Lake Sakawea

About Lake Sakawea

The Garrison Dam is located northwest of Williston, North Dakota, and covers an area of about 382,000 acres. At its widest point, Lake Sakakawea is the largest freshwater lake in the United States and the second largest in North America. The gently rolling prairie, lakes, waterfalls, rivers and lake parks offer visitors a variety of activities.

Leisure activities include kayaking, canoeing, hiking, fishing, camping, swimming and other outdoor activities. Lake Sakakawea was created by the capture of Missouri in the late 18th century as a result of a battle between the US Army and the Indians.

The construction of the Garrison Dam was approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the North Dakota Department of Natural Resources. When completed in 1954, its foot dam was 2,050 feet wide and tapered to 60 feet, making it the largest dam in the United States at the time.

In addition to hydropower, the Garrison Dam offers the public a range of benefits, including access to the power plant and its facilities, as well as a variety of leisure activities. Visitors can take guided tours of the power plant, where they can also see exhibits showing the construction and operation of the Garrison Dam.

Lake Sakakawea, rooted in early American history, is named after a Shoshoni woman who was invaluable to the Lewis and Clark expedition. Many of Lewis & Clark's original campsites are now underwater at the Missouri Dam, and many of their original campsites are still standing on the water.

Originally developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers and named Garrison Lake State Park, North Dakota Parks and Recreation took over the administration and renamed the park to honor the famous leaders of Lewis & Clark. Lake Sakakawea State Park offers a full service marina and a day of visitor recognition, where admission is free. In summer there is a variety of activities such as hiking in the countryside, canoeing, kayaking, boating and fishing. Located south of the Missouri Dam and north of Fort Garrison, it is on the western edge of South Dakota's largest state park system.

The 1,293-acre park is a great place for nature watchers and is bordered by the Missouri River, Sakakawea Lake and the Black Hills of South Dakota and the Columbia River.

Visitors can see a variety of rare bird species, including white-footed sparrows, black-nosed hawks, bald eagles, red-eared owls and many others. Besides birds, ringed pheasants and raccoons are also seen, as well as many other birds of prey such as coyotes, foxes, lynxes and coyotes.

A checklist of birds and plants is available on the Lake Sakakawea State Park website, and more information about the birds and plants in the park can be found here. Also nearby is Fort Stevenson State Park, located on the north shore of Lake YakakaWea. Fort Stevenson State Park is located at the south end of the lake, south of Fort Sakaksa, and takes its name from an old military fort located in a remote area of North Dakota, about 30 miles north of Fargo.

Although the original site is now underwater, a replica of the fort's guard house was built in the park to showcase the history of North Dakota's military history and its history as a tourist attraction. Fort Stevenson State Park is known as the "Capital of North Dakota," and hosts a number of events, including an annual state fair and the annual Dakota State Fair, and hosts a variety of wildlife.

Lake Sakakawea has over 35 recreational areas, including a marina, beach and a number of picnic areas, as well as a variety of hiking and cycling trails. Visitors can also enjoy camping and sleeping in the park, with marinas and beach concessions open to the public, although they are closed in the summer months due to construction work for the Dakota State Fair and the annual national fair.

Lake Sakakawea offers a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming and fishing. Visitors can also enjoy a relaxing time on the beach and enjoy the beauty of the expanse of SakakaWea Lake as well as a number of picnic spots.