Lewis and Clark Lake, created by Gavins Point Dam west or Yankton, is the smallest of the four reservoirs in South Dakota. Bordered in places by chalkstone bluffs, it is a water haven for sailing enthusiasts and one of the busiest camping spots in all the Midwest. By most standards, nearly all the Missouri River valley ranks as wilderness but two stretches in the southeast are unique to the 2,341-mile river, which was dramatically changed by dams and channelization in the mid 20th century. A 39-mile flow below Fort Randall Dam and a 59-mile segment below Gavins Point Dam are part of the USA’s national Wild & Scenic River system. The Missouri National Recreational River has a visitor’s center in Yankton, and a website with good information for visitors interested in fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, hunting, camping and bird watching along the Missouri.
