South Dakota – National Parks and Treasures
South Dakota
Go back in time and make memories in the Wild West of the United States.
South Dakota is a state in the western United States that has a lot of natural and living past that will amaze you. Take a look at the famous 18-meter stone faces of Mount Rushmore. Crazy Horse Memorial is a unique place to see how God made the world. In Custer State Park, you can see wildlife and interesting rock formations. In eastern South Dakota’s open grassland, you can roam. Badlands National Park has strange, otherworldly scenery that you can explore. From the first Native Americans who lived there to the Wild West and beyond, South Dakota is full of life and ready to be explored.
Parks and Treasures in the National
You may have seen the four faces of Mount Rushmore for the first time in a book or on TV. Now is the time to see them for real. The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is seen by almost 3 million people every year. Insider tip: It’s especially beautiful to see the faces softly change colors at sunrise. The four U.S. presidents carved into the rock look their best in the early morning light.
Badlands National Park is another must-see in South Dakota. It’s a truly amazing place to visit, whether you go hiking on the Notch Trail to see the amazing rock formations or look for the bighorn sheep that live there. At Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument, you can explore some of the biggest caves in the world. Visit the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site to learn about the events of the Cold War. The Missouri National Recreational River, which people lovingly call “The Mighty Mo,” is a great place to relax and have fun.
Native American Culture
South Dakota is home to nine American Indian groups, so it’s a great place to learn about a lot of different Native American cultures. On the western side of the state, at the Crazy Horse Memorial, you can see the world’s biggest sculpture that is still being built. Bear Butte State Park and Custer State Park, with Black Elk Peak, offer sacred beauty. Visit the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village in eastern South Dakota. It is the only ongoing archaeological site in the state. In the beautiful outdoors, both Sica Hollow State Park and Good Earth State Park at Blood Run are important cultural places.
Make sure you go to a powwow to see culture happen. These traditional Native American events, which are also called “wacipi,” happen all over South Dakota every year. They include drumming, singing, and dancers dressed in elaborate regalia. The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Wacipi is the oldest powwow in South Dakota and one of the oldest in the country. It is usually held in July.
Experiences in the Wild West
Enjoy the Wild West, where cowboys are still free to roam. Visit Historic Deadwood to see the land where Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Seth Bullock lived. Guided horseback rides through South Dakota’s beautiful scenery are available. You can also visit museums that are full of history and artifacts, or in the summer, you can watch a live rodeo.
More Beautiful Nature
There are beautiful wild places all over the state. In Custer State Park in western South Dakota, you can easily see bison (locals call them “buffalo”), antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and other animals. There are campgrounds, scenic byways, views, and 568 kilometers of trails in the Black Hills National Forest, which is close by. The Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in the eastern part of South Dakota. It is home to almost 400 different kinds of birds. Rock formations, forests, and open prairies make great places for hiking and bicycling. Across the state, bodies of water are great for fishing, boating, and paddling. In late August, huge fields of sunflowers bloom across most of the central and eastern parts of the state. Don’t miss them!