Big Stone Lake

Big Stone Lake runs for about 26 miles along the Minnesota-South Dakota border, maintaining a fairly consistent width from end to end. The water body is relatively shallow and surrounded by low-lying banks that slope gently toward the shore.

The lake was carved out during the last ice age when meltwater from retreating glaciers flowed through the landscape and created a natural depression. Over time, this depression filled with water to form the lake as it exists today.

Native American groups settled along the shoreline for thousands of years, relying on the water as a crucial source of food and as a trade route. The lake still holds cultural meaning for these communities today.

Multiple public access points dot the shoreline where visitors can park and enter the water for fishing or recreation. Spring and summer offer the most pleasant visiting conditions, with easier access and better weather for water activities.

The lake serves as the starting point for the Minnesota River, which flows north from here and shapes the landscape of several states. Few visitors realize they are visiting one of the most geographically significant water sources in the upper Midwest.