Little Moreau Recreation Area
South Dakota

Little Moreau Recreation Area

Available Activities
  • Camping
  • Fishing

๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ† Moreau River Prairie โ€” Remote recreation area on the Moreau River in northwestern South Dakota โ€” true isolation on the northern Great Plains

Little Moreau Recreation Area offers remote recreation on the Moreau River in Dewey County โ€” in the sparsely populated northern Great Plains. This is one of the least-visited recreation areas in South Dakota โ€” population density here is less than 1 person per square mile. The Moreau River flows through the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, and this area sits near the historic buffalo hunting grounds that sustained the Lakota people for centuries before the systematic extermination of the buffalo herds in the 1870sโ€“1880s.

Visitor Information

DetailInformation
LocationDewey County, SD
Entry FeeSD Park Entrance License required
Isolation<1 person per square mile!
HistoryBuffalo hunting grounds โ€” Lakota!

About Little Moreau

Little Moreau Recreation Area in Dewey County provides recreation along the Little Moreau River โ€” a prairie stream flowing through the rolling grasslands of western South Dakota. The area offers fishing and camping in the remote northern prairie landscape of the Missouri Plateau.

Things to Do

Fishing, camping, hiking, wildlife observation, and experiencing the remote beauty of western South Dakota’s prairie grassland.

About Little Moreau

Little Moreau Recreation Area in Dewey County provides recreation along the Little Moreau River in the Cheyenne River Sioux country of northwestern South Dakota. This is deeply rural Great Plains territory โ€” Dewey County has fewer than 6,000 residents across 2,300 square miles. The area sits on the western Great Plains where the short-grass prairie meets the Missouri River breaks.

Things to Do

Fishing, camping, hunting (seasonal), birdwatching for prairie species, and experiencing the remote, wide-open landscapes of western South Dakota’s Great Plains.

๐Ÿฆฌ Visit Little Moreau Recreation Area

True isolation โ€” <1 person/sqmi, ancient Lakota buffalo country.

๐Ÿ“ SD GFP

Sarah Mitchell

About the Author

Outdoor Editor & Trail Expert

Sarah Mitchell is an outdoor writer and trail researcher with over 8 years of experience exploring state parks across America. As the lead editor at AmericasStateParks.org, she has personally visited more than 200 parks in 42 states, logging thousands of trail miles and hundreds of campground nights. Sarah specializes in detailed park guides, accessibility information, and family-friendly outdoor planning. Her work focuses on helping first-time visitors feel confident and well-prepared for their state park adventures.

200+ state parks visited across 42 states | 8+ years of outdoor writing

Last updated: May 10, 2026

Park Location