Big Spirit Lake

A natural body of water with a surface area of around 2,300 hectares, Big Spirit Lake is located in Dickinson County in northwest Iowa. The lake's northern coast shares a border with Minnesota and is a part of the Iowa Great Lakes network of lakes. It is Iowa's biggest natural lake. The lake was known as Minnewaukon by the Dakotah Indians. Because of Indian beliefs about a bad spirit living in the lake, early French traders gave it the name Lac D' Esprit.

All sides of Big Spirit are accessible because of state parks and recreation zones. One such well-liked location on the western shore is Marble Beach, which has the biggest campground in the area. Mini-Wakan State Park, located on the north shore, was established during the CCC era. This lakefront state park still has a lot of lovely log buildings from that time period.

The largest Great Lake in Iowa is a haven for all kinds of aquatic recreation. Fishing rigs, pontoon boats, and leisure boats are some examples of motorized watercraft. Boats can be rented at locations like Spirit Lake's Great Lakes Marine Company. Along the shore, boat ramps are scattered across many of the public parks.

Location: Dickinson County, Iowa