2021-01-25 06:51:09
GREAT PLACES THAT PUT SOUTH DAKOTA ON THE MAP Spectacular landscapes. Dazzling caves. Colossal carvings of legendary leaders. In South Dakota, our special places are larger than life, and they’re ready to surprise and amaze you. So bring your imagination — and your sense of wonder — and discover the greatness that lies within our beloved lands. "This park is absolutely gorgeous! It’s a lot bigger than I thought and it has so many different parts to it. The buffalo are amazing." —Linda H. truly wild #1 STATE PARKS THAT GIVE NATIONAL PARKS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY Budget Travel 1. CUSTER STATE PARK Experience the rugged beauty of the Wild West where buffalo still thunder across the earth and graze the open plains — especially during the park’s annual Buffalo Roundup. The last Friday of September, the ground rumbles as crews saddle up to drive in the herd of more than 1,400. The park’s 71,000 acres invite you to hike, mountain bike, rock climb, ride horseback, cruise a scenic byway and fish in four mountain lakes. Stay in any of the park lodges and be sure to check out the exhibits at the Visitor Center. More on page 77. ›› Don't Miss Dine in any of Custer State Park’s four restaurants and you’ll know: That isn’t your average picnic fare. Whether you try juicy burgers with a view of Legion Lake or a fresh salad on Sylvan Lake Lodge’s stone veranda, you’ll enjoy locally sourced ingredients — especially buffalo — prepared to your liking. Nearby, the town of Custer is making a name for itself as a haven for foodies. Go for the creative flavor combinations at Black Hills Burger & Bun, small-batch brews with craveable pub fare at Mt. Rushmore Brewing Company/Pounding Fathers Brew Pub and chef-driven, globally inspired plates at Skogen Kitchen. Just be sure to reserve a table for the latter. Nearby Towns: Custer (14 miles) awe-inspiring 2 TOP 10 REMARKABLE LANDSCAPES OF AMERICA Collette Travel Services 2. MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL Towering high above the treetops and juxtaposed against limitless skies, Mount Rushmore is an impressive tribute to freedom and democracy in America. The awe-inspiring granite sculpture features 60-foot faces of four U.S. presidents who played an integral role in the birth, expansion, development and preservation of the nation: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Visit the Sculptor’s Studio to learn about the sculptor Gutzon Borglum’s vision for the memorial and the Information Center to discover the park’s history. More on page 41. ›› Don't Miss Visitors to Mount Rushmore will be greeted by significant recent enhancements to the memorial's Avenue of Flags, Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center and Grand View Terrace. Enjoy the updated experience, and then stop in Carvers’ Café (and ice cream shop!) for a sweet treat. For more details, visit TravelSouthDakota.com/Mount-Rushmore Nearby Towns: Keystone (3.5 miles); Hill City (12.5 miles); Custer (20 miles) 3 3.CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL® Imagine legendary Lakota warrior Crazy Horse sitting tall atop his spirited horse, arm outstretched as he points to the lands of his people. This image, envisioned by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski in 1948, is being brought to life today by blasting and sculpting crews working year-round. Crazy Horse is the world’s largest mountain carving in progress, standing 563 feet high and stretching 641 feet long. More information beginning on page 84. ›› Don't Miss From May through October, Crazy Horse Memorial hosts a variety of special events in the great outdoors. Depending on the month, you might join one of two volksmarches (organized hikes), marvel at a multimedia laser light show projected on the mountainside during Legends in Light® Laser Show, or watch a traditional Native American dance performance on the outdoor viewing veranda. Nearby Towns: Custer (7 miles); Hill City (12 miles) 4 4. BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK Take in sweeping vistas of otherworldly landscapes and stunning panoramas of vividly colored buttes, pinnacles, spires and canyons at Badlands National Park. The 244,000-acre park — once known as Mako Sica (a Lakota phrase meaning “land bad”) — features eroded land formations that reveal multicolored layers of various rock types: shale (purple and yellow), sand and clay (tan and gray), iron oxides (red and orange) and volcanic ash (white). While you’re here, drive the Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway and keep your eyes open for an array of wildlife, including eagles, coyotes, pronghorn and bison. Since being given more room to roam, the resident conservation herd numbers around 1,200. Spot individuals