Pactola (Pennington)

Pactola Lake in Pennington County, South Dakota

This lake has 8 Layers or 15 Layers for HD Version

Pactola Lake is the largest and deepest reservoir in the Black Hills, encompassing 823 acres with an impressive maximum depth of 150 feet and an average depth of 56 feet, located just 15 miles west of Rapid City, South Dakota. Constructed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program and authorized under the Flood Control Act of 1944, Pactola Dam was built between 1952 and 1956 to provide a reliable water supply for the rapidly growing city of Rapid City, whose existing wells were being exhausted by heavy use. The construction required the movement of more than 4.3 million cubic yards of embankment fill and resulted in the inundation of the historic mining town of Pactola, whose name originated from the Pactolus River in ancient Lydia (modern-day Turkey), famous for gold found in its bed and bestowed upon the valley by miners following the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1874-1877. The five-mile-long reservoir features 16 miles of pristine shoreline stretching through the heart of Black Hills National Forest, with U.S. Route 385 running along the dam's crest and the small town of Silver City located at the upstream western end. Following severe thunderstorms in 1972 that caused devastating flooding in Rapid City, the dam underwent critical safety modifications, with additional improvements completed in 1987 to ensure the structure's integrity. The dam and waters are managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, while the surrounding land is administered by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the 1.25 million-acre Black Hills National Forest, derived from the Lakota words "Paha Sapa," meaning "hills that are black," honoring the dark pine-covered hills rising thousands of feet above the surrounding prairie.

Pactola Lake is renowned as a premier fishing destination where record lake trout are caught annually, along with large brown trout that thrive in Rapid Creek both above and below the reservoir. The deep, cold waters are stocked with rainbow trout, lake trout, and brown trout, while the diverse fishery also supports kokanee salmon (one of only three locations in the entire Midwest where these fish can be found), largemouth bass, rock bass, crappie, northern pike, yellow perch, and bluegill. The spillway beneath the dam has earned a stellar reputation for exceptional fly fishing opportunities. The full-service Pactola Pines Marina, opened in 2000 at Custer Gulch on the south shore with capacity for 200 boats, offers pontoon and fishing boat rentals, canoes, paddleboards, kayaks, gasoline, groceries, food service, and supplies, making the lake a mecca for boaters of all types with no restrictions on motorized watercraft. An 88-unit campground nestled in pine trees along the south shore provides sites for tents, trailers, and RVs, while a group campground accommodates larger gatherings, and facilities include two boat launches, a swim beach, picnic areas, vault toilets, drinking water, and fire rings. The Pactola Visitor Center on the south side of the dam operates seasonally, offering interpretive exhibits about dam construction, forest management, and the region's glacial history. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the 2.2-mile Osprey Trail featuring two loops and a spur to a breathtaking overlook where hikers can watch ospreys and bald eagles soaring over the lake, while portions of the 111-mile Centennial Trail (running from Bear Butte State Park to Wind Cave National Park) and the Deerfield Trail provide additional hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, and mountain biking opportunities. Adventure seekers flock to Jenny Gulch for cliff jumping into the crystal-clear waters, while scuba divers can explore the limited remains of the submerged town of Pactola beneath the surface, making this stunning reservoir a year-round destination for fishing, boating, camping, swimming, hiking, wildlife viewing, and embracing the natural beauty of South Dakota's Black Hills.

Dimensions:

Small: 8"x12"

Medium: 12"x18"

Large: 16"x24"

Extra Large: 20"x30"

XX Large: 24"x36"

Gigantic 30"x45"

HD Extra Large: 20"x30" - 15 Layers

HD XX Large: 24"x36" - 15 Layers

HD Gigantic 30"x45" - 15 Layers

The difference between standard and HD maps is the number of layers. Standard maps have 1 land layer and 7 water layers. " The HD lake maps have 1 land layer and 14 water layers. So twice the detail. The HD Maps are limited to Extra Large, " XX Large, and Gigantic sizes only. On the smaller sizes the depth change of the wood is too extreme and you end up losing detail."