Hey! It's time for a fun fact: there are more than 400 lakes in North Dakota. Yep. Take a minute. Let it soak in (pun intended). As it turns out, North Dakota is the place you want to be if you're a fan of long days spent on the water, and honestly, we are 100 percent here for it. Our little corner of the world is nice and uncrowded, making it the perfect place for getting some peace and quiet. When it comes to lakes in North Dakota, Lake Oahe has it all, and it's definitely worth a weekend trip (or longer) on the water. Check it out:
Lake Oahe is, by volume, the fourth-largest reservoir in the United States.
It's enormous; with an impressive 2,250 miles of shoreline and a surface area of 370,000 acres, this lake is one of the crown jewels of our little state and we share it with our sister to the south.
The reservoir begins north of Pierre, South Dakota, and it wanders near Bismarck, North Dakota.
It is 231 miles long and at its deepest depths, it reaches more than 200 feet down! It becomes obvious, then, why Lake Oahe is one of the favored lakes in North Dakota for those kinds of blues that only nature can heal.
Enjoy boating, kayaking, and one of the best places to go fishing in North Dakota.
As popular and beloved as it is, it's still in a relatively remote part of the United States, and as a result, it's never overcrowded. We'd say it seems to be "just right" on most days, though if you prefer no crowds at all you might want to show up for the sunrise on a weekday - preferably not during summer, but hey, sometimes you might just luck out.
If you don't mind sharing the water with a few other like-minded souls, Lake Oahe is one of our highest recommendations for boating.
Whether it's on a motorboat, kayak, canoe, or you don't even want to be on the water, you just want to dip your toes in - Lake Oahe is gorgeous and secluded, and we can't recommend it enough.
Bored of just staying on or near the water? Explore a little; there are more than 50 designated recreational sites on the shores of Lake Oahe.
Among our favorites are gems like the Oahe Downstream Recreation Area, which can feel like a perfect beach day despite the fact that we're landlocked.
So, no matter if you plan to literally float your cares away on the lake or you simply hope to dip your feet in the clear, chilly water and forget about life for a while, we think you should consider this a prescription to visit Lake Oahe.
After all, you might have the summertime blues, but that's okay - it's nothing a day on one of North (and South!) Dakota's most beautiful lakes can't fix right up.
So, what do you think? Are you planning on going out and enjoying one of our favorite lakes in North Dakota? If you'd like more information on the lake and everything there is to do nearby and on it, check out the official page for Lake Oahe on the Missouri River Tourism website.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!