and small groups along the park’s Sage Creek Rim Road. More on page 66. ›› Don't Miss Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep were introduced to Badlands National Park more than 50 years ago. They fit right into the park’s rugged terrain, steep canyons and grassy meadows. The overlooks at both Pinnacles and Cedar Pass tend to grant good views — just look for the species’ large, curved horns. Nearby Towns: Interior (1.5 miles); Wall (7.5 miles); Kadoka (23 miles) adventure 5 5. WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK Deep beneath the vast expanse of the golden, windswept prairie in western South Dakota is the seventh-longest cave in the world and one of the most complex cave systems. Wind Cave has long been considered a sacred place for Native Americans. In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the bill that created Wind Cave National Park, the first cave in the world to be designated as a national park. Above ground, explore more than 30 miles of hiking trails offering ample opportunities to spot bison, elk and more than 100 species of birds. Then, learn about the geologic history of the area on the National Park Service's self-guided Geologic Driving Tour. More on page 100. ›› Don't Miss After advocates brought attention to the fact that only about 1,000 bison existed in the U.S., Wind Cave received 14 of the animals from the New York Zoological Society in 1913. Today, some 500 bison roam the park, favoring prairie dog towns and fresh burn sites for their short grasses. Chat with a ranger upon your arrival to learn of the herd’s latest whereabouts. Nearby Towns: Hot Springs (7 miles); Custer (18 miles) spectacular 6 6. JEWEL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT Located in a scenic ponderosa pine forest, this 1,279-acre park is a peaceful retreat for hiking, bird-watching and viewing colorful wildflowers. However, its most spectacular sight lies deep beneath the surface. Discover Jewel Cave, the third-longest cave in the world, which boasts more than 202 miles of mapped passageways as well as illuminated caverns, glittering dogtooth spar crystals, textured “cave popcorn” and ceilings dripping with stalactites. More on page 76. ›› Don't Miss From the 20-minute Discovery Talk to the Historic Lantern Tour to the Wild Caving excursion characterized by rope-assists and belly-crawls, there’s an experience for every visitor at Jewel Cave. The monument’s most popular adventure is the Scenic Cave Tour. This experience allows visitors to view the cave’s most astounding formations. As a result, the tour tends to sell out in summer and holiday periods, so reserve in advance at BlackHillsVacations.com. Nearby Towns: Custer (13 miles) 7 7. HISTORIC DEADWOOD Step back into the days of the Wild West as you stroll down Main Street in Historic Deadwood — an entire town that’s been designated as a National Historic Landmark. This former mining camp boomed during the gold rush of the 1870s, drawing prospectors, outlaws and larger-than-life characters like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. (It’s booming again now thanks to HBO’s Deadwood: The Movie, a 2019 film based on the network’s Emmy Award-winning series.) By the way, you can still strike it rich in Deadwood at one of the many modern-day gaming halls and casinos. More on page 114. ›› Don't Miss Late-May through late-September, witness the wise-cracking antics of Wild Bill, Calamity Jane and crew at Deadwood Alive’s Main Street reenactments. The performances on the storied streets of Deadwood are family-friendly and free to watch. Nearby Towns: Lead (3.5 miles); Sturgis (14 miles); Spearfish (15 miles) 8 8. MISSOURI RIVER After Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery completed its 1804 expedition, the “Mighty Mo” became one of the main routes for westward expansion. Today, its four reservoirs offer plenty of opportunities for water recreation, and a section of the river in southeastern South Dakota is officially known as the Missouri National Recreational River. After a day of fishing, paddling, boating and jet-skiing, camp along the river’s shore for an unforgettable outdoor experience. More on pages 186, 225 and 232. ›› Don't Miss Yankton is an ideal home base for enjoying the Missouri River. Start at local favorite Lewis and Clark Recreation Area for fun on the water, followed by camping under the stars. In Yankton and beyond, riverside communities offer equipment rentals to outfit your adventure — choose from power boats to pontoons, jet skis to stand-up paddleboards and more. Nearby Towns: Mobridge, Pierre, Chamberlain, Oacoma, Platte, Pickstown, Springfield and Yankton
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THE GREAT 8
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