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Lake Information for Lake Sakakawea
Lake Sakakawea is a reservoir in the Missouri River basin in central North Dakota. Named for the Shoshone-Hidatsa woman Sakakawea, it is the third largest man-made lake in the United States, after Lake Mead and Lake Powell.
It is located about 80 km (50 mi) from Bismarck, North Dakota; the distance by the river is about 120 km (75 mi). The lake averages between 2 and 3 miles (3-5 km) in width and is 14 miles (21 km) wide at its widest point (Van Hook arm). Lake Sakakawea marks the maximum southwest extent of glaciation during the ice age.
The reservoir was created with the completion of Garrison Dam in 1956, the second (and largest) of six main-stem dams on the Missouri River built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control, hydroelectric power, navigation and irrigation.
Boat ramps for Lake Sakakawea can be found in the following areas:
• Beulah Bay (low water ramp)
• Charging Eagle Bay
• Dakota Waters
• Deepwater Bay (low water ramp)
• Douglas Bay
• Fort Stevenson State Park
• Four Bears
• Garrison Creek
• Government Bay (low water ramp)
• Hale Marina (proposed)
• Hazen Bay
• Indian Hills
• McKenzie Bay
• New Town Marina (low water ramp)
• Parshall Bay (proposed)
• Pouch Point
• Lake Sakakawea State Park
• Sanish Bay
• Skunk Bay
• Sportsmen’s Centennial Park
• Van Hook
• White Earth Bay
• Wolf Creek
Lake Sakakawea is North Dakota's most popular fishing lake with large amounts of walleye, sauger, chinook salmon, and northern pike.
Businesses Located Nearby
Bait & Tackle
- Scott's Bait & Tackle
- 71 Main Rd E - Hazen, ND
- (701) 487-3343
- Six Mile Corner Bait Shop
- 1607 Highway 83 Nw - Garrison, ND
- (701) 337-5704
- Honey Hole
- 500 10th St - Riverdale, ND
- (701) 654-7559
Boat Rental
- Shell Creek Slips & Rentals
- 7949 35th St Nw, Lot F - Parshall, ND
- (701) 862-4344
Vacation Rental
- Happy Place
- 6394 Highway 1806 - Zap, ND
- (701) 873-5504
- Scot Wood Motel
- 1323 Frontage Rd - Washburn, ND
- (701) 462-8191
- Dakota Waters Resort
- 5803 Beulah Bay Rd - Beulah, ND
- (701) 873-5800
Bar and Restaurant
- Roseglen Bar
- Main St - Roseglen, ND
- (701) 743-4290
- Fezziwig's
- 101 N Main St - Garrison, ND
- (701) 463-2980
- Dam Bar & Steakhouse
- 35 Main Rd E - Hazen, ND
- (701) 487-3331