This winter, escape to wide-open spaces where endless prairies are dappled with spectacular glacial-carved lakes and outdoor adventures of all kinds beckon. In this region in northeastern South Dakota, ice fishing opportunities are endless and snowmobiling trails lattice across the grasslands. Bundle up to explore state parks and open lands, or stay cozy in family-owned lodges and eateries.
ABERDEEN
Sledding
Feel like a kid again when you zoom down a snowy hillside, squealing with joy all the way down. At Baird Park, the 25-foot sledding hill attracts both the young and the young at heart. Bring your sleds, snow saucers and the whole family to see why this is the most popular sledding spot in the Hub City.
Snowmobiling
If faster-paced thrills are more your speed, rent a snowmobile or bring your own to the nearby Dakota Midland Trail near Aberdeen. This 72-mile groomed trail circles over to Richmond Lake Recreation Area — where you can take in views of the 1,000-acre lake and cozy up in the warming shelter — and stretches north to the towns of Westport and Frederick.
Hunting
Just 30 minutes south of Aberdeen, get away from it all at Royal Flush Hunting Lodge, where you can experience the thrill of a large game hunt with the convenience of cozy accommodations. Bring your weapon of choice — bow, muzzleloader, pistol or rifle — and embark on a guided buffalo hunt (available December through February) to find these trophy beasts that roam thousands of acres of snow-covered plains.
LAKE CITY
Snowshoeing
History meets outdoor adventure at Fort Sisseton Historic State Park, where an 1864 military fort includes original structures such as stone barracks, a powder magazine, and officers’ quarters. See these relics from western frontier days, take in the lakefront views and then snowshoe along the Fort Sisseton Trail through frozen wetlands.
WATERTOWN
Ice fishing
Just outside town, you’ll find a number of large & small lakes that are ideal for ice fishing. Pick up bait and tackle gear at Kampeska Lodge & Store before making your way to Sandy Shore State Recreation Area on Lake Kampeska or to Pelican Lake Recreation Area to reel in bluegill, largemouth bass, walleye and crappie. After you've caught your limit, warm up at the no-frills lakefront eatery The Prop, known for its frosty mugs of beer and its famous Garlic Burger. It's the perfect combination for refueling after a day on the lake.
Snowmobiling
On land, explore snowy landscapes along hundreds of miles of snowmobiling trails, such as the or the Coteau Des Prairie Trail near Watertown. This 329-mile trail connects numerous communities as well as other snowmobile trails, offering a diverse range of scenery from wooded draws to frozen lakes.
WEBSTER
Ice Fishing
Spanning 15,000 acres and encompassing Waubay National Wildlife Refuge, Waubay Lake is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Bundle up for a day of ice fishing on this body of water where you can reel in walleyes, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and northern pike. Full-service ice fishing guides will set you up with portable shacks, heaters and all the gear you’ll need, or bring your own set-up for an unforgettable day on the ice.
