Lake Sakakawea State Park

Lake Sakakawea State Park
North Dakota State Park
Country United States
State North Dakota
County Mercer
Elevation 1,890 ft (576 m) [1]
Coordinates 47°31′26″N 101°27′07″W / 47.52389°N 101.45194°W / 47.52389; -101.45194Coordinates: 47°31′26″N 101°27′07″W / 47.52389°N 101.45194°W / 47.52389; -101.45194 [1]
Area 1,293 acres (523 ha)
Founded 1965
Management North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department
Location in North Dakota
Website: Lake Sakakawea State Park

Lake Sakakawea State Park is a North Dakota state park located on the southern shore of Lake Sakakawea, one mile north of the community of Pick City in Mercer County. The park encompasses 1,293 acres (523 ha) adjacent to Garrison Dam.[2]

History

The park was originally developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as Garrison Lake State Park.[3] In 1965, the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department assumed management of the park and renamed it Lake Sakakawea State Park in honor of the Shoshone/Hidatsa woman Sacagawea who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition up the Missouri River from Fort Mandan in April 1805. The lake was not named Sacagawea State Park because the Native Americans in North Dakota prefer Sakakawea as that is believed to be her real name. Because of this in North Dakota anything related to Sacagawea is given the non-offensive term Sakakawea.

Activities and amenities

The park offers swimming, fishing and boating. Lake access is available at two large boat ramps and a full-service marina. For overnight stays, there are two camping cabins and 249 campsites, both primitive and modern.

The park offers several miles of hiking trails and is the western terminus of the 4,600-mile (7,400 km) North Country National Scenic Trail which, when completed, will cross the northern tier of the continental United States from its eastern terminus at Crown Point in upstate New York.

References

  1. 1 2 "Lake Sakakawea State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "Lake Sakakawea State Park". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  3. "Lake Sakakawea State Park: History". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
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