As any South Dakotan knows, our state is full of beauty and adventure. We all have a soft spot in our hearts for some of the state’s more popular tourist areas, recognizing the wonder that draws people from near and far. However, there are some places that even native South Dakotans might not know about. You may be surprised by what made the list of best-kept secrets in South Dakota.
- Hippie Hole (Black Hills National Forest, near Keystone)
Amy Lane Jenson / Facebook
Adam Overby / Facebook
Lea Gill Oden / Facebook Take a hike up to this stunning swimming hole that is one of the most beautiful places in South Dakota. It’s even got an incredible waterfall! Come here to swim, picnic, sunbathe, and enjoy one of the state’s best kept secrets. The easiest way to access this beauty is by hiking along Battle Creek.You can check out the page for the 1.6 mile trail leading to Hippie Hole on Alltrails.
- Buffalo Roundup (annual, in Custer State Park)
Daren Jessip / Flickr
Daren Jessip / Flickr Especially for younger generations, the Buffalo Roundup that takes place in Custer State Park every year might be a surprise. This main event is watching the cowboys and cowgirls driving the herd of buffalo. There are also arts and crafts booths and more. To see 1300 buffalo all at once like this is truly a magical experience that you can’t see in many other places.
Get more information about this annual event at the South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks website.
- Palisades State Park (near Garretson)
Palisades State Park / Facebook
Palisades State Park / Facebook
Palisades State Park / Facebook Though it is the second smallest state park in South Dakota, Palisades is brimming with unique experiences. Palisades features the perfect river for kayaking, quartzite rocks ideal for climbing and trails with jaw-dropping views for hiking. Butterflies, wild turkeys, deer and more call this park home. If you are lucky enough to visit, camping and cabins are available in this stunning park.There’s lots more information about the park on the South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks website.
- Storybook Land (near Abderdeen)
Storybook Land / Facebook
Sierra Hample / Facebook
Storybook Land / Facebook Storybook Land is a magical park filled with classic riddles and rhymes brought to life. Kids and parents alike love visiting Storybook Land and seeing Jack and Jill and Humpty Dumpty. It opens seasonally each summer and has been beloved by generations of South Dakotans.Dates during which the rides are open are available on the Aberdeen city website.
- Spring Creek Resort and Deep Water Marina (near Pierre)
Spring Creek Resort / Facebook
Spring Creek Resort / Facebook
Spring Creek Resort / Facebook Just north of Pierre you will find the oasis that is Spring Creek Resort and Deep Water Marina. Come ready to fish, hunt, and sail because this place offers it all (in different seasons, of course). You can stay and eat on site in the lodge, making this a perfect spot for your next getaway. Additional information can be found on the South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks website.
- Sand Lake Wildlife Refuge
USFWS Mountain-Prairie / Flickr
USFWS Mountain-Prairie / Flickr
Sand Lake NWR / Website The Refuge is located in north central South Dakota and is made up of eight counties. Ring-necked pheasants, white-tailed deer, and thousands of waterfowl call the Refuge home. You can take a stunning drive through the park when it is open, typically between April and October. Be sure to do it in the early morning or late afternoon for your best shot at seeing wildlife. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service page has more information.
Who else is ready for a road trip after reading about all of these awesome hidden gems in South Dakota? Have you visited any of them? Tell us your experiences in the comments!
Amy Lane Jenson / Facebook
Adam Overby / Facebook
Lea Gill Oden / Facebook
Take a hike up to this stunning swimming hole that is one of the most beautiful places in South Dakota. It’s even got an incredible waterfall! Come here to swim, picnic, sunbathe, and enjoy one of the state’s best kept secrets. The easiest way to access this beauty is by hiking along Battle Creek.You can check out the page for the 1.6 mile trail leading to Hippie Hole on Alltrails.
Daren Jessip / Flickr
Especially for younger generations, the Buffalo Roundup that takes place in Custer State Park every year might be a surprise. This main event is watching the cowboys and cowgirls driving the herd of buffalo. There are also arts and crafts booths and more. To see 1300 buffalo all at once like this is truly a magical experience that you can’t see in many other places.
Get more information about this annual event at the South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks website.
Palisades State Park / Facebook
Though it is the second smallest state park in South Dakota, Palisades is brimming with unique experiences. Palisades features the perfect river for kayaking, quartzite rocks ideal for climbing and trails with jaw-dropping views for hiking. Butterflies, wild turkeys, deer and more call this park home. If you are lucky enough to visit, camping and cabins are available in this stunning park.There’s lots more information about the park on the South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks website.
