Lake Sakakawea State Park is positioned around Lake Sakakawea just one mile north of Pick City North Dakota. This scenic park has a number of great amenities, is located near several worthwhile points of interest, and has notable historic significance. If you are in the area, this park is definitely worth checking out.
There are both cabins and campsites available at Lake Sakakawea State park, making it a good jumping off point for some of the nearby attractions, which include the Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, and available fish hatchery and coal plant tours. The cabins are simple but clean, sleeping 5 in bunkbeds and with a deck and grill outside so you can enjoy the view. These cabins do not come equipped with a kitchen or bathroom, but there is a campsite bathroom nearby. Campsites are available both with electrical hook up and primitive style.
There are several amenities and summer-time activities as well. The lake is great for waterskiing, boating, fishing, and scuba diving, and boat rentals are available from the park itself. There is a playground for the kids and leashed pets are welcome. There are also numerous hiking trails for the explorer, and a volleyball court and baseball diamond for group games. Those who wish to host an event at the park are welcome to rent out a larger space by the picnic facilities and standard picnic tables are available to all.
The park enjoys a rich history along with its scenic landscape. The park and the lake itself are named after Sakakawea, also known as Sacajawea, the young Shoshone woman who served as a guide to the Lewis and Clark expedition. The expedition itself passed through the park, camping there in April of 1805 and again on the return journey in August of 1806. The exact location of their campsites is now under water due to the shifting of the river, but you can still learn about their journey and be close to this little piece of American history. The lake itself is one of the three largest man-made lakes in the world, created by the Army Corp of Engineers in 1947 along with the Garrison Dam.
Lake Sakakawea State Park amphitheater is home to a number of great events for children during the summer, as well as a few special hikes for all ages. The night hike is a guided tour which allows visitors to learn a bit more about the park’s nocturnal residents. There is a viewing on nights with meteor showers at the amphitheater, including information about the constellations and games and crafts for the kids. There activities for the kids every weekend with educational games, arts and crafts, nature hikes, and stories around the campfire. The topics include going green, learning about soil, minerals, and gems, weather, natural disasters, and wind power, types of birds in the park, orienteering, fishing, biodiversity, pioneer living, the truth behind spooky animals like bats and spiders, and the history of the park. If your little ones get easily bored with camping, there will be plenty for them to do.
The park also hosts a few holiday events during the summer. The Father’s Day event includes free coffee, juice, and donuts for those celebrating with their dads and a lesson about animal parents for the kids. Fourth of July weekend includes patriotic arts and crafts, a hike to find red, white, and blue flowers in the park, the history of the United States flag, and a park-wide treasure hunt. There are a few family events for Labor Day weekend as well, including a scavenger hunt and a nature bingo event.
There are numerous activities and opportunities for those visiting Lake Sakakawea State Park. Whether you enjoy boating and water sports, history, hiking, or just enjoy being in nature with your family, the park has amenities to make your stay a pleasant and memorable one. The activities for the kids are top notch, giving your little ones a chance to have fun and learn more about nature and history while you have a bit of adult time to yourself. If you enjoy camping, this park is definitely worth a look.