North Point State Recreation Area

Check out the area where Lewis and Clark saw their first prairie dogs, which they called "barking squirrels."

The Lewis and Clark expedition came up the river in August 1804. They saw prairie dogs for the first time and described them as barking squirrels. North Point Recreation Area campground is right on the shoreline of the Missouri River, located just above Fort Randall Dam. There are 115 single-family campsites available. Many of the campsites have electrical hookups. Group camping accommodations and cabins are also available. There are both flush and vault toilets, showers, and fresh water filling stations, plus a dump station.

You can access the marina, boat ramp, picnic area, playground, and fish cleaning station during your stay at the campground. Many visitors come to this area for boating, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, water sports, hiking, biking, picnicking, and wildlife observation. Visitors can also use the trapshooting/rifle range. The North Point State Recreation Area is open year-round, and each campsite has an aluminum picnic table and a fire ring. The area is pet-friendly, with plenty of mature trees to provide shade.