Water Recreation

About Us

If you enjoy water recreation, Yankton should be on your bucket list. We are located along the banks of the mighty Missouri River. We are also home to the last reservoir - Lewis & Clark Lake - on the Missouri River system. The lake itself offers a little bit of everything - sandy beaches, walking trails, several boat landings and marinas on both sides of the lake in South Dakota and Nebraska. The lake is all about the relaxed lake life vibe. On weekends, the parks are filled and you will find people waterskiing, boating, wakeboarding, sailing, kayaking, sailing hobie cats, swimming at the beaches and much more. These activities are, of course, also going on during the week, but the lake isn't quite as busy. This makes a great time for fishing or just casual boating.

The Missouri River below Gavins Point Dam can be just as adventurous as the lake. There is excellent fishing throughout most the year (the river is always open below the dam) and this section of the river is actually a national park named the Missouri National Recreational River. From Yankton downstream for a 59-mile stretch, the river is about as close to its original form as before the dams were constructed in the mid-20th century.

The river runs right through downtown Yankton where you can traverse the Meridian Bridge - now a double-decker pedestrian bridge - to Nebraska and back. You will also find Riverside Park - the home of Riverboat Days and Summer Arts Festival and many other fun events.