The votes have been tallied! With so many outstanding lakes in North Dakota, it can be hard to choose a favorite, so we polled our readers on our Only In North Dakota Facebook page. Truth be told, selecting just one photo for each lake, from all those that were shared, did not come easily – many talented photographers in our midst. Did you know that North Dakota has more than 400 lakes and rivers? Challenge accepted to visit 14 of the most beautiful lakes in the Peace Garden State, according to our readers. Let’s experience some lake life, shall we?
- Lake Sakakawea
Deb Rising via Only In North Dakota The overall fan favorite is Lake Sakakawea, the third largest man-made lake in the country, 75 miles north of Bismarck. Fish for salmon, walleye, and pike. Enjoy a full-service marina and boat launches. Visit Lake Sakakawea State Park, on the south shore, for hiking, camping, and a swim beach.
- Devils Lake
Kat Pfaff via Only In North Dakota Another reader favorite is Devils Lake in northeastern North Dakota. Come for hiking, sunsets, and wildlife. Visit Grahams Island State Park. It is a good fishing spot, called the “perch capital of the world” – and it is home to walleye, northern pike, and bass, too.
- Lake Metigoshe
Jackie Norderhus Thomas via Only In North Dakota Lake Metigoshe is in the Turtle Mountains, on the border of Canada. Lake Metigoshe State Park, on the western shore, offers kayaking and hiking. In the winter, enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and ice fishing. Swim, camp, or play at the playground.
- Lake Ashtabula
Kat D Maruska via Only In North Dakota Our readers enjoy fishing, camping, and hiking at Lake Ashtabula, located in the eastern part of the state. There are three swimming areas and seven boat launches. Have a picnic or play at a playground. Come to snowmobile in the winter, and for bird watching in the fall and spring.
- Jamestown Reservoir
Kevin Wolsky via Only In North Dakota Jamestown Reservoir in central North Dakota offers fishing, hiking and biking trails, camping and cabins, concessions, and a playground. Take advantage of Lakeside Marina, boat launches, swimming areas, picnic shelters, and a disc golf course. Look for migrating waterfowl.
- Stump Lake
Virginia Steinke via Only In North Dakota Stump Lake, 12 miles south of Lakota, is peaceful and good for kayaking. Fish for walleye, perch, and pike. Visit Stump Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Stump Lake Park features a playground, walking trails, mini golf, volleyball, a café with a campground, and more.
- Lake Renwick
Kristi Sharp via Only In North Dakota Icelandic State Park is on the north shore of Lake Renwick for boating and fishing and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Six miles west of Cavalier, go to the swim beach, or rent a stand-up paddleboard or kayak at concessions. Hike in Gunlogson State Nature Preserve.
- Lake Upsilon
Susan Wilcox via Only In North Dakota Lake Upsilon is a stunning site for boating, fishing, watching sunsets, and meeting friendly people. It is named for its shape - Upsilon, meaning “Y” in Greek. Upsilon can be found in the Turtle Mountains, near the Canadian border.
- Golden Lake
Mavis Troftgruben Boura via Only In North Dakota Golden Lake features a seasonal resort called Golden Acres with a campground, boat launches, a beach, a playground, and a restaurant. Bring your kayak, or other boat, or do some fishing on this lake. In Steele County, the lake is stocked with walleye, perch, and pike.
- Crooked Lake
Robin Wahl via Only In North Dakota Crooked Lake, approximately 50 miles south of Minot, is a fun locale to celebrate the 4th of July. Boating and fishing are what you can find here – fish for walleye, bass, and perch.
- Lake Tschida
Tami Jorgensen Dittus via Only In North Dakota Stay in a campground or a cabin on Lake Tschida, also known as Heart Butte Reservoir. Fish, swim, and hunt, and visit the north shore concession stand seasonally for live bait, pizza, gas, firewood, and more. And come for the beauteous sunsets.
- Camel Hump Lake
Michael Holcomb via Only In North Dakota Camel Hump Lake is seven miles from the Montana state line and offers great trout and bass fishing. Camp here, and visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park while you are in the area.
- Lake Elsie
Jackie Domine via Only In North Dakota One of the most beautiful lakes in North Dakota, Lake Elsie is approximately one hour south of Fargo, in Hankinson. It is peaceful and features sandy beaches and good fishing. The lake was named for Elsie Hankinson, the daughter of the founder of Hankinson. Have your wedding at the Lake Elsie Wedding Barn, or attend the annual ice fishing derby.
