Lewis and Clark State Park

This is the homeland of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara, the MHA Nation, whose reservation lies along Lake Sakakawea to the south and east. For centuries their villages and hunting grounds spread along the Missouri, and the lake that now fills this valley bears the name of Sakakawea, the young Shoshone woman who lived among the Hidatsa and traveled with Lewis and Clark.

When the Lewis and Clark expedition came up the Missouri in the spring of 1805, this rugged badlands country was among the sights that filled their journals. The river they knew ran free through the valley then; the wide reservoir came much later, when the Garrison Dam was built downstream in the mid-twentieth century and the rising water reshaped the whole landscape.

The signature of this park is the collision of two worlds. Behind the shoreline rise the eroded buttes and coulees of the badlands, banded in tan, gray, and rust, dry and rugged and full of shadow. In front of them stretches the broad, deep blue of Lake Sakakawea, one of the largest reservoirs in the United States.

That contrast makes for some of the most striking scenery on the northern plains, especially in the low light of morning and evening when the buttes glow and the water goes still. It is a landscape that rewards a slow drive, a walk to a high point, or simply a seat by the shore at sunset.

Lake Sakakawea is a boater's and angler's water, big enough for sailing and prized for its walleye, northern pike, and salmon. The park's marina and boat access make it a launching point for exploring the vast reservoir, and campers settle in along the bay for long summer weekends on the water.

The park also protects a rare pocket of native mixed-grass prairie, the kind of grassland that once covered this whole region before the plow. Nature trails wind through the buttes and the prairie, and interpretive signs explain the grasses, wildflowers, and wildlife that make their home in this tough, beautiful country.

The mix of prairie, badlands, and water draws a good range of life. Deer and pronghorn move through the buttes, sharp-tailed grouse and songbirds live in the grass, and the lake and shore host pelicans, gulls, and migrating waterfowl. Hawks and eagles patrol the open sky.

Summer is the height of the boating and camping season, with long warm days and busy weekends. Spring greens the prairie and brings the wildflowers and nesting birds. Fall is quiet and often clear, with cool air and thin crowds, and the badlands hold their color late into the season. Winter is cold and still, the lake frozen and the buttes dusted with snow.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Lewis and Clark State Park, in northwestern North Dakota on the shore of Lake Sakakawea, is a scenic park of prairie, badlands buttes, and a large lake, offering water recreation, camping, and beautiful views along the historic Missouri River country. Set on a bay of the vast Lake Sakakawea, the reservoir formed on the Missouri River, the park offers boating, fishing, swimming, camping, hiking amid native prairie and rugged buttes, and lovely lake and badlands scenery, in country that recalls the journey of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Its lake recreation and scenic beauty make it a beloved destination. A scenic and recreational lake park, it delights visitors. With its lake and prairie, Lewis and Clark State Park offers a rewarding destination in North Dakota.

You can boat, fish, and swim on Lake Sakakawea, camp, hike the trails through native prairie and rugged buttes, watch for wildlife, and enjoy the lake and badlands scenery. The lake recreation, the prairie and butte trails, the camping, and the scenic views are the draws, making it a versatile destination for water and outdoor lovers. The big lake and the prairie scenery are highlights. With its recreation and scenery, Lewis and Clark State Park offers a rewarding experience in North Dakota.

Lewis and Clark State Park sits on the large Lake Sakakawea, so on the water wearing a life jacket, watching the weather and wind, which can build quickly on the big reservoir, and boating safely matter, while on land bringing water and sun protection for the exposed prairie and buttes helps. Booking campsites ahead in the busy season is wise, and checking current conditions before you go helps. Following water safety and coming prepared ensure a safe, enjoyable visit to Lewis and Clark State Park in North Dakota.

The warm months of late spring through early fall are the prime time for boating, swimming, fishing, and camping, when the weather is warm and the lake inviting, while spring and fall are pleasant for hiking the prairie and buttes in milder temperatures. Because the season and some services are seasonal, checking current information before you go is wise. For water recreation and pleasant weather, aim for late spring through early fall at Lewis and Clark State Park in North Dakota.

Lewis and Clark State Park is in northwestern North Dakota on Lake Sakakawea, within reach of the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence and Fort Union to the west, Writing Rock to the north, and the routes across northwestern North Dakota. That makes Lewis and Clark State Park a rewarding stop to combine with the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence and the other attractions of northwestern North Dakota on a visit to the state.