Big Stone Island Nature Area, Protected nature area in Roberts County, South Dakota, United States.
Big Stone Island Nature Area is a protected refuge located on an island within Big Stone Lake on the border between South Dakota and Minnesota. The site provides habitat for songbirds, waterfowl, and shore birds in a landscape left largely undeveloped.
The first documented encounter with the island occurred in 1823 when an expedition found a Plains Indian village established there. Later in the 1800s, the island developed into a recreational destination with hotels and excursion boats that brought visitors from the mainland.
The island served as a gathering place for different communities throughout its history, from indigenous peoples to settlers and visitors seeking recreation. Today, walkers can sense this layered human presence when exploring the landscape and its traces of past habitation.
Reaching the nature area requires a boat or canoe since the island is only accessible by water from the mainland. Visitors should plan carefully for a self-sufficient visit, as the site has no facilities, trails, or services available on the island.
During World War II, military aircraft used the island as a training ground for takeoffs and landings on a temporary runway. Evidence of this wartime use remains visible today in the landscape for visitors who look closely.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