Storybook Land / Facebook
Sierra Hample / Facebook
Storybook Land is a magical park filled with classic riddles and rhymes brought to life. Kids and parents alike love visiting Storybook Land and seeing Jack and Jill and Humpty Dumpty. It opens seasonally each summer and has been beloved by generations of South Dakotans.Dates during which the rides are open are available on the Aberdeen city website.
Spring Creek Resort / Facebook
Just north of Pierre you will find the oasis that is Spring Creek Resort and Deep Water Marina. Come ready to fish, hunt, and sail because this place offers it all (in different seasons, of course). You can stay and eat on site in the lodge, making this a perfect spot for your next getaway. Additional information can be found on the South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks website.
USFWS Mountain-Prairie / Flickr
Sand Lake NWR / Website
The Refuge is located in north central South Dakota and is made up of eight counties. Ring-necked pheasants, white-tailed deer, and thousands of waterfowl call the Refuge home. You can take a stunning drive through the park when it is open, typically between April and October. Be sure to do it in the early morning or late afternoon for your best shot at seeing wildlife. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service page has more information.
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Address: Hippie Hole Trail, Mount Rushmore UT, SD 57751, USAAddress: Palisades State Park, 25495 485th Ave, Garretson, SD 57030, USAAddress: Storybook Land, 2300 24th Ave NW, Aberdeen, SD 57401, USAAddress: 28229 E Spring Creek Dr, Pierre, SD 57501, USAAddress: Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, 39650 Sand Lake Dr, Columbia, SD 57433, USAAddress: Custer State Park Spur, Custer, SD 57730, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Kept Secrets In South Dakota May 01, 2021 Lisa Sammons What are some of the most beautiful places in South Dakota? We know that we are sometimes thought of as somewhat of a flyover state, but people really don’t know what they are missing out on! There are so many incredible sights in South Dakota. We have some really incredible state parks. One you don’t want to miss is Good Earth State Park, it’s amazing! And of course, Custer State Park has its famous massive trees that are just awe-inspiring. If you love waterfalls, you won’t want to miss these four. What are some hidden gems in South Dakota? We have so many hidden gems! It feels like the whole state is pretty much known for Mount Rushmore, but we’ve got a lot more to us than that. Check out this list for some great ideas, or if you want an entire road trip, we’ve got you covered! We’ve got some real oddball attractions here, too! What are some good restaurants in South Dakota? South Dakota is surprisingly loaded with great food. We’ve got some unique restaurants, some themed restaurants, and some restaurants that are just plain delicious. We’ve even got pizza so good it’ll make your mouth explode!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Kept Secrets In South Dakota
May 01, 2021
Lisa Sammons
What are some of the most beautiful places in South Dakota? We know that we are sometimes thought of as somewhat of a flyover state, but people really don’t know what they are missing out on! There are so many incredible sights in South Dakota. We have some really incredible state parks. One you don’t want to miss is Good Earth State Park, it’s amazing! And of course, Custer State Park has its famous massive trees that are just awe-inspiring. If you love waterfalls, you won’t want to miss these four. What are some hidden gems in South Dakota? We have so many hidden gems! It feels like the whole state is pretty much known for Mount Rushmore, but we’ve got a lot more to us than that. Check out this list for some great ideas, or if you want an entire road trip, we’ve got you covered! We’ve got some real oddball attractions here, too! What are some good restaurants in South Dakota? South Dakota is surprisingly loaded with great food. We’ve got some unique restaurants, some themed restaurants, and some restaurants that are just plain delicious. We’ve even got pizza so good it’ll make your mouth explode!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
We know that we are sometimes thought of as somewhat of a flyover state, but people really don’t know what they are missing out on! There are so many incredible sights in South Dakota. We have some really incredible state parks. One you don’t want to miss is Good Earth State Park, it’s amazing! And of course, Custer State Park has its famous massive trees that are just awe-inspiring. If you love waterfalls, you won’t want to miss these four.
What are some hidden gems in South Dakota?
We have so many hidden gems! It feels like the whole state is pretty much known for Mount Rushmore, but we’ve got a lot more to us than that. Check out this list for some great ideas, or if you want an entire road trip, we’ve got you covered! We’ve got some real oddball attractions here, too!
What are some good restaurants in South Dakota?
South Dakota is surprisingly loaded with great food. We’ve got some unique restaurants, some themed restaurants, and some restaurants that are just plain delicious. We’ve even got pizza so good it’ll make your mouth explode!
