Located within the rolling prairie terrain of the Missouri Plateau is the Lake Francis Case and Fort Randall Dam. Encircling them are rugged bluffs, canyons, and ravines. The gorgeous landscape and the shimmering water have combined to become one of the most famous recreational spots in the area. This attraction of the Great Plains hosts more than one million visitors annually with the lure of its various recreation activities such as hunting, camping, swimming, skiing, boating, and much more.
It goes without saying that the beautiful nature surrounding the area is worth capturing, and so photographers should be sure to make the most of it. Lake Francis Case, with its shoreline of 540 miles and a depth of 140 feet, is also a beloved spot for angling and boating enthusiasts. A wide variety of fish species reside in these vast waters.
Wildlife, too, can be found abundantly in the region, and you might come across sharp-tailed grouse, turkeys, geese, white-tailed deer, and a variety of other animals in the area. Spring and fall is the time when all the birdwatchers head towards Lake Francis Case and the two national wildlife refuges to get an uninterrupted view of bald eagles and golden eagles perched atop towering trees.
Lake Francis Case is located about an hour’s drive away from Pickstown. Make your way to your destination via North Point State Recreation Park. From here take 297th Street to US-281 N and follow SD-50 West and SD-44 West to Buryanek Road in North Gregory. Take a right onto Buryanek Road and you will see Lake Francis Case right ahead.
There are numerous campgrounds located above and below the Fort Randall Dam, managed by the State of South Dakota that allows the visitors to partake in many outdoor adventures and also stay the night close to the Lake Francis Case.
Closest campground to Lake Francis Case is Randall Recreation Area, which until recently was managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before being handed over to the State.
Located downstream from Fort Randall Dam, Randall Creek boasts two campgrounds with a total of 132 campsites. Three of these campsites are ADA accessible. These campgrounds offer electric hookup sites along with flush toilets, showers, and comfort stations.
The campgrounds here accommodate big rigs, welcome pets, and offer firewood at the grounds. Other amenities include a dump station, picnic area, BBQ facilities, and a family park.
The reservoir is home to a large number of fish species. The most common species to be found here include sauger, walleye, northern pike, black bullhead, yellow perch, common carp, sunfish, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish. As soon as the ice leaves the water, fishing is open to everyone immediately. The fun thing about this dam is that anytime of the year and at any spot whatsoever, you can catch yourself some walleyes.
There are numerous boat access points all along the lake to allow you to get into the water and enjoy your favorite watercraft. However, water levels aren’t always suitable for boating, hence we suggest checking it with South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Website before planning your trip. The Lake is expansive so make sure your tank has enough fuel if you plan on heading out to deeper waters.
Anglers aren’t the only enthusiastic visitors here. Hunters will be just as excited with all the big game Lake Francis Case has to offer. Some of the animals usually hunted here are white-tailed deer, antelope, and mule deer. With the exception of the developed recreation areas, all the open lands surrounding the Lake are available to hunters during the season.
Fort Randall Dam forms Lake Francis Case in South Dakota, and this dam is home to one of the largest wintering concentrations of golden and bald eagles in the U.S. Just below Fort Randall Dam is the Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge where visitors spot the eagles in huge numbers perched on the cottonwood trees that line the shores of the dam. In fact, in winter, many visitors come to the area just to catch sight of these majestic birds of prey.
The grassy prairie and grain fields landscape of Lake Francis Case also provides a suitable habitat for prairie chickens, sharp-tailed grouse, geese, and turkeys.
Fort Randall Dam and Lake Francis Case pay homage to the original Fort Randall. Therefore, it would be almost criminal to be in the area and not visit the ruins of the old Fort Randall.
The Fort is located at the western edge of the Missouri National Recreational River’s 39-mile reach. Fort Randall holds an important position in history for serving as a crucial outpost against the Sioux from 1863 to 1865 and lasting longer than any other outpost on the shores. While Fort Randall was left to collapse and disintegrate, the Army Corps was able to erect it and stabilize its structure in 2003.
Pease Creek State Recreation Area is located along Lake Francis Case and has one of the best trail systems in South Dakota. This state-owned recreation area has almost 600 acres to explore and one of the trails provides direct access to Lake Francis Case fishing. The four-mile-long Pease Creek Multi-Use Trail is open for equestrian, biking, hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The trail is moderate to difficult, sometimes having gently rolling hills, and other times presenting really steep climbs.
