Lake Sakakawea State Park
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Hiking TrailCampingBoatingFishingFamilyOutdoorLakeCoast
Overview
Lake Sakakawea State Park is a public recreation area occupying 739 acres (299 ha) on the southern shore of Lake Sakakawea in Mercer County, North Dakota, United States. The state park is located adjacent to the Garrison Dam, one mile (1.6 km) north of Pick City.
Practical Info
Every day7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Suggested Duration0.5-1 day
Best TimeMid-to-late October or clear summer mornings between 6:00 AM and 8:30 AM offer the finest natural rewards. Early morning mist frequently blankets the secluded bays of the park, producing a perfect mirror reflection along the rocky breakwater paths. It is a stunning window for quiet trail hiking and lakeside photography.
Getting TherePositioned cleanly on the eastern edge of Pick City, adjacent to the western end of the Garrison Dam. Drive north from Bismarck via the US-83 N highway for 50 miles, turn left onto ND-200 W heading west, and make a clean right turn onto ND-440 N straight into the park gates. Deep, free public surface lots are open.
Travel Tips
- Vehicle entry requires purchasing a $7 daily parks permit at the kiosk; federal America the Beautiful passes provide no entry privileges, and rangers inspect parking permits at boat ramps.
- The park's twin modern boat launches queue up extensively by 5 AM on summer weekends; vessels must splash efficiently and are strictly barred from tying up or staging directly on the active ramps.
- The cliff-lining segment of the North Country Trail offers no lightning cover and sits on fragile, eroding limestone; immediate retreat is required during thunder, and cliff-edge selfies are banned.
Reviews
Positive
- The campgrounds inside the park are excellently planned, equipped with clean, modern restrooms with hot showers and full RV hookups, offering top-tier facilities.
- The park's marina is very well-managed, providing convenient boat slip rentals and a small convenience store, greatly serving boat-owning visitors.
- The hiking trails built along the lakeside cliffs have clear directional signs, and multilingual map brochures are readily available, offering safe views of the steep shoreline.
- Park rangers patrol frequently, maintaining strict order and addressing overly noisy campers to guarantee a serene, authentic nature experience.
Heads up
- Entering the park requires purchasing a separate state park daily vehicle pass, which doesn't feel cost-effective if you only plan to take a half-hour walk.
- During the peak midsummer travel season, prime campsites are incredibly tight, usually requiring booking months in advance on the website, failing spontaneous trips.
- In July and August, the volume of mosquitoes and bugs near the lake can be overwhelming; without high-concentration bug spray, the outdoor experience is ruined.
- The park's designated official public swimming beach has too many pebbles and sharp rocks rather than soft sand, hurting bare feet and offering a mediocre swim experience.