Pipestem Lake, North Dakota, USA

Pipestem Lake stretches five and a half miles long on Pipestem Creek in south-central North Dakota, just a few miles north of Jamestown. With 840 acres and 45 miles of shoreline, Pipestem Lake offers many recreational activities such as camping, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, hunting and more. Pipestem Lake was created by the US Army Corps of Engineers when they constructed Pipestem Dam. The dam was designed…
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    • All About Pipestem Lake, ND

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - North Dakota - South Central Region, ND -

    Pipestem Lake stretches five and a half miles long on Pipestem Creek in south-central North Dakota, just a few miles north of Jamestown. With 840 acres and 45 miles of shoreline, Pipestem Lake offers many recreational activities such as camping, boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, hunting and more.

    Pipestem Lake was created by the US Army Corps of Engineers when they constructed Pipestem Dam. The dam was designed for flood control, fish and wildlife management and recreation. The project was started in 1971 and completed in 1974. Pipestem Dam stands 107.5 feet from the stream bed to the top of the dam, and stretches approximately 4,000 feet long.

    Nestled in the prairies of North Dakota, Pipestem Lake is a nature lover’s paradise. A few miles from Pipestem Dam is the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge. It was established in 1935 and serves as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. Anglers enjoy casting their lines in for walleye, perch, catfish, and northern pike. Hunters find an abundance of waterfowl, small and upland game, big game and wild turkey. Big game includes deer, pronghorn, moose, elk, and bighorn sheep. Other hunting species include prairie dog, rabbit, fox and mountain lion. Hunting is permitted at the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, but due to annual variations in season length, bag limits and regulations, hunters should check with the refuge manager prior to hunting at Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge.

    Parkhurst is the main camping area at Pipestem Lake covering approximately 134 acres. Amenities at Parkhurst include boat docks and ramps, picnic sites, and shelters. The campground features six parking pads which are designed for horse trailers. There is free overnight camping and a group of shelters that are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

    Visitors will enjoy visiting Jamestown where they can walk the trail of Louis L’Amour, the western book writer. Visitors can take a self-guided walk to see where he grew up. Also in Jamestown is Frontier Village, a recreated Old West prairie town. The Frontier Village has the world’s largest buffalo, a 60-ton concrete sculpture commemorating the American bison. There is also a buffalo herd and an albino buffalo at the Frontier Village.

    The whole family will enjoy the beauty of Pipestem Lake and the amenities of historic Jamestown, so plan your visit soon.

    Things to Do at Pipestem Lake

    These are some activities in the Pipestem Lake, ND area visitors can enjoy:

    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Horseback Riding
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • National Wildlife Refuge

    What Kind of Fish Are in Pipestem Lake?

    Pipestem Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Catfish
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Walleye
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    Find Places to Stay at Pipestem Lake

    If you’re considering a Pipestem Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Pipestem Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Pipestem Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Pipestem Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Army Corps of Engineers

    Surface Area: 840 acres

    Shoreline Length: 45 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,431 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 0 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 1,454 feet

    Maximum Depth: 30 feet

    Water Volume: 32,000 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1974

    Drainage Area: 594 sq. miles

    Pipestem Lake Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

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