Pets allowed
Allowed with Restrictions
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

The Snake Creek Recreation Area is located 14 miles west of Platte, South Dakota off South Dakota Highway 44. The park is by Lake Francis Case which is a reservoir on the Missouri River.

Most to the recreational activities enjoyed at the Snake Creek Recreation Area center around Lake Francis Case. The water activities enjoyed by visitors include swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating, and fishing. The primary fish species targeted by anglers is walleye; other game fish species found in the reservoir include sauger, white bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and black crappie. There is a special limited paddlefish season also takes place in May on the lake. The park has a fish-cleaning station and a large boat launch. There is a privately operated full-service marina in the park. The marina operations include a restaurant, a convenience store, cabin rentals and a floating fuel dock. Boaters can check out Red Rock, an upstream rock several hundred feet high that once used as a landmark for steamboat captains.

The park has two drive-in campgrounds with a total of 115 sites. Most of the sites have electric hookups with 30-amp and 50-amp service. One of the sites is handicap accessible. There is a camp host at site 2E. The campground is near Lake Francis Case. There are also ten five one-bedroom cabins available for rent. There is a swimming beach near the South Campground.

Other amenities found at Snake Creek Recreation Area include a playground, basketball hoops, horse shoe pits, a volleyball court, and a sheltered picnic area. Both flush and vault toilets are available at the park. The flush toilets are only available for use during the warm months.

Since the Snake Creek Recreation Area is part of the South Dakota state park system, a fee is required to enter the park. A state park day use or annual permit can be purchased at the park entrance. The park is open year-round.

 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Parking Pass

State Park Day-Use Fee

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Access to the popular Lake Francis Case.

Cons

Can be crowded.

Features

ADA accessible
Vault toilet
General store
Boat ramp(s)
Family friendly
Flushing toilets
Marina
Fishing
Dump stations
Picnic tables
Near lake or river
Volleyball
Horseshoes
Potable water
Covered picnic areas
Basketball
Playground

Location

Nearby Adventures

Snake Creek Recreation Area, South Dakota

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Snake Creek Recreation Area, South Dakota

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