DIY Travel: Parks in South Dakota
There a number of great parks in South Dakota. People everywhere travel to South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore. This should be at the top of every American’s bucket list. If you make the trip, you won’t be disappointed. It is truly a wonderful site. The enormous hard rock carvings of the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt are spectacular.
Other Parks in South Dakota
But in South Dakota, there is actually much more to see. Custer State Park, the Crazy Horse Memorial and the Badlands National Park are three other really fantastic places to visit.
Custer State Park – Just South of Mount Rushmore
Just south of Mount Rushmore is one of the great Hidden Gems in all of the United States, Custer State Park. Encompassing 71,000 acres in the Black Hills, Custer State Park is home to abundant wildlife and some of the most spectacular mountain scenes anywhere. While overshadowed by the better-known Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park has a lot more to offer. Hard to believe, but there are actual views of Mount Rushmore through the tunnel on the right, below.
Also, the fantastic geological formations called “Needles”, which are pillar-shaped, granite outcroppings, are a highlight of the park. Lastly, the park has one of the largest heard of bison in the country. We were fortunate enough to be in the park during the annual bison roundup.
Parks in South Dakota – Crazy Horse Memorial
Further west in the Black Hills of South Dakota is the Crazy Horse Memorial. A private foundation of the Lakota Indian Tribe has been building the memorial since 1948. They have refused any government funding which explains the construction delay. The memorial is massive (641 feet long). It is located on land that is considered sacred by the Lakota tribe. In addition to visiting the memorial, guests can spend time in the Indian Museum of North America, learning about the beautiful cultures of the Indigenous Peoples of North America. The campus is also home to The Indian University of North America, currently in its 12th year of operation.
Parks is South Dakota – Badlands National Park
The Badlands National Park is a designated wilderness area. It is located in Southwestern South Dakota, to the east of the Black Hills. It has the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States. The park protects 380 square miles of sharply eroded buttes and pinnacles. You may even see the charming prairie dogs.
