Shadehill Recreation Area
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Northwest SD Oasis — 5,000-acre reservoir in the remote northwestern prairie — the largest lake in a 100-mile radius with outstanding walleye fishing
Shadehill Recreation Area centers on the 5,000-acre Shadehill Reservoir in Perkins County — the largest body of water in the remote northwestern corner of South Dakota. Built on the Grand River in 1951, Shadehill Reservoir is an oasis of water in the vast, treeless prairie. The reservoir offers some of the best walleye and northern pike fishing in the state — with far fewer anglers than eastern SD lakes. This is truly remote country — the nearest town (Lemmon, pop. 1,200) is 17 miles away. Hugh Glass, the famous frontiersman attacked by a grizzly bear (portrayed in “The Revenant”), was mauled near here in 1823.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Perkins County, SD |
| Entry Fee | SD Park Entrance License required |
| Lake | 5,000 acres — largest in 100mi! |
| History | Hugh Glass/”The Revenant” nearby 1823! |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Hugh Glass story real?
Yes! In 1823, fur trapper Hugh Glass was attacked by a grizzly bear near the Grand River (near present-day Shadehill). Left for dead by his companions, Glass crawled 200+ miles to Fort Kiowa. The story inspired the 2015 film “The Revenant” starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
About Shadehill
Shadehill Recreation Area in Perkins County provides recreation on Shadehill Reservoir — a 5,200-acre lake in the remote northwestern corner of South Dakota. The reservoir sits on the Grand River in the Missouri Plateau country — vast, open grassland with few trees (the “shade hill” was likely named for a rare shady spot). The area is one of the most remote recreation areas in the state.
Things to Do
Fishing for walleye, northern pike, and perch, boating on the large reservoir, camping (100+ sites), swimming, hunting (seasonal), and experiencing the extraordinary remoteness of northwestern South Dakota.
🐻 Visit Shadehill Recreation Area
5,000 acres — remote SD oasis, Hugh Glass “Revenant” territory!
