Farm Island Recreation Area

Located east of Pierre, Farm Island Recreation Area attracts all types of visitors - campers, swimmers, hikers, anglers, bird watchers and bicyclists. With easy access to Lake Sharpe and popular beaches and trails, this park stays busy throughout the year. Additionally, the park has ties to the Lewis and Clark expedition, which is detailed in the Lewis and Clark Family Center. Two campgrounds contain a total of 90 sites and feature showers and electric hookups. Camping cabins, outfitted with beds, heating, air conditioning and electricity, are open year-round. Farm Island features an island nature area, which provides an outdoor classroom for visitors. Eight miles of hiking trails wind through the island and give hikers, walkers, cross-country skiers and bicyclists a chance for peace, quiet and nature observation. Deer and a variety of birds are very common to see on the island. Trail users may also notice traces of beaver activity near the water. Visitors also have access to a nature observation blind. The Farm Island Visitor Center stands in the center of the original Fort Sully and provides exhibits that help visitors learn more about the fort. No buildings remain, since it was abandoned and dismantled to use as steamboat fuel.