South Dakota / Lower Brule Indian Reservation / Lyman County

Left Tailrace

Closed — Closed for the winter season. Typically operates May through October.

About

Left Tailrace Campground is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Big Bend Project, located on Lake Francis Case just below Big Bend Dam near Fort Thompson, South Dakota. The campground sits along the Missouri River tailrace waters, which are renowned for exceptional walleye fishing, making it a premier destination for anglers in the Great Plains region. The facility offers developed camping with electrical hookups, modern comfort stations equipped with showers, a dump station, boat ramp with courtesy dock, fish cleaning station, picnic shelters, and a disc golf course. Each campsite includes a table and grill. The tailrace waters below the dam provide year-round fishing opportunities for walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, white bass, channel catfish, and northern pike. The Big Bend Project encompasses approximately 80,000 acres of public lands and water, offering wildlife viewing opportunities including tribal bison herds that graze nearby grasslands. Lake Sharpe, created by the completion of Big Bend Dam in 1966, stretches 80 miles upstream toward Pierre. The area provides habitat for whitetail and mule deer, elk, wild turkeys, waterfowl, and upland game birds. The campground is located three miles from Fort Thompson, 20 miles from Chamberlain, and 65 miles from Pierre.

Directions

From westbound I-90, take exit 265 at Chamberlain, turn right on Highway 50 and travel approximately 16 miles. Turn left on BIA Highway 4, travel 8 miles to Fort Thompson, then turn left on Highway 47 and travel 3 miles. Turn left at the Left Tailrace Campground sign on Big Bend Dam and travel approximately 1 mile to the campground. From eastbound I-90, take exit 248 at Reliance, turn left onto Highway 47 northbound, and travel 18 miles to Big Bend Dam. Turn right after crossing the Power House bridge, then right at the Left Tailrace Campground sign, and travel about 1 mile to the campground.

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