Big Stone Lake – Corona, South Dakota - Atlas Obscura
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Big Stone Lake

Corona, South Dakota

The lowest point in South Dakota and the source of the Minnesota River.  

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Big Stone Lake McGhiever / CC BY-SA 3.0
Big Stone Lake McGhiever / CC BY-SA 3.0
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While there is a whole sport dedicated to summiting the highest point in each state, there is not one for summiting the lowest point in each state. You may assume this is because getting to a state’s lowest point isn’t really a challenge. However, very few states without access to a coast have easily reachable low points.

One of the inland states where it is possible to summit the low point is South Dakota. At an elevation of 968 feet, Big Stone Lake, located on the Minnesota border, is South Dakota’s lowest point. The lake covers 12,610 acres of surface area and is the source of the Minnesota River, which flows 332 miles to the Mississippi River.

Know Before You Go

The easiest access to Big Stone Lake from the South Dakota side is at Hartford Beach State Park, off of South Dakota State Route 15.

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January 3, 2016
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