Cherry Lake: Lake, Fisheries and Local History

Cherry Lake brings together a lake in Eddy County, North Dakota, and a local history that dates back to the 19th century. The body of water covers around 654 acres and is also known as Lake Coe. If you come across this second name, it refers to the same lake. For your trip planning, two distinct interests come together here: the body of water and its fisheries management, and the history of the area.

Lake, Fisheries and Access

The NDGF has stocked Cherry Lake with fish and is responsible for managing its fishery. For travelers who look beyond a lake’s size when assessing it, the fishery is a distinct feature of the lake. Fish stocking and management give the water a specific character that, along with its size, defines Cherry Lake.

Access to Cherry Lake is limited, but possible via private property and a public NDGF boat ramp on the west shore. For your planning, these access routes are an important distinction: the public ramp is a clearly identified access point, while the lake as a whole is accessible only on a limited basis. If Cherry Lake is to be the focus of your stay, check local conditions before setting out and factor access into your plans.

Traces of Local History

The area was first known as Greb, and later as Cherry Lake. Around 1875, Benjamin Fay settled in the southwest of Section 8, 148-63, at a site that is now part of Cherry Lake. There may have been a stop or post office there on the Fort Totten Trail. This history thus brings together an early settlement, a change of name, and a possible facility along the trail.

The Fort Totten Trail ran along the western edge of what is now Cherry Lake Township and was still visible in its original grassland in the early 1920s. Several decades separate Fay’s settlement around 1875 from this later record of the trail’s visibility, so the two details highlight different points in time. The locations should also be distinguished: the boat ramp is on the lake’s west shore, while the trail ran along the western edge of the township. Both details refer to a western side, but to different points of reference.

Cherry Lake Township School is another local landmark. It is located in Eddy County, Township 148, Range 063, Section 21. Fay’s settlement, by contrast, is associated with the southwest of Section 8, 148-63. The different section numbers help distinguish these two geographic points of reference in the local history.

Choose a Vacation Rental Based on Your Travel Interests

When looking for a vacation rental, first consider what interests you most about Cherry Lake: the lake and its fishery, or the history of the area. If the body of water is to be the focus, its limited accessibility should be part of your planning. For a stay centered on history, the different time periods and locations offer another perspective on Cherry Lake and its township.

Discover more destinations: New Rockford

Go to the main travel overview: Eddy County.