Lake Sakakawea

Lake Sakakawea is a large reservoir on the Missouri River in central North Dakota, United States, created by the Garrison Dam. The dam was completed in 1953 and the reservoir is the largest in the state.

Boating, fishing and shoreline recreation are the primary activities, with multiple marinas, public boat ramps and state park facilities. Anglers target species such as walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass, and the lake supports extensive recreational fishing and boating use.

The lake was formed when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed Garrison Dam in 1953 as part of flood control, hydropower and irrigation projects on the Missouri River. Creation of the reservoir flooded large areas and reshaped local land use and settlement patterns, including impacts on the Fort Berthold Reservation.

The reservoir lies in central North Dakota, extending across several counties; the town of Garrison sits near the dam. Much of the shoreline fronts rural and reservation land in a broadly rolling prairie and badlands landscape.

• Fishing and boating: Fishing for walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass is a major draw, with multiple marinas and public boat ramps around the lake.
• Creation and scale: The reservoir was created by the Garrison Dam, completed in 1953, and is the largest reservoir in North Dakota.

What to See #

• Garrison Dam: The Garrison Dam sits at the eastern end of the reservoir and is the structure that created the lake; it is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and includes boat access and recreation facilities.
• Recreation areas: Fort Stevenson State Park and several public boat ramps provide launch points and day-use facilities on the lake's shoreline.