Black Sandy State Park

Black Sandy State Park

Moonrise over Hauser Lake near Black Sandy
Location Lewis and Clark County, Montana
Nearest city Helena
Coordinates 46°44′46″N 111°53′10″W / 46.746°N 111.886°W / 46.746; -111.886Coordinates: 46°44′46″N 111°53′10″W / 46.746°N 111.886°W / 46.746; -111.886
Area 43 acres (17 ha)
Operated by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
Open Year-round

Black Sandy State Park, located 15 miles (24 km) north of Helena, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County, is a Montana state park on the shores of Hauser Lake, which is formed by Hauser Dam.[1] The dam, at an elevation of 3,835 feet (1,169 m), was built in the early 1900s and named after former governor Samuel Thomas Hauser.[2] The park is along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through the area in 1805.[3] Prior to 1980, Montana Power Company owned the land and operated the park as a recreation area. In 1980, Montana Power turned over management of the park to Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP). In 1982, it was designated a state recreation area. Later on the land was also turned over to FWP.[4]

Recreational activities available at the park include: hiking, tent camping (four sites), RV camping (29 sites), swimming, picnic areas, fishing for kokanee salmon and trout, boating, and water skiing.[5] Dogs are allowed.[6] The maximum stay allowed is seven days.[7] There are summertime campfire programs.[5] The state park reservation system recently adopted an internet-based reservation system.[8]

In February 2012, a prefabricated concrete office building was proposed[9][10][11] to replace a wooden 8 by 12 feet (2.4 m × 3.7 m) building with a 16 by 24 feet (4.9 m × 7.3 m) concrete building, with internet access. The new building is projected to cost $40,000.[8]

Just south of the park is White Sandy, a recreation site operated by the United States Bureau of Land Management which opened on May 25, 2007. It has 32 campsites and other amenities.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Black Sandy State Park". Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Hauser Lake". Moon Travel Guides. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Black Sandy State Park". Lewis and Clark Trail. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Black Sandy State Park" (PDF). Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Black Sandy State Park". Montana Department of Tourism. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Black Sandy State Park". Missoula Independent. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Black Sandy State Park". Visit Montana. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  8. 1 2 Byron, Eve (February 28, 2012). "FWP wants to build $40K visitor center". Helena Independent Record. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Draft Environmental Assessment Black Sandy State Park Office Building Project" (PDF). Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. February 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Comments Sought on Black Sandy State Park Building Project". Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. February 27, 2012. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Black Sandy State Park Proposed Office Building". Black Sandy State Park Proposed Office Building. April 5, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  12. ↑ "White Sandy Recreation Site". Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
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