The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has many parks on the lake that still offer recreation that is free to the public (no South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks annual park sticker required). Whether you want to boat, fish, swim, picnic or camp, there is a park for you to relax in.

For those of you that love to fish, the area below the Gavins Point Dam offers some of the best catches around. There are two boat ramps on the Missouri River just below the dam. One is located at the Training Dike Recreation Area and the other is in Nebraska Tailwaters.

The Training Dike is accessible from the Toe Road on the north side of the dam and Nebraska Tailwaters is right off of Nebraska Hwy 121. The Training Dike and Cottonwood Day Use parks have boat ramps to access Lake Yankton. The fact that Lake Yankton doesn't allow boats with gas motors (only electric motors and "man power" are allowed) makes this the perfect choice for those who want a quiet setting to fish.

Don't have a boat to go fishing with? All of these areas have shoreline access. There is a handicapped fishing dock in Tailwaters and a new one at Lake Yankton in Cottonwood Day Use Park.

If fishing is not your thing, the Corps of Engineers parks offer many other recreational opportunities. Cottonwood boasts the lake area's only Frisbee golf course. This nine-hole course is in a beautiful open grassy setting surrounded by majestic cottonwood trees.

Whether you're a serious Frisbee golfer or you want to try it out for the first time, this course will provide hours of fun. Cottonwood also has individual picnic areas and a group shelter that is available to rent for your function or gathering.

The Training Dike area has easy access to both the river and Lake Yankton. It also has the only swimming beach below the dam. The area has numerous individual picnic sites and a small covered shelter available on a first-come first-serve basis.

Always popular is the large playground area, nicknamed Rainbow Park. This is a great place to take the kids for an hour or the whole day. The beach and the playground are within walking distance of each.

There are two campgrounds below the dam that have spectacular views of the Missouri River and Lake Yankton. Nebraska Tailwaters Campground has 43 campsites, all of which have views of the river. Cottonwood Campground, located next to the day use park, has 77 campsites, all of which have electrical hookups.

Each campground offers modern restrooms, campsites with picnic tables and grills. Cottonwood had reservable and first-come first serve campsites. Reservations can be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) at 1-877-444-6777.