South Dakota Natural Park Wonders

National and State Wonders Found in the Mount Rushmore State:

South Dakota, known for the epic sculpture of the faces of four American presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln). is home to mountains, grasslands, caves, forests, rivers, lakes, fossil beds, and hot springs.

Let us be your guide to discovering these natural wonders. Follow the links below to obtain more information, insider tips, and pictures, as well as ideas for where to stay when visiting.

South Dakota Welcome Sign National Parks:

  • Badlands National Park. Location: Southwestern South Dakota. Established: 1939. [Official Site]
  • Wind Cave National Park. Location: Southwestern South Dakota. Established: 1903. [Official Site]
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    National Monuments:
  • Jewel Cave National Monument. Location: South Dakota. Established: 1908. [Official Site]
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    National Rivers:
  • Missouri National Recreational River [Official Site]
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    National Recreation Trails:
  • Centennial Trail
  • Farm Island Trail
  • Flume National Recreation Trail
  • George S. Mickelson Trail
  • Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Trail
  • Prairie Winds Trail
  • Spirit Mound Summit Trail
  • Badlands National Park

     

    National Forests:
  • Black Hills National Forest. Location: Custer, South Dakota (as well as Wyoming). [Official Site]
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    National Grasslands:
  • Buffalo Gap National Grassland [Official Site]
  • Dakota Prairie Grasslands [Official Site]
  • Fort Pierre National Grassland [Official Site]
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    National Wildlife Refuges:
  • Huron Wetland Management District
  • Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge
  • Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge
  • Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge
  • Madison Wetland Management District
  • Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge
  • Waubay National Wildlife Refuge
  • Waubay Wetland Management District
  • Black Hills National Forest

     

    National Wilderness Areas:
  • Badlands Wilderness
  • Black Elk Wilderness
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    National Scenic Roads and Byways:
  • Native American Scenic Byway
  • Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway
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    South Dakota State Parks, Campgrounds, Recreational Areas:
  • Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve
  • Angostura Recreation Area
  • Bear Butte State Park
  • Big Sioux Recreation Area
  • Burke Lake Recreation Area
  • Buryanek Recreation Area
  • Cow Creek Recreation Area
  • Custer State Park
  • Wind Cave National Park
  • Farm Island Recreatiion Area
  • Fisher Grove State Park
  • Fort Meade Recreation Management Area
  • Fort Sisseton State Park
  • Gavins Point Project
  • Hartford Beach State Park
  • Indian Creek Recreation Area
  • Lake Alvin Recreation Area
  • Lake Cochrane Recreation Area
  • Lake Herman State Park
  • Lake Hiddenwood Recreation Area
  • Lake Louise Recreation Area
  • Lake Poinsett Recreation Area
  • Lake Thompson Recreation Area
  • Lake Vermillion Recreation Area
  • Lewis and Clark Recreation Area
  • Little Moreau Recreation Area
  • Llewellyn Johns Recreation Area
  • Mina Lake Recreation Area
  • Newton Hills State Park
  • North Point Recreation Area
  • North Wheeler Recreation Area
  • Custer State Park
  • Oahe Downstream Recreation Area
  • Oakwood Lakes State Park
  • Okobojo Point Recreation Area
  • Palisades State Park
  • Pease Creek Recreation Area
  • Pelican Lake Recreation Area
  • Pickerel Lake Recreation Area
  • Pierson Ranch Recreation Area
  • Platte Creek Recreation Area
  • Randall Creek Recreation Area
  • Revheim Bay Recreation Area
  • Richmond Lake Recreation Area
  • Roy Lake State Park
  • Sandy Shore Recreation Area
  • Shadehill Recreation Area
  • Sica Hollow State Park
  • Snake Creek Recreation Area
  • Spirit Mound Historic Prairie
  • Spring Creek Recreation Area
  • Springfield Recreation Area
  • Swan Creek Recreation Area
  • Union Grove State Park
  • Walker's Point Recreation Area
  • West Bend Recreation Area
  • West Whitlock Recreation Area
  • Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

     

    State Scenic Roads and Byways:
  • Badlands Loop Scenic Byway
  • Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
  • Wildlife Loop Road Scenic Byway

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