Lakota Lake Road will be getting an upgrade starting today. The Great American Outdoor Act (GAOA) is providing funding for the reconstruction of the road going into the day-use area, the parking area and needed gate repairs.

Lakota Lake Road is currently a single lane road that connects to a popular day-use recreation site and trailhead.

The project will reconstruct the road to two-lanes, fix drainage issues, eliminate ruts, resurface the road and parking, add barriers, and replace non-functional gates.

Lakota Lake Road will be closed (see closure order: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd951753.pdf) beginning September 15, 2021 until the project is complete, which is anticipated to be done by November 15, 2021.

Lakota Lake is located southeast of Keystone SD, on US Highway 16A (Iron Mountain Road) within the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve. It is a small, non-motorized lake and a popular destination for fishing and kayaking. A hitchrail is provided for horses, along with access to Iron Creek Trail #15. Several picnic tables offer a scenic view of the lake.

For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.