Lake Herman State Park

Lake Herman State Park sits just west of Madison on the shores of Lake Herman, a 1,350-acre natural prairie lake that provides the best swimming, fishing, and camping in the area. The park has a beach, a boat ramp, campsites, and picnic areas. In summer it draws families from throughout the region; in winter the lake freezes solid and is popular for ice fishing.

The historic homestead cabin from 1871 is the park's most tangible link to the area's pioneer history — a small, well-preserved log structure that shows just how modest the original homestead dwellings were. The surrounding landscape is flat prairie broken by the lake and stands of cottonwood, typical of eastern South Dakota. Bird-watching is excellent in spring and autumn migration seasons.

things to do sight
A story
The 1871 homestead cabin at Lake Herman State Park belonged to Herman Luce, a settler who arrived in South Dakota when it was still Dakota Territory and built the small log structure while the Sioux Wars were still ongoing nearby. The cabin was preserved as the park was developed and stands as one of the earliest surviving homestead structures in this part of the Great Plains.