South Dakota Scenic Drives Guide - South Dakota Scenic Drives '24
The Revenant Route
2024-11-20 14:40:25
At a Glance → Distance: 284 miles Trip Length: 1-2 days Start/Stop: Lemmon or Chamberlain
In 1823, frontiersman Hugh Glass was mauled by a bear and left for dead in South Dakota’s Grand River National Grassland — an epic tale immortalized in the 2015 film “The Revenant.” As you drive, try to imagine crawling the route, as Glass did, to reach the place where his safe haven, Fort Kiowa, once stood.
Top Stops
Grand River Museum
Visit this museum to see an astonishingly detailed sculpture depicting the Hugh Glass bear attack by artist John Lopez. Open May–September.
Shadehill Recreation Area
A monument at this park marks the spot where the infamous bear attack took place.
Thunder Butte
Glass used this 2,733-foot landmark as a navigation point during his journey to Fort Kiowa.
Cheyenne River Reservation
It was in this neck of the woods that Glass fashioned a raft and floated down the Missouri River to safety.
Chamberlain
Though Fort Kiowa no longer stands, several attractions in Chamberlain offer a look at local history, including Dignity: Of Earth & Sky and Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center.
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