The beauty of the desert will follow your gaze to every part of the state you visit, amidst some of the most exuberant national parks in the country, such as Badlands National Park and Custer State Park.
The traveler can still visit the historic city of Deadwood, the memorial to the Native American Crazy Horse and other simply unforgettable scenarios!
Check out what to do in South Dakota!
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Visiting South Dakota and not seeing the Mount Rushmore National Memorial is like traveling to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. In other words: a must stop!
The monument symbolizes the struggle for independence and construction of the North American republic, in the middle of the Black Hills mountain range.
There, the faces of four former presidents are carved into the rock, over 18 meters high!
They are: the country’s first president, George Washington; the author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson; Civil War hero and abolisher of slavery Abraham Lincoln; and the icon of the economic miracle, Theodore Roosevelt.
The attraction’s visitor center, the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center, houses a panoramic terrace that offers a privileged view of the monument, as well as a small museum, bookstore, restrooms and drinking fountains.
Badlands National Park:
A visit to Badlands National Park can change the way you experience the United States by presenting a glimpse into prehistory!
The park, which spans more than 98,700 hectares, is home to fossils over 25 million years old, as well as a fertile prairie brimming with life and color.
The reserve, which is now home to bison, wild sheep, ferrets and prairie dogs, was once home to prehistoric rhinos and horses.
There are also indigenous communities of different ethnicities, including Cheyennes, Sioux and Arapaho, among others: a unique opportunity to learn more about Native American history and culture!
Entrance to the park is $15 for pedestrians or cyclists. If you are traveling by car, motorcycle or motorhome, just pay the parking fees, between US$25 and US$150, depending on the size of the vehicle (prices in June/2021).
These fees are valid for seven days, meaning you can visit the park for successive days without having to pay anything extra.
Custer State Park
Considered one of the best state parks in the United States, Custer State Park is located south of the Black Hills and offers numerous attractions to its visitors.
How about doing stand-up paddle and canoeing in calm waters, hiking trails through the mountains with granite peaks, following mountain biking and trekking routes, fishing on Lake Sylvan or simply relaxing in the midst of nature?
The park, which protects more than 400 species of birds, has an entrance fee of US$ 20 per vehicle (price in June/2021) and is open all year.
Property of Ingalls:
One of the main attractions of the state is the Estate de Ingalls, where the author of The Pioneers saga, Laura Ingalls Wilder, lived, located in the town of De Smet.
Here, visitors can ride in carriages, learn more about wheat and bread making, and experience what life was like in 19th century America.
Kids can make corn on the cob dolls, make their own jump ropes, experience an old-fashioned classroom and even drive their own carriage.
The ticket costs US$ 15 per person (price in June/2021) and guarantees access to all activities, including the covered wagon ride.
Before planning your trip, consult about the operation of the property, as the attraction is only open to the public at certain times of the year.
Historic City of Deadwood
Any tour of the historic city of Deadwood can make the visitor believe that he is in the Wild West of the United States.
The city was part of the South Dakota region’s gold rush for centuries past and was the scene of one of the most symbolic events of the period, the murder of Wild Bill Hickok by Jack McCall over a spat after a game of poker in the saloon.
Deadwood is very well preserved and offers visitors the chance to visit several iconic museums and monuments, including the Bodega Casino, the Crazy Horse Memorial and the Adams and Days of 76 museums.
To discover everything without haste, you can stay in the historic city, which has several accommodations, campgrounds, hotels, motels and bed & breakfast inns. For ATV Rental South Dakota
Spearfish Canyon:
Spearfish Canyon is a scenic road that runs for 35 km, stretching to an elevation of 610 meters.
The route takes you through forests, woods and rivers along Spearfish Gorge, older than the iconic Grand Canyon!
On the way, visitors have the opportunity to practice climbing, trekking, cycling, sport fishing and many other tourist and sporting activities.
During your tour, be sure to visit Spearfish Falls, RoughLock Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, waterfalls easily accessible from the canyon, with a waterfall of more than 18 meters.
Crazy Horse Memorial
The largest memorial in the world is located in South Dakota, the Crazy Horse Memorial, which, like Mount Rushmore, was carved into the face of a mountain in Custer County.
Crazy Horse, or Crazy Horse, in Portuguese, was an indigenous of the Oglala Lakota nation who fought for the protection of his people during the intense conflicts between Indians and settlers during the gold rush.
The tourist complex includes The Indian Museum of North America, whose collection brings together pieces and records from more than 300 Native American nations, including Lakota, Nakota and Dakota Sioux ethnic communities.
Ticket prices vary according to the time of year and the size of the visitor group, between US$7 and US$35 (prices quoted in June/2021). Parking, in turn, is free. You might be interested in this Article
RoughLock Falls:
Situated in the Spearfish Canyon reserve, RoughLock Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls, where the calm waters of Little Spearfish Creek tumble through the limestone in several waterfalls, 15 meters high.
The waterfall offers visitors excellent infrastructure, with decks for watching rare birds, such as the American loon, bathrooms, drinking fountains and modern walkways that connect different points of the park.
Admission is free, but access to some parts of the reserve is limited during winter, from December to March.
Wind Cave National Park:
Not only mountains, canyons and deserts live South Dakota! The state is also home to Wind Cave National Park, one of the largest speleological complexes in the world!
The park protects an area of more than 13,700 hectares of grasslands and forests, as well as one of the longest underground caves on the planet, where the air flow is so intense that you can constantly hear the wind whistling through the corridors.
The visitor still has the opportunity to learn more about the animal life in the region, camp in the middle of nature and learn all about the geological history of the state!
Those wishing to visit the surface attractions do not need to pay a ticket, but guided tours through the caves have tickets ranging from US$10 to US$30 per person (prices in June/2021).
Get travel insurance before visiting South Dakota:
South Dakota’s most amazing attractions are waiting for you! Before packing your bags, just don’t forget to buy good travel insurance!
Remember that the US healthcare system is expensive even for Americans, and a single accident or health problem can turn into thousands of dollars in debt! Check Here about Insurance
Make a simulation and guarantee that tranquility right now for your trip through the Wild West of the United States!
