Lewis and Clark cross South Dakota Hwy 281.

If one was making their own Lewis & Clark Expedition today, they would cross US Highway 281 as the Missouri runs South through Fort Randall Dam next door to Pickstown, SD. Enjoy another one of our satellite highway expeditions.

The Southern-end of South Dakota Highway 281 has a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. Camping, Cabins, Boating, Canoeing/kayaking, Hiking, biking and seasonal Bald Eagle viewing. Vast diversity of wildlife animals, furs, feathers, and plants. Bring your camera for some great photographs. We have Randall Creek Recreation Area, North Point Recreation Area and the Missouri River.

North Point Recreation Area, 1 mile NW of Pickstown off US Hwy 281. Enjoy a number of activities both on land and water. Paved trails, rifle range and volleyball court, and on the 102,000-acre Lake Francis Case Website:  19 recreation areas located around Lake Francis Case Reservoir, ranges from highly developed campgrounds and day use areas to primitive areas. Lewis and Clark came up the river in late-August, early-September in 1804. Two swimming beaches. Rifle range, shotgun trap shooting range, nearby golf course. North Point, R.A. Website:

Randall Creek Recreation Area, located 1 mile West of Pickstown off US 281, below Fort Randall Dam on the west side. On the banks of the Missouri River. Camping, cabins, basketball, boating, canoeing/kayaking, start of the 39-mile Wild and Scenic section of the Missouri River, Nine-hole disc golf course, fishing and more. Randall Creek Recreation, R.A. Website:

Canoeing the Missouri River from Fort Randall Dam to Running Water is a 39-mile stretch, starts immediately downstream from Fort Randall Dam at Pickstown, SD and continues to Running Water, South Dakota. the river gives the appearance of being natural, much as it was when the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through in 1804 and 1806. 

The trip ends at the eastern boundary of the Missouri National Recreational River. You may want to continue your canoe journey on Lewis & Clark Lake for about 29 miles until you reach Gavins Point Dam. You will have to portage around the dam yourself if want to continue the journey.

Missouri National River Website:

Pickstown, South Dakota has +/- 200 folks. Pickstown began as a government town for Corp of Engineer employees building and then operating the Fort Randall Dam. USAF officers and airmen arrived in the 1950s to operate a Strategic Air Command radar base. The miltary operations closed in the 1970's. North of Pickstown up 281 is Lake Andes, SD with +/- 800 residents.

Enjoy all your Expeditions, Ya'll come back...