723°N 97.521526°W / 42.867723; -97.521526 1966 Located upriver and adjacent to Gavins Point Dam on the former site of Fort Yankton.[33]
Little Moreau Recreation Area Recreation area Dewey 160 65 45.349193°N 101.08448°W / 45.349193; -101.08448 1962 Grassland and former winter campgrounds of Plains Indian tribes.[34]
Llewellyn Johns Recreation Area Recreation area Perkins 114 46 45.775402°N 102.17742°W / 45.775402; -102.17742 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.[35]
Mina Lake Recreation Area Recreation area Edmonds 300 120 45.447464°N 98.74082°W / 45.447464; -98.74082 1950 Boating, fishing and swimming area on the shore of the man-made Mina Lake reservoir.[36]
Newton Hills State Park State park Lincoln 948 384 43.219041°N 96.570193°W / 43.219041; -96.570193 1949 Rolling hills and woodland on the southern end of the Coteau des Prairies geological formation.[37]
North Point Recreation Area Recreation area Charles Mix 1,055 427 43.083064°N 98.550327°W / 43.083064; -98.550327 2001 Located on the eastern shore of Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River above Fort Randall Dam.[38]
North Wheeler Recreation Area Recreation area Charles Mix 43.171927°N 98.825552°W / 43.171927; -98.825552 2001 Small park and campground with access to Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River.[39]
Oahe Downstream Recreation Area Recreation area Stanley 933 378 44.436944°N 100.39978°W / 44.436944; -100.39978 2002 Located on the Missouri River just below Oahe Dam.[40]
Oakwood Lakes State Park State park Brookings 293 119 44.449753°N 96.981982°W / 44.449753; -96.981982 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 44.57596°N 100.49547°W / 44.57596; -100.49547 2001 A sandy peninsula on the shore of Lake Oahe on the Missouri River.[41]
Palisades State Park State park Minnehaha 434.5 175.8 43.687645°N 96.517166°W / 43.687645; -96.517166 1972 Distinctive Sioux quartzite rock formations along Split Rock Creek.[42]
Pease Creek Recreation Area Recreation area Charles Mix 600 240 43.140208°N 98.731855°W / 43.140208; -98.731855 2001 River access at the confluence of Pease Creek and the Missouri River.[43]
Pelican Lake Recreation Area Recreation area Codington 152 62 44.852222°N 97.208448°W / 44.852222; -97.208448 1978 Camping, boating and other activities on the southern shore of Pelican Lake.[44]
Pickerel Lake Recreation Area Recreation area Day 368 149 45.485552°N 97.248138°W / 45.485552; -97.248138 1949 Comprising east and west sections on the 955-acre Pickerel Lake.[45]
Pierson Ranch Recreation Area Recreation area Yankton 60 24 42.873642°N 97.482167°W / 42.873642; -97.482167 2001 Primarily a campground located between Lewis & Clark Recreation Area and Chief White Crane Recreation Area on Gavins Point Dam.[46]
Platte Creek Recreation Area Recreation area Charles Mix 252 102 43.298531°N 98.997651°W / 43.298531; -98.997651 1983 Fishing and river access at the junction of Platte Creek and Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River.[47]
Randall Creek Recreation Area Recreation area Gregory 184 74 43.051021°N 98.555139°W / 43.051021; -98.555139 2002 Just downstream from Fort Randall Dam on the Missouri River and noted as a habitat for bald eagles.[48]
Revheim Bay Recreation Area Recreation area Walworth 296 120 45.522778°N 100.4074°W / 45.522778; -100.4074 2001 Day-use park on the Missouri River near Mobridge.[49]
Richmond Lake Recreation Area Recreation area Brown 349 141 45.539902°N 98.611093°W / 45.539902; -98.611093 1947 Recreation area on Richmond Lake with separate units for camping, wildlife viewing and boat access.[50]
Rocky Point Recreation Area Recreation area Butte 350 140 44.709229°N 103.71253°W / 44.709229; -103.71253 2005 Located on the 8,000-acre Belle Fourche Reservoir.[51]
Roughlock Falls Nature Area Nature area Lawrence 44.349956°N 103.94432°W / 44.349956; -103.94432 2008 Popular waterfall viewing area in Spearfish Canyon.[52]
Roy Lake State Park State park Marshall 560 230 45.709686°N 97.448803°W / 45.709686; -97.448803 1946 Fishing, beaches and campgrounds on Roy Lake in the glacial lakes area of South Dakota.[53]
Sandy Shore Recreation Area Recreation area Codington 19 7.7 44.893844°N 97.240953°W / 44.893844; -97.240953 1969 Beach area on the banks of Lake Kampeska.[54]
Shadehill Recreation Area Recreation area Perkins 2,150 870 45.761144°N 102.21849°W / 45.761144; -102.21849 1952 Extensive shoreline of Shadehill Reservoir, one of the larger lakes in western South Dakota.[55]
Sheps Canyon Recreation Area Recreation area Fall River Campground, water access and horse riding trails on the western side of Angostura Reservoir.[56]
Sica Hollow State Park State park Marshall, Roberts 900 360 45.7421°N 97.242668°W / 45.7421; -97.242668 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.[57]
Snake Creek Recreation Area Recreation area Charles Mix 695 281 43.389979°N 99.119491°W / 43.389979; -99.119491 1983 Access and activities on Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River.[58]
Spirit Mound Historic Prairie Clay 320 130 42.867608°N 96.954431°W / 42.867608; -96.954431 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.[59]
Spring Creek Recreation Area Recreation area Hughes 149 60 44.546055°N 100.486216°W / 44.546055; -100.486216 2001 A day-use park at the junction of Spring Creek and Lake Oahe on the Missouri River.[60]
Springfield Recreation Area Recreation area Bon Homme 24 9.7 42.855881°N 97.884586°W / 42.855881; -97.884586 1957 Access to Lake Oahe on the Missouri River.[61]
Swan Creek Recreation Area Recreation area Walworth 106 43 45.319177°N 100.3°W / 45.319177; -100.3 1983 Bluffs and water access on the eastern shore of Lake Oahe on the Missouri River.[62]
Union Grove State Park State park Union 282 114 42.920242°N 96.785321°W / 42.920242; -96.785321 1947 Prairie woodland along Brule Creek with rich birdwatching and fall foliage.[63]
Walkers Point Recreation Area Recreation area Lake 41 17 43.956806°N 97.028614°W / 43.956806; -97.028614 1990 Camping and access to the 2,800-acre Lake Madison.[64]
West Bend Recreation Area Recreation area Hughes 154 62 44.170744°N 99.721021°W / 44.170744; -99.721021 1984 Recreation area with marina on Lake Sharpe of the Missouri River.[65]
West Pollock Recreation Area Recreation area Campbell 243 98 45.884314°N 100.33565°W / 45.884314; -100.33565 2001 Water access and hunting area on Lake Oahe of the Missouri River.[66]
West Whitlock Recreation Area Recreation area Potter 260 110 45.048094°N 100.26607°W / 45.048094; -100.26607 1983 Missouri River access and historic campsite for Arikara and Mandan Plains Indians.[67]

