Yankton, South Dakota 57078
Gavins Point Dam Official WebsiteBird the marina from your car.
Many species of water birds such as loons, grebes, ducks, & geese during migration, also some shorebirds.
The title/label for this hotspot is not correct. The marina is on Lewis and Clark Lake, not on Lake Yankton as listed in the description.
See all hotspots at Gavins Point Dam
Gavins Point Dam and Lewis & Clark Lake (the reservoir behind the dam) straddle the Nebraska/South Dakota border and are nestled in the golden, chalkstone-lined valley of the Missouri River and has grown into one of the most popular recreation spots in the Great Plains.
Lewis and Clark Lake attracts more than 2 million visitors each year to its shores. Recreation opportunities around the lake include camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, boating, sailing, swimming, bird-watching, and photography.
For the biking and hiking enthusiasts, three trails are available in the area. They include a paved trail that runs from Yankton to the Gavins Point area, a multi-use trail in the Gavins Point area and the Calumet Bluff hiking trail located near the visitor center. Wintertime activities include ice fishing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and sledding.
Online maps are not necessarily correct in this area. Note the attached maps for help in determining in which state and county you are birding. There is a highway sign on the dam that marks the state line.
Restrooms on site
Wheelchair accessible trail
Entrance fee
Roadside viewing
Content from Gavins Point Dam Official Website and Roger Dietrich
Last updated July 18, 2023