Paddling near Brookings, SD

Set in Brookings County within eastern South Dakota's Glacial Lakes region, Brookings sits amid dozens of glacially scoured prairie lakes and the Big Sioux River, giving paddlers both flatwater and moving-water options within a short drive. The Jay Heath Canoe and Kayak Trail runs the Big Sioux from US-14, while Oakwood Lakes State Park—a chain of eight connecting glacial lakes with nearly 3,000 acres of surface—anchors the local scene.