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.[68][69]

See also
  • List of U.S. national parks

References
  1. "South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks 2016 Annual Report" (PDF). South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  2. "South Dakota". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  3. "SD GFP | State Parks". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  4. Fitness Passport Challenge. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.
  5. "Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve". Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  6. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Angostura". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  7. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Bear Butte". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  8. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Beaver Creek". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  9. "Beaver Creek Nature Area Trail System" (PDF). South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.
  10. "Big Sioux Recreation Area". Big Sioux Recreation Area. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  11. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Big Stone Island". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  12. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Buryanek". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  13. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Chief White Crane". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  14. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Cow Creek". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  15. "Custer State Park". Custer State Park. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  16. "Farm Island Recreation Area". Farm Island Recreation Area. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  17. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Fisher Grove". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  18. "Fort Sisseton Historic State Park". Fort Sisseton Historic State Park. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  19. "George S. Mickelson Trail". George S. Mickelson Trail. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  20. "EARS TO THE GROUND". Landscape Architecture Magazine. 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  21. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Good Earth". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  22. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Hartford Beach". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  23. "Hartford Beach State Park Trail System" (PDF). South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.
  24. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Indian Creek". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  25. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | LaFramboise Island". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  26. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Lake Alvin". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  27. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Lake Cochrane". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  28. "Lake Herman State Park and Walker's Point Recreation Area". Lake Herman State Park and Walker's Point Recreation Area. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  29. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Lake Hiddenwood". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  30. "Lake Louise Recreation Area". Lake Louise Recreation Area. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  31. "Lake Poinsett Recreation Area". Lake Poinsett Recreation Area. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  32. "Lake Vermillion Recreation Area". Lake Vermillion Recreation Area. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  33. "Lewis & Clark Recreation Area". Lewis & Clark Recreation Area. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  34. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Little Moreau". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  35. "Llewellyn Johns Recreation Area". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  36. "Richmond Lake and Mina Lake Recreation Areas". Richmond Lake and Mina Lake Recreation Areas. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  37. "Newton Hills State Park". Newton Hills State Park. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  38. "North Point and Randall Creek Recreation Areas". North Point and Randall Creek Recreation Areas. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  39. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | North Wheeler". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  40. "Oahe Downstream Recreation Area". Oahe Downstream Recreation Area. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  41. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Okobojo Point". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  42. "Palisades State Park". Palisades State Park. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  43. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Pease Creek". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  44. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Pelican Lake". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
  45. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Pickerel Lake". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  46. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Pierson Ranch". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  47. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Platte Creek". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  48. "North Point and Randall Creek Recreation Areas". North Point and Randall Creek Recreation Areas. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  49. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Revheim Bay". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  50. "Richmond Lake and Mina Lake Recreation Areas". Richmond Lake and Mina Lake Recreation Areas. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  51. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Rocky Point". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  52. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Roughlock Falls". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  53. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Roy Lake". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  54. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Sandy Shore". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  55. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Shadehill". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  56. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Sheps Canyon". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  57. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Sica Hollow". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  58. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Snake Creek". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  59. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Spirit Mound". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  60. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Spring Creek". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  61. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Springfield". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  62. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Swan Creek". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  63. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Union Grove". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  64. "Lake Herman State Park and Walker's Point Recreation Area". Lake Herman State Park and Walker's Point Recreation Area. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  65. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | West Bend". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  66. "SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | West Pollock". gfp.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  67. "West Whitlock Recreation Area". West Whitlock Recreation Area. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  68. correspondent, Bob Mercer Journal. "State takes big step toward creating Spearfish Canyon park". Rapid City Journal Media Group. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  69. "Spearfish Canyon State Park and Bismarck Lake". spearfishcanyon.sd.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
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