[1] The Des Lacs River was formed by catastrophic meltwater release from two large glacial lakes about 10,000 years ago.

[2] The Des Lacs river is perennial, exhibiting many old oxbow lakes, meander scars, and relict channels.

[2] Ethnographic accounts indicate that the Assiniboine, Sioux, Mandan, Hidatsa, Plains Ojibwa, and Atsina peoples all made use of the region for hunting or trade route purposes, though few archaeological sites have been formally identified.

Historical records indicate that southern Assiniboine tribes were the last inhabitants of the Des Lacs River valley prior to Euro-American settlement.

During this period the Des Lacs River was briefly used to transport grain by barge to Kenmare, North Dakota, where it was unloaded and shipped on the Soo Line.