South Dakota has broad expanses of prairie, mountain, lake and river-break country open for you and your walking shoes. You'll want to explore the state's hiking trails. Fall is also a great time for a hike...or a ride, or a drive to see South Dakota's fall foliage. Fishing and hunting enthusiasts love South Dakota for its great variety of wildlife and unbeatable locations. Motorcyclists enjoy South Dakota's wide-open spaces. One of the biggest events every summer is the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Cyclists rave about South Dakota’s awesome rides. Even the International Mountain Biking Association gave these trails an "A" grade. You should see South Dakota in the winter. Skiing, snowmobiling, skating, ice fishing and the rest are more than fun adventures. They're wonderful excuses to sightsee in the cold!South Dakota’s history reads like an adventure story. It’s a tale of Plains Indians, explorers and pioneers. And it features names like Crazy Horse, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Lewis and Clark, and Wild Bill Hickok. When you visit South Dakota, you’ll find many opportunities to experience first-hand our rich history and heritage.Whether you’re into family fun, Western adventure, Plains Indian culture, or the extreme outdoors, you'll find it in South Dakota. National Parks & Monuments South Dakota contains several sites that are protected by the National Park Service. Two national parks have been established in South Dakota, both of which are located in the southwestern part of the state. Badlands National Park was created in 1978. The park features a highly eroded, brightly-colored landscape surrounded by semi-arid grasslands. Wind Cave National Park, established in 1903 in the Black Hills, contains an extensive cave network as well as a large herd of bison. Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills was established in 1925. The well-known attraction features a mountain carved by sculptor Gutzon Borglum to resemble four former U.S. presidents. Other areas managed by the National Park Service include Jewel Cave National Monument near Custer, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, which features a decommisioned nuclear missile silo, and the Missouri National Recreational River. |
