Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Missouri River Explorer — 35,700-acre reservoir on the Missouri River — named for the legendary Lewis and Clark Expedition that passed through in 1804

Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area sits along Lewis and Clark Lake — a 35,700-acre reservoir created by Gavins Point Dam on the Missouri River. The area is named for Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who camped near here on their epic 1804–1806 expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase. Lewis and Clark Lake is one of the most popular recreation destinations in the region — with excellent walleye, catfish, and bass fishing. Gavins Point Dam was the last dam built on the main stem of the Missouri River (1957) — creating the smallest of the six “Great Lakes of the Missouri.”

Visitor Information

About Lewis and Clark SRA

Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area surrounds Lewis and Clark Lake — a 31,000-acre Missouri River reservoir on the Nebraska-South Dakota border. The lake was created by Gavins Point Dam and named for the explorers who camped here in 1804. The recreation area provides extensive camping, marina facilities, and water sports on one of the most popular lakes in the northern Great Plains.

Things to Do

Boating on the 31,000-acre lake, fishing for walleye, bass, and catfish, camping (300+ sites), swimming, visiting the marina, and touring the nearby Lewis and Clark Visitor Center. One of the busiest recreation areas on the Missouri River.

Insider Tips

Missouri River heritage: Lewis and Clark SRA is on Lewis and Clark Lake — a Missouri River reservoir near the South Dakota border. Pro tip: The Lewis and Clark expedition camped near here in August 1804. Niobrara confluence: Where the Niobrara River meets the Missouri creates some of the best paddling in the region — the delta has islands, sandbars, and rich wildlife.

Best Time to Visit

Summer: Boating, swimming, and camping. Fall: Waterfowl migration on the Missouri. Spring: Walleye and sauger fishing. Winter: Bald eagle concentration — the dam keeps water open.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Lewis and Clark really come through here?

Yes — the Corps of Discovery traveled the Missouri River through Nebraska in 1804. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark documented the landscape, wildlife, and Indigenous peoples they encountered. The expedition’s journals describe the Missouri’s power, abundant game, and vast prairies of what is now Nebraska.