2019-01-18 00:55:26
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. wonder 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. Each fall, the ground rumbles as crews saddle up to drive in the resident herd. Visit September 27, 2019, to witness the spectacle, or explore anytime—71,000 acres invite you to hike, mountain bike, rock climb, ride horseback, cruise scenic byways and fish in four mountain lakes. Stay nearby in any of the park lodges and be sure to check out the exhibits at the new visitor center. More on page 40. Don't Miss On March 1, 2019, celebrate the 100th anniversary of Custer State Park—and the birth of South Dakota’s state park system—with cake, ice cream and special programs, including guided hikes on park grounds. Before you go, download the Custer State Park app for tours including the “Centennial Journey,” which shares the park’s rich history. NEARBY CITIES Custer: 4 miles 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 carvers vision for the memorial and the information center to discover the parks history. More on pages 84 and 86 (Top 10 Things to Do in 2019). Don't Miss On-site dining makes it easy to enjoy a full day at Mount Rushmore. Dine at Carvers’ Marketplace for breakfast or lunch, but leave room for dessert. The vanilla ice cream you’ll taste here is based on the first written ice cream recipe brought to the U.S. by Thomas Jefferson in 1780! Try yours in a float or piled high in a cone. NEARBY CITIES Keystone: 3.5 miles; Hill City: 9 miles; Custer: 20 miles 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 a vision that is still being brought to life today in the Black Hills. When complete, Crazy Horse will be the world’s largest mountain carving, standing 563 feet high and stretching 641 feet long. More on page 42. Don't Miss Artists continue to work daily to bring Ziolkowski’s vision—and Crazy Horse’s legacy—to life. Watch them work from the viewing veranda of the memorial’s welcome center. Wishing for a closer look? Opt for a bus ride from the welcome center to the base of the mountain or an exclusive van tour that transports you all the way to the top. NEARBY CITIES Custer: 5 miles; Hill City: 10.5 miles 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, revealing multicolored layers of various rock types: shale (purple and yellow), sand and gravel (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 bison, eagles, coyotes, pronghorn and more. More on page 120. Don't Miss Stroll along the Fossil Exhibit Trail, an easy, 0.25-mile boardwalk path that features fossil replicas and informative exhibits about now-extinct creatures (like three-toed horses and saber-toothed cats) that once called this area home. NEARBY CITIES Interior: 1.5 miles; Wall: 7.5 miles; Kadoka: 23 miles 5.WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK Deep beneath the vast expanse of the golden, windswept prairie in western South Dakota is the sixth-longest cave in the world and one of the most complex cave systems, a subterranean realm of maze-like passageways, water-carved rock formations and delicate mineral growths. Wind Cave is considered a sacred place for Native Americans and, in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the bill that created Wind Cave National Park. This park also features more than 30 miles of hiking trails above ground, offering ample opportunities to spot bison, elk and other wildlife roaming freely. More on page 75. Don't Miss Take a guided tour of Wind Cave and choose from a broad spectrum of skill levels ranging from an easy, one-hour stroll along well-maintained pathways to a strenuous spelunking adventure off the beaten path. NEARBY CITIES Hot Springs: 7 miles; Custer: 18 miles 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, though its most spectacular sight lies deep beneath the surface. Discover Jewel Cave, the third-longest cave in the world, which boasts more than 180 miles of mapped passageways as well as illuminated caverns, glittering dogtooth spar crystals, textured “cave popcorn” and ceilings dripping with stalactites. More on page 44. Don't Miss It’s natural to spend all of your time underground at Jewel Cave, but don’t miss discoveries in the skies: 120-plus bird species have been spotted on-site, from golden eagles to great horned owls. Pick up a birding checklist at the visitor center and play “I Spy” along the trails. NEARBY CITIES Custer: 12.5 miles 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 including Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. You can still strike it rich in Deadwood at one of the many modern-day gaming halls and casinos. More on page 46. Don't Miss Make the new Deadwood Welcome Center (501 Main St.) your first stop in town. More than a hub for travel info, the center features exhibits, easy access to the trolley and historic downtown plus pedestrian paths and a bridge over pretty Whitewood Creek. NEARBY CITIES Lead: 4.7 miles; Sturgis: 13.5 miles; Spearfish: 15 miles 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, a section of the river in southeastern South Dakota is officially known as the Missouri National Recreational River, and its four reservoirs offer plenty of opportunities for water recreation. After a day of fishing, paddling, boating and jetskiing, camp along the river’s shore for an unforgettable outdoor experience. More starting on page 196. Don't Miss Yankton is an ideal home base for enjoying the Missouri River. Start in Riverside Park, where the historic Meridian Bridge today serves as a pedestrian path and vantage point to the Missouri’s flowing, scenic waters. For a different perspective, connect with a local outfitter to experience the river on a stand-up paddleboard, canoe, kayak or water bike. NEARBY CITIES Mobridge, Pierre, Chamberlain, Oacoma, Platte, Pickstown, Springfield and Yankton
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The Great 8
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