Lake Sakakawea State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Sakakawea State Park
Lake Sakakawea near Garrison Dam
Lake Sakakawea State Park Location in North Dakota
Location	Mercer, North Dakota, United States
Nearest town	Pick City, North Dakota
Area	739.52 acres (299.27 ha)
Elevation	1,890 ft (580 m)
Designation	North Dakota state park
Established	1965
Administrator	North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department
Website	Lake Sakakawea State Park

Lake Sakakawea State Park is a fantastic outdoor spot in North Dakota! It covers about 739 acres and sits right on the southern shore of Lake Sakakawea. This state park is located next to the big Garrison Dam, just one mile north of Pick City. It's a perfect place for families and friends to enjoy nature and have lots of fun activities.

How the Park Started

This park wasn't always called Lake Sakakawea State Park! It first opened as Garrison Lake State Park. The United States Army Corps of Engineers helped create it.

In 1965, the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department took over managing the park. They worked to make it even bigger and better. Then, in 1973, they gave it a new name: Lake Sakakawea State Park.

What Can You Do There?

Lake Sakakawea State Park offers many exciting things to do outdoors! You can go for a hike on the trails or cool off with a swim. Fishing is very popular here, and there are special boat ramps if you want to bring your own boat.

The park also has a marina, which is a great place to dock boats. If you want to stay overnight, you can rent cabins or set up camp in the campgrounds.

The North Country Trail

One special thing about this park is that it's the starting point for a very long hiking path called the North Country National Scenic Trail. This trail is super long, about 4,600 miles! When it's all finished, it will stretch across the northern part of the United States, all the way to New York. So, you can say you've walked the beginning of an epic journey right here!