There’s so much to see and do in South Dakota that it can be easy to overlook some of our lesser-known hidden gems. Take a look at these ten amazing under-appreciated state parks and you’ll find fewer crowds and just might decide that these are your new favorite spots!
- Newton Hills State Park
Newton Hills State Park/Facebook This little state park is perfect for camping - amenities include 128 campsites, eight cabins and a lodge! Explore miles of hiking trails, horse trails and picnic spