When the weather is hot, hot, hot, the best way to spend the day is at a local pool, swimming hole, or one of the beaches in South Dakota. Here’s a list of the best swimming holes in South Dakota to help you stay cool!
- Angostura Reservoir, Hot Springs
Angostura Recreation Area/Facebook The reservoir at Angostura Recreation Area boasts 36 miles of coastline, and several gorgeous, sandy beaches. The water is clear and clean, so jump right in and cool off!
Address: 13157 North Angostura Road, Hot Springs, SD, 57747
- Splash Central Waterpark, Huron
Splash Central Waterpark You’ll never run out of things to do at Splash Central Waterpark in Huron. You’ll find several waterslides, an Olympic-sized pool, a lazy river, and special areas for little kids. They’re open every day from 12:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. Address: 345 9th Street Southwest, Huron, SD, 57350
- WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort, Rapid City
OpenAire/Website Stay away from the sun’s hot, blistering rays and choose this indoor water park instead. This park includes 30,000 square feet of fun, including a lazy river, waterslides and tons of pools. You can even stay here overnight! Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Address: 1314 North Elk Vale Road, Rapid City, SD, 57703
- Sylvan Lake, Custer
Frank Thompsen Photos/flickr Sylvan Lake has a great little beach and swimming area where you can bask, bathe and even jump off the nearby rocks and cliffs.
Address: 13329 US Highway 16A, Custer, SD, 57730
- Wild Water West Waterpark, Sioux Falls
Wild Water West Waterpark/Facebook With its wave pool, water slides, a lazy river, a swim-up bar and multiple pools suitable for all ages, you’re going to want to spend an entire day here! Open every day during the summer from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Address: 26767 466th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD, 57106
- Evans Plunge Mineral Springs, Hot Springs
Evans Plunge Mineral Springs//Facebook Evans Plunge Mineral Springs has both an indoor and outdoor pool for splashing around. The outdoor pool is smaller, but if you want to bask in the sun in between dunking, head out there. Otherwise, enjoy the slides and pools indoors! Open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Address: 1145 North River Street, Hot Springs, SD, 57747
- Lewis and Clark Lake, Yankton
Jodi I/Tripadvisor Lewis and Clark Recreation Area is just full to the brim with natural beauty, and its beach and swimming area are no exception. You can also camp, hike, and enjoy boating or fishing here.
Address: 43349 SD Highway 52, Yankton, SD, 57078
- Splash Zone Waterpark, Brookings
Sunshine81/Tripadvisor This waterpark is part of the Days Inn in Brookings, but it’s also open to the general public. The indoor waterpark includes a zero-depth pool, lazy river, a couple of waterslides, and plenty of water cannons and sprinklers.
Address: 2500 6th Street, Brookings, SD, 57006
- Watertown Aquatic Center, Watertown
City of Watertown Visit the city of Watertown for a fun outdoor pool and play area that will keep you cool all day. The main pool has a zero-depth entry area, so it’s suitable for swimmers of all ages. You’ll find lots of interactive water features and even a lazy river. Open seven days a week from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Address: 825 3rd Street SW, Watertown, SD, 57201
- Cascade Falls, Hot Springs
Dixie C./Tripadvisor The swimming hole at Cascade Falls will keep your kids entertained for hours. Watch for poison ivy along the banks, and slather plenty of sunscreen on throughout the day. You’ll find the swimming hole adjacent to the picnic area, along South Dakota Highway 71.
Address: Northeast Fall River, SD, 57747
- Spearfish Aquatic Center, Spearfish
Spearfish Aquatic Center The Spearfish Aquatic Center is two acres of H2O fun! The park has a lazy river, three waterslides, a zero-entry pool for little kids, an adventure walk… and a 400-gallon dump bucket. Open every day from noon to 7 p.m.
Address: 122 Recreation Lane, Spearfish, SD, 57783
- Pactola Lake, Pennington County
JA699/Tripadvisor The largest lake in the Black Hills, Pactola Lake is well-known for its azure-blue waters. The beach here is nice, and the water is clean and clear.
Address: 1019 North 5th Street, Custer, SD, 57730
Angostura Recreation Area/Facebook
The reservoir at Angostura Recreation Area boasts 36 miles of coastline, and several gorgeous, sandy beaches. The water is clear and clean, so jump right in and cool off!
Address: 13157 North Angostura Road, Hot Springs, SD, 57747
Splash Central Waterpark
You’ll never run out of things to do at Splash Central Waterpark in Huron. You’ll find several waterslides, an Olympic-sized pool, a lazy river, and special areas for little kids. They’re open every day from 12:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. Address: 345 9th Street Southwest, Huron, SD, 57350
OpenAire/Website
Stay away from the sun’s hot, blistering rays and choose this indoor water park instead. This park includes 30,000 square feet of fun, including a lazy river, waterslides and tons of pools. You can even stay here overnight! Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Address: 1314 North Elk Vale Road, Rapid City, SD, 57703
Frank Thompsen Photos/flickr
Sylvan Lake has a great little beach and swimming area where you can bask, bathe and even jump off the nearby rocks and cliffs.
Address: 13329 US Highway 16A, Custer, SD, 57730
Wild Water West Waterpark/Facebook
With its wave pool, water slides, a lazy river, a swim-up bar and multiple pools suitable for all ages, you’re going to want to spend an entire day here! Open every day during the summer from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Address: 26767 466th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD, 57106
Evans Plunge Mineral Springs//Facebook
Evans Plunge Mineral Springs has both an indoor and outdoor pool for splashing around. The outdoor pool is smaller, but if you want to bask in the sun in between dunking, head out there. Otherwise, enjoy the slides and pools indoors! Open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Address: 1145 North River Street, Hot Springs, SD, 57747
Jodi I/Tripadvisor
Lewis and Clark Recreation Area is just full to the brim with natural beauty, and its beach and swimming area are no exception. You can also camp, hike, and enjoy boating or fishing here.
Address: 43349 SD Highway 52, Yankton, SD, 57078
Sunshine81/Tripadvisor
This waterpark is part of the Days Inn in Brookings, but it’s also open to the general public. The indoor waterpark includes a zero-depth pool, lazy river, a couple of waterslides, and plenty of water cannons and sprinklers.
Address: 2500 6th Street, Brookings, SD, 57006
City of Watertown
Visit the city of Watertown for a fun outdoor pool and play area that will keep you cool all day. The main pool has a zero-depth entry area, so it’s suitable for swimmers of all ages. You’ll find lots of interactive water features and even a lazy river. Open seven days a week from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Address: 825 3rd Street SW, Watertown, SD, 57201
Dixie C./Tripadvisor
The swimming hole at Cascade Falls will keep your kids entertained for hours. Watch for poison ivy along the banks, and slather plenty of sunscreen on throughout the day. You’ll find the swimming hole adjacent to the picnic area, along South Dakota Highway 71.
Address: Northeast Fall River, SD, 57747
Spearfish Aquatic Center
The Spearfish Aquatic Center is two acres of H2O fun! The park has a lazy river, three waterslides, a zero-entry pool for little kids, an adventure walk… and a 400-gallon dump bucket. Open every day from noon to 7 p.m.
Address: 122 Recreation Lane, Spearfish, SD, 57783
JA699/Tripadvisor
The largest lake in the Black Hills, Pactola Lake is well-known for its azure-blue waters. The beach here is nice, and the water is clean and clear.
Address: 1019 North 5th Street, Custer, SD, 57730
Quick Hits: Swimming Holes in South Dakota by Annie Sandmeier
What is the cleanest lake in South Dakota? When you hail from South Dakota, you are used to seeing clean and pristine nature all around you, but would you believe that some states do not have this luxury? This being said, nearly all SoDak lakes are clean and clear, but the best might just be Enemy Swim Lake, a glacial lake with nearly turquoise-colored water.
Does South Dakota have any natural inland lakes? While several South Dakota lakes are man-made, there are a handful of all-natural, inland lakes, including Lake Kampeska, Waubay Lake, and Lake Oahe.
What is the biggest lake in South Dakota? South Dakota has a number of large lakes, the biggest of which is the previously mentioned Lake Oahe. Stretching from Pierre to Bismarck, ND (an incredible 231 miles!), Lake Oahe — which translates to Big Water — is considered to be not only the largest in SoDak, but also the fourth-largest reservoir in the country. Did we mention that it is also 205 feet deep?
What is the only state with no natural lakes? It may have an iconic bay, a few reservoirs, and a whopping 4,000 ponds, but the state of Maryland has no natural lakes.
What state has the least amount of lakes? Once again, Maryland takes the cake! (Don’t feel too bad for them though, as they still have beautiful harbors and access to some of the freshest seafood around.)
What state has the most lakes? You’d think this one would be a no brainer, as Minnesota is nicknamed the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” right? Wrong! Come to find out, Alaska has the most, with a whopping 3 million lakes within a modest 663,000-square miles… but who’s counting?
Where’s your favorite swimming hole in South Dakota? Tell us in the comments!
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