SOUTH DAKOTA
The land of Great Faces, Great Places. South Dakota is home to six National Park Service sites, 63 state parks and 200,000 square kilometers of natural splendour.
Marvel at history carved in stone and thousands of free-roaming buffalo, or hike the highest natural point east of the Rocky Mountains. Get off the grid by UTV, Jeep or mountain bike; see wildlife and wildflowers; or go back in time digging for fossils.
GREAT AMERICAN WEST HERITAGE:
• Learn About Native Americans – For a look into their way of life and connection to the land, the Oglala Lakota Living History Village offers stories and songs told by the Lakota people.
• Pay Tribute to the Past – The Crazy Horse Memorial is the world's largest mountain carving and a spellbinding tribute to the heroic Oglala Lakota warrior who stood up for what he believed in as he fought against Custer's army.
• See The Wild, Wild West – Full of outlaws, gold-seekers, characters and re-enactors, Deadwood is a rough-and-tumble 1800s Gold Rush town. Tour the Days of ‘76 Museum, which honours pioneers and prospectors, yearround or plan your trip around the Days of ‘76 Rodeo, Deadwood's annual event.
• Walk (or Drive!) in their Footsteps – The Native American National & State Scenic Byway provides breathtaking views of the Missouri River, diverse landscapes, and tribal history and culture through central South Dakota.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Mount Rushmore National Memorial – Near Keystone, the majestic figureheads of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln are a dedication to American change-makers.
• Badlands National Park – Called the land of stone and light, the rugged beauty of the Badlands puts a variety of ecosystems and striking geologic deposits on full display south of Wall.
• Custer State Park – South Dakota's first and largest state park. Drive the Wildlife Loop to see thousands of free-range bison, prairie dogs and other unique animals, which are especially impressive during the Annual Fall Buffalo Roundup event.
• Falls Park – The number one attraction in Sioux Falls, this urban waterfall is complete with a five-story observation deck, Stockyards AG Experience attraction and local restaurant Overlook Cafe.
UNDER-THE-RADAR SPOTS:
• John Lopez Studio/Kokomo Gallery – Large-scale and intricate fantastical welded beasts made of repurposed metal symbolise Western life in Lemmon. One of his most recognizable pieces of work, “Dignity: of Earth and Sky,” is located on the banks of the Missouri river near Chamberlain
• Sylvan Lake at Custer State Park – A favourite cool-down spot for photographers, artists and anyone looking for a lake getaway, the watery wonderland was featured in the movie “National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets.”
• Faulkton Grain Elevator Mural – Painted by a world-renowned Australian artist, this photorealist mural of two kids welcomes you to Faulkton, one of the most significant pieces of public art in the state.
GET CULTURED:
• For a Taste of Frontier Life – See the Ingalls Homestead of “Little House on the Prairie” in De Smet. Go for a covered wagon ride, learn the arts of hay twisting and wheat grinding, drive a pony cart and learn crafts.
• Have a Dino-mite Time – See Ice Age fossils and tour an active indoor dig site at the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs.
• Explore the Newest State Park – Good Earth at Blood Run is a National Historic Landmark with evidence of some of the longest human habitation in the nation across the fertile floodplains.
• Get a History Lesson – Nestled into a bluff near Pierre, The South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center is the headquarters of the State Historical Society, the state archives, and rotating and permanent exhibits.