Jamestown Reservoir and Pipestem Dam Offer Year-Round Fishing, Boating, Hiking

Jamestown Reservoir and Pipestem Lake, both north of Jamestown, offer year-round outdoor recreation that matters for Stutsman County residents and the local economy. The Jamestown Reservoir sits about 2 miles north of Jamestown and covers 2,095 surface acres with 45 miles of shoreline, while Pipestem Lake lies about 5 miles north on US 52/281 and is reported at roughly 840 acres by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and about 820 acres by local tourism sources. Both sites provide fishing, boating, hiking and camping facilities that draw locals and visitors across seasons.

Management of the sites is split between federal and county authorities. Pipestem Lake is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the Corps describes the 840-acre Pipestem Lake as offering “year-round recreational opportunities including camping, picnicking, and wildlife viewing.” Recreational use and agricultural leasing at Jamestown Reservoir are administered by the Stutsman County Board of Park Commissioners under an agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation dated August 6, 1954. That federal-local arrangement underpins recreation, fish and wildlife conservation, and longer-term water management roles for the reservoir, which the Bureau of Reclamation says provides flood protection and a potential municipal water supply for Jamestown and will play a role in irrigation control when the Garrison Diversion Unit is constructed.

Facilities at both sites support a range of activities. Jamestown Reservoir offers seven boat launches and two marinas; Pelican Point is named as a marina and “has all the supplies you need to power your fun, including watercraft rentals.” Local businesses supplement those services: Lazy Fish offers kayaks and paddle boards north of Jamestown, and a new operator, Jamestown Recreation Rentals, markets pontoon and jet ski rentals from Hondo’s Hideaway. Pipestem features primitive camping, a groomed horseback riding trail and two nature trails for hiking and biking, while Jamestown Reservoir lists modern campgrounds, concessions, boat rentals and overnight sites with water and electric hookups.

Fishing and wildlife are central draws. Jamestown Reservoir is stocked by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and lists pike, walleye, crappie, bluegill, small mouth bass, muskie and bullhead among available species. Pipestem is promoted locally as strong for Yellow Perch, Northern Pike and Walleye. The Bureau of Reclamation also notes Jamestown Reservoir sits on one of the greatest migratory waterfowl flyways in North Dakota, reinforcing its value for birdwatching and wildlife viewing.

Practical planning resources include the Pipestem Dam Office at (701) 252-7666 and regional tourism contacts at the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation, PO Box 293, Jamestown, ND 58402, street address 120 2nd St SE, Jamestown, ND 58401. Recreation.gov is listed as the federal gateway for trip planning and reservations for national recreation areas.

For residents and local officials, these recreation assets are both community amenities and pieces of long-term water infrastructure. The federal-local governance structure established in 1954 means decisions about access, leasing and development intersect county oversight and federal water policy, including future irrigation projects. Confirming current acreage, shoreline measurements, facility hours and fees with the Pipestem Dam Office, the Stutsman County Park Board and the Jamestown tourism office will ensure accurate planning for outings and policy discussions moving forward.