Springfield Recreation Area
🏆🏆🏆🏆 Lewis & Clark Lake — Recreation area on Lewis & Clark Lake near Springfield — the most downstream Missouri River reservoir in South Dakota
Springfield Recreation Area sits on Lewis & Clark Lake near the Nebraska border — the most downstream of the four Missouri River reservoirs in South Dakota. Created by Gavins Point Dam (1957), Lewis & Clark Lake is the smallest (31 miles long) but most popular Missouri River reservoir, attracting over 1 million visitors annually. The lake was named for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which camped near here in August 1804. Springfield itself is a tiny town (pop. ~500) but the lake makes it a summer recreation magnet. The nearby Lewis & Clark Visitor Center interprets the expedition’s journey.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Bon Homme County, SD |
| Entry Fee | SD Park Entrance License required |
| Lake | Lewis & Clark — 1M+ visitors/yr! |
| History | Lewis & Clark camped here 1804! |
About Springfield
Springfield Recreation Area in Bon Homme County provides Missouri River recreation along Lewis and Clark Lake near the town of Springfield — one of South Dakota’s oldest communities. The area offers extensive facilities on the Missouri River, with views across the wide valley that Lewis and Clark traversed in 1804.
Things to Do
Fishing for walleye and catfish, camping, boating on Lewis and Clark Lake, swimming, and exploring the Lewis and Clark heritage of the Missouri River valley.
Insider Tips
Lewis & Clark Lake: Springfield sits on Lewis & Clark Lake — created by Gavins Point Dam, the last dam on the Missouri River before it flows freely to its junction with the Mississippi. Pro tip: Below Gavins Point, the Missouri runs free for 811 miles to St. Louis — the longest free-flowing stretch of the lower Missouri. Paddlefish: Lewis & Clark Lake is one of the best paddlefish (spoonbill) fisheries in the world.
Best Time to Visit
Summer: Lake recreation and beach. Spring: Paddlefish snagging season. Fall: Quiet fishing. Winter: Eagle watching.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a paddlefish?
The paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) is a prehistoric fish — virtually unchanged for 300 million years (older than dinosaurs). They can grow to 7 feet and 200 pounds. Their distinctive paddle-shaped snout contains electroreceptors that detect plankton. Paddlefish are native to the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Lewis & Clark Lake is one of the best fisheries — paddlefish are caught by “snagging” (weighted treble hooks) during their spring spawning run.
🛶 Visit Springfield Recreation Area
Lewis & Clark Lake — 1M+ visitors, expedition campsite of 1804!
