beautiful lakes, spectacular trails South Dakota Missouri River Lakes Lake Oahe This vast expanse of water 231 miles long is the largest reservoir in South Dakota, and the fourth largest man-made reservoir in the nation. With a shorelined of 2,250 miles, its beach acreage surpasses California’s coastline. Stretching from North Dakota to South Dakota’s capitol city of Pierre, its waters are pristinely clear on windless days. The reservoir is created by rolled-earth Oahe Dam , just north of Pierre and Fort Pierre (a great place to stop for stunning sunsets). Like the other reservoirs, Oahe is known for its great fishing. 2023 saw two walleye state records broken within a month of each other, the largest weighing in at 17.87 lbs caught near the Akaska area. While walleye are found in all the reservoirs, Lake Oahe is the place to fish for the big ones because of its unique ecology. Big towns along this reservoir: Pollock, Mobridge, Akaska. Lake Sharpe Starting in Pierre and Fort Pierre, this reservoir lake runs through the heart of Lower Brule Reservation and Crow Creek Reservation. A point of interest for Lake Sharpe is the scenic Big Bend river horseshoe , a 25-mile section of river that almost makes a loop. Big Bend Dam , the hydroelectric dam that creates the reservoir lake, is named after this natural formation. The lake covers over 56,000 acres and offers 200 miles of scenic shoreline. You can experience the raw beauty of this landscape by driving through it on the Native American Scenic Byway . The 101-mile route takes you to the edge of river bluffs down to the river valley bottom and up onto the high plains where you may catch a glimpse of a tribal buffalo herd. The lake was named after Merrill Q. Sharpe, the 17th Governor of South Dakota. Big towns along this reservoir: Pierre, Fort Piere, Lower Brule, Fort Thompson. 190 // #SDMissouriRiver
South Dakota Vacation Guide 2024 South Dakota Vacation Guide: Page 190
