Lake Upsilon In North Dakota Has Clear Waters That Rival Ocean Coves
By Tori Jane|Published November 12, 2021
×
Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Alright, so, let’s get one thing straight here: there is definitely no ocean in North Dakota. None. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Our “beaches” are limited to our lakes – which are wonderful, by the way, and plentiful, considering there are somewhere around 400 lakes currently being managed in the state today. However, some of those lakes are so perfectly crystal-clear and so stunningly blue that they tend to remind visitors of something out of an Alaskan alpine cove than a quiet lake in a land-locked state. A major contender in the battle for “clearest lake in North Dakota” ought to be a lake like Lake Upsilon. With nearly 11 miles of shoreline, a visit to this pristine paradise might just feel like a day at an alpine beach – without the beach.
Lake Upsilon was named for its unique shape - it's shaped like the letter "Y", with "upsilon" being "Y" in Greek.
It spans 422 acres, and as we mentioned, is home to about 11 miles of shoreline. It's beautiful, and it seems more reminiscent of a scene you might stumble upon in Alaska instead of North Dakota.
The lake's proximity to our neighbors to the north helps to account for its unique geography; whereas most of North Dakota is prairies, badlands, and plains, the area surrounding Lake Upsilon is like something out of a woodland dream.
During the winter, it becomes something of an epic wonderland. In spring and summer, wildflowers and lush greenery reign. And, in the fall, the entire lake area takes on an incredible beauty as the leaves on the trees begin to shift from green to gold and red.
Lake Upsilon is anywhere from nine to 27 feet deep, depending on where you decide to explore. It's wonderful for all sorts of things from boating to swimming to fishing and more. It's a semi-popular lake in a less-popular state, so to speak - though we do recommend coming out early on a weekday to get the best crowd-free views.
Every inch of the lake is photogenic, so make sure to bring your favorite camera, even if it's just your phone.
It's so important to get out and get some creativity therapy, and to do it with what you've got on hand, as well; you'll cherish even phone photos of this beautiful place long after you leave. The water is so picture-perfectly clear on most days that you've got to see it to believe it.
Should you not want to leave (and who could blame you?), there's always the option of camping in the area.
Alternatively, there are some cabins, beds and breakfasts, and more awaiting your reservations nearby the lake. Lake Upsilon is located near the towns of St. John and Dunseith. It's also close to another delightful lake - Kishpaugh Lake - so make sure to check it out if the mood strikes!
Of course, no visit to this crystalline lake would be complete without watching the sunset over the water.
Much like the end of a long day at an alpine cove way up north, the end of a long day at Lake Upsilon is a perfect way to treat yourself (or your family).
So, what are your thoughts? What do you think the clearest lake in North Dakota is? Tell us about your picks in the comments! If you’ve ever visited Lake Upsilon, feel free to tell us about that, too – we love hearing from you.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
