Left Tailrace

About

Left Tailrace Campground is located below Big Bend Dam on the Missouri River in central South Dakota, three miles from Fort Thompson and 20 miles from Chamberlain. The campground sits at the beginning of Lake Sharpe, a popular recreation destination created when Big Bend Dam was completed in 1966. The area offers approximately 80,000 acres of public lands and water. The campground features 81 electrical hookup sites with 30 and 50 amp service, available in both pull-through and back-in configurations on paved pads. Additionally, 12 tent-only sites provide a more primitive experience. All sites include picnic tables, most with shelter coverings, and fire rings. Amenities include men's and women's comfort stations with showers and flush toilets, a dump station, drinking water, boat ramp, fish cleaning station, courtesy dock, day-use picnic shelters, playground, and a nine-hole disc golf course. Fishing is the main attraction, with walleye as the primary sport fish. Sauger, smallmouth bass, white bass, channel catfish, and northern pike also provide excellent fishing opportunities. The surrounding area supports diverse wildlife including whitetail and mule deer, elk, bison, wild turkeys, and various waterfowl and upland game birds.

Directions

From westbound I-90: Take exit 265 at Chamberlain, turn right onto Highway 50 and travel approximately 16 miles, turn left onto BIA Highway 4 and travel 8 miles to Fort Thompson, turn left onto Highway 47 and travel 3 miles, then 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 turn right at the Left Tailrace Campground sign and travel about 1 mile to the campground.