Randall Creek State Recreation Area

See the eagles on the banks of the Missouri River in South Dakota.

The Randall Creek State Recreation Area is about two hours west of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, just below the Fort Randall Dam. It is also a designated National Natural Landmark and has a bald eagle roost area. In South Dakota, many bald eagles spend their winters below the Missouri River dams so that they can catch fish and prey on waterfowl near the open water. The bald eagles usually perch 50 feet off the riverbank in the cottonwood trees and are most active in the morning. Since they will leave their roosts if humans bother them, the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks keeps motorized traffic away from their nests in the winter.

The US Army Corps of Engineers started constructing the dam in 1946 and began generating electricity in 1954. Randall Creek is a peaceful place offering plenty of opportunities for wildlife observation. The Randall Creek State Recreation Area encompasses 184 acres and is open year-round. Visitors often enjoy playing basketball and volleyball, bird watching, boating, canoeing, disc golfing, fishing, picnicking, and walking. There is also a visitors center and a boat repair shop nearby. If you'd like to extend your stay, feel free to book one of their campsites or cabins. It costs $8 per night per car to stay at the campgrounds, and they can accommodate tents, trailers, and motor homes. Amenities include bathrooms with flush toilets and showers, a boat ramp, drinking water, a dump station, a fishing pier, shore fishing access, and fish cleaning stations. Look no further for a pristine camping area in southeastern South Dakota.