Black Sandy State Park

Black Sandy State Park is a public recreation area on the western shore of Hauser Lake reservoir, an impoundment of the Missouri River, located thirteen miles (21 km) northeast of Helena in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, in the United States.^[2] The park is along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Black Sandy State Park
Moonrise over Hauser Lake near Black Sandy
Location in Montana
Location	Lewis and Clark County, Montana, United States
Nearest city	Helena, Montana
Coordinates	46°45′25″N 111°53′23″W[1]
Area	43 acres (17 ha)[2]
Elevation	3,904 ft (1,190 m)[1]
Designation	Montana state park
Established	1980[3]
Visitors	43,966 (in 2023)[4]
Administrator	Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Website	Black Sandy State Park

History

Prior to 1980, Montana Power Company owned the land and operated the park as a recreation area. In 1980, the company turned over management of the park to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP). In 1982, it was designated a state recreation area. Subsequently, the land was also turned over to FWP.^[5]

Activities and amenities

Recreational activities available at the park include hiking, tent and RV camping, swimming, picnicking, fishing, boating, and water skiing.^[6] Fish species include rainbow and brown trout, walleye, and perch.^[7]

In the news

In 2012, a prefabricated concrete office building was proposed 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 at a cost of $40,000.^{[8][9][10][11]}

Adjoining property

Just south of the park, the White Sandy Recreation Area operated by the United States Bureau of Land Management has campsites and other amenities.^[12]

References

1. "Black Sandy State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
2. "Black Sandy State Park". Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
3. "Park Origin by Date". Montana State Parks. 2014. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
4. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (May 6, 2024). "2023 Montana State Parks Annual Visitation Report" (PDF). fwp.mt.gov. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
5. "Black Sandy State Park Brochure". Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
6. "Black Sandy State Park". Montana Kids. Travel Montana. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
7. "Hauser Reservoir". Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
8. "Draft Environmental Assessment Black Sandy State Park Office Building Project" (PDF). Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. February 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
9. "Comments Sought on Black Sandy State Park Building Project". Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. February 27, 2012. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
10. "Black Sandy State Park Proposed Office Building". Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. April 5, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
11. Byron, Eve (February 28, 2012). "FWP wants to build $40K visitor center". Helena Independent Record. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
12. "White Sandy Recreation Area". Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved June 15, 2018.

External links

• Black Sandy State Park Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
• Black Sandy State Park Trail Map Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks