🏆🏆🏆 Lake Sharpe Access — Recreation area on Lake Sharpe providing boat access to the Missouri River reservoir system
North Wheeler Recreation Area provides access to Lake Sharpe — one of the Missouri River’s massive reservoirs in central South Dakota. Lake Sharpe (created by Big Bend Dam, completed 1963) stretches 80 miles through the heart of South Dakota’s river bluffs. The Big Bend of the Missouri is one of the most remarkable geographic features on the river — the river makes a 25-mile loop that covers only 1.5 miles of straight-line distance. Lewis and Clark spent a full day portaging across this neck of land in 1804.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Charles Mix County, SD |
| Entry Fee | SD Park Entrance License required |
| Lake | Sharpe — 80 miles! |
| Geography | Big Bend — 25mi loop for 1.5mi! |
About North Wheeler
North Wheeler Recreation Area provides Missouri River recreation along Lake Sharpe in central South Dakota. The area sits near the geographic center of the state, where the Missouri River divides South Dakota into its culturally distinct “East River” and “West River” halves — a division that reflects very different landscapes, cultures, and economies.
North Wheeler Recreation Area in Hand County provides recreation on the shore of a reservoir in central South Dakota’s farm country. The area sits near the 100th meridian — the longitude that historically marked the boundary between the humid East and the arid West. Settler John Wesley Powell identified this line as the point where irrigation becomes necessary for farming. West of here, rainfall alone cannot support traditional agriculture.
Things to Do
Fishing for walleye and bass on Lake Sharpe, camping, boating, and reflecting on the Missouri River’s role as the cultural dividing line of South Dakota.
Fishing, camping, boating, swimming, and crossing the invisible boundary between wet East and dry West at the 100th meridian.
Insider Tips
Missouri River access: North Wheeler provides access to the Missouri River corridor in south-central South Dakota. Pro tip: The river bottomlands attract impressive bird diversity including bald eagles, pelicans, and migrating waterfowl. Fishing: Catfish, walleye, and paddlefish in the river.
Best Time to Visit
Summer: Fishing and camping. Spring: Paddlefish snagging season. Fall: Waterfowl migration. Winter: Eagle viewing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I catch paddlefish in South Dakota?
Yes. South Dakota offers paddlefish snagging seasons on the Missouri River — typically in spring. Paddlefish are prehistoric fish that can weigh 50-100+ pounds. A special permit is required. The Missouri River below the dams is one of the best paddlefish fisheries in the country.
Nearby state parks: If you have extra time, West Bend Recreation Area is a short drive away, and Sandy Shore Recreation Area is a short drive away.
Camping reservations: Book campsites and cabins for South Dakota state parks online at reservations.gooutdoorssouthdakota.com.
🌊 Visit North Wheeler Recreation Area
Lake Sharpe — Big Bend of the Missouri, 25 miles for 1.5 miles!
Wildlife & Nature
North Wheeler RA — on Lake Sharpe. The area’s prairie, lake, and Missouri River bottomland support bald eagles, white-tailed deer, and ring-necked pheasants.
Nearby Attractions
Pierre — nearby. Missouri River — at the park.