- Lake Isabel
Andrew Ellingson via Only In North Dakota Enjoy the day with your family and friends at Lake Isabel in Dawson. Fish, swim, and build sandcastles on the beach. And Elks Camp Grassick on Lake Isabel provides summer fun and enrichment for children and adults with special needs.
Let’s go out and explore the most beautiful lakes, selected by our readers, that call our great state home. There is exceptional boating, swimming, fishing, and fun and games to be had. Join our North Dakota Nature Lovers Facebook group to discover more epic photographs like these and share your own. For more of the most beautiful lakes in North Dakota, read our articles about Chase Lake and Beaver Lake.
Deb Rising via Only In North Dakota
The overall fan favorite is Lake Sakakawea, the third largest man-made lake in the country, 75 miles north of Bismarck. Fish for salmon, walleye, and pike. Enjoy a full-service marina and boat launches. Visit Lake Sakakawea State Park, on the south shore, for hiking, camping, and a swim beach.
Kat Pfaff via Only In North Dakota
Another reader favorite is Devils Lake in northeastern North Dakota. Come for hiking, sunsets, and wildlife. Visit Grahams Island State Park. It is a good fishing spot, called the “perch capital of the world” – and it is home to walleye, northern pike, and bass, too.
Jackie Norderhus Thomas via Only In North Dakota
Lake Metigoshe is in the Turtle Mountains, on the border of Canada. Lake Metigoshe State Park, on the western shore, offers kayaking and hiking. In the winter, enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and ice fishing. Swim, camp, or play at the playground.
Kat D Maruska via Only In North Dakota
Our readers enjoy fishing, camping, and hiking at Lake Ashtabula, located in the eastern part of the state. There are three swimming areas and seven boat launches. Have a picnic or play at a playground. Come to snowmobile in the winter, and for bird watching in the fall and spring.
Kevin Wolsky via Only In North Dakota
Jamestown Reservoir in central North Dakota offers fishing, hiking and biking trails, camping and cabins, concessions, and a playground. Take advantage of Lakeside Marina, boat launches, swimming areas, picnic shelters, and a disc golf course. Look for migrating waterfowl.
Virginia Steinke via Only In North Dakota
Stump Lake, 12 miles south of Lakota, is peaceful and good for kayaking. Fish for walleye, perch, and pike. Visit Stump Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Stump Lake Park features a playground, walking trails, mini golf, volleyball, a café with a campground, and more.
Kristi Sharp via Only In North Dakota
Icelandic State Park is on the north shore of Lake Renwick for boating and fishing and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Six miles west of Cavalier, go to the swim beach, or rent a stand-up paddleboard or kayak at concessions. Hike in Gunlogson State Nature Preserve.
Susan Wilcox via Only In North Dakota
Lake Upsilon is a stunning site for boating, fishing, watching sunsets, and meeting friendly people. It is named for its shape - Upsilon, meaning “Y” in Greek. Upsilon can be found in the Turtle Mountains, near the Canadian border.
Mavis Troftgruben Boura via Only In North Dakota
Golden Lake features a seasonal resort called Golden Acres with a campground, boat launches, a beach, a playground, and a restaurant. Bring your kayak, or other boat, or do some fishing on this lake. In Steele County, the lake is stocked with walleye, perch, and pike.
Robin Wahl via Only In North Dakota
Crooked Lake, approximately 50 miles south of Minot, is a fun locale to celebrate the 4th of July. Boating and fishing are what you can find here – fish for walleye, bass, and perch.
Tami Jorgensen Dittus via Only In North Dakota
Stay in a campground or a cabin on Lake Tschida, also known as Heart Butte Reservoir. Fish, swim, and hunt, and visit the north shore concession stand seasonally for live bait, pizza, gas, firewood, and more. And come for the beauteous sunsets.
Michael Holcomb via Only In North Dakota
Camel Hump Lake is seven miles from the Montana state line and offers great trout and bass fishing. Camp here, and visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park while you are in the area.
Jackie Domine via Only In North Dakota
One of the most beautiful lakes in North Dakota, Lake Elsie is approximately one hour south of Fargo, in Hankinson. It is peaceful and features sandy beaches and good fishing. The lake was named for Elsie Hankinson, the daughter of the founder of Hankinson. Have your wedding at the Lake Elsie Wedding Barn, or attend the annual ice fishing derby.
Andrew Ellingson via Only In North Dakota
Enjoy the day with your family and friends at Lake Isabel in Dawson. Fish, swim, and build sandcastles on the beach. And Elks Camp Grassick on Lake Isabel provides summer fun and enrichment for children and adults with special needs.
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