This Little-Known Lake Is Perfect For Easy Boating, Fishing, and Birding In South Dakota
By Tori Jane|Published December 13, 2023
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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.
Fun fact: South Dakota has more shoreline than the state of Florida. If you’re wondering how this can be, it’s simple: there are more than 130 known and named lakes in our little corner of the world, and since there are so many of ’em, many slip through the cracks without most folks even realizing it. Take my favorite little hidden lake in South Dakota: Pelican Lake, which is tucked away at the aptly named Pelican Lake Recreation Area between Kampeska and Foley in the northeastern part of the state. Of the many, many lakes in South Dakota, this one’s a delight and a half just waiting to be discovered.
Welcome to Pelican Lake, where you can sink your toes in the sand and forget about life for a little while.
This preserve is appropriately named indeed; it's an open secret among birders in South Dakota hoping to catch glimpses of the large pelicans that hang out on and around the lake that THIS is the place to be. It seems... a lot more obvious once you know.
But, for some reason, not a huge number of people know at all.
It has 12 miles of beautiful shoreline perfect for lounging, swimming, fishing, or simply enjoying a day by the water (which is always amazingly clean and perfectly clear).
And spend the night you can! Here, you'll find affordable camping year-round, as well as some adorable little cabins you can reserve ahead of time. South Dakota never gets enough credit... especially when it comes to hidden gems like this one.
If you plan on returning, you might as well just get an annual pass, which will pay for itself after just over four visits. Campsites have electricity, and they can be reserved for $26 per night. Talk about a deal!
Fans of the great outdoors will fall head over heels in love with this gorgeous example of South Dakota's wondrous outdoors.
It's not every day you find a hidden lake in South Dakota... unless you go out looking for them. In that case, you'll find many - and you'll definitely want one of them to be this one!
For more information about Pelican Lake Recreation Area, be sure to check out the official South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks website. Prefer not to camp and would rather find a place to stay? Our friends at VRBO have plenty of creative options.
So, what are your thoughts? Are you a fan of Pelican Lake? Let me know!
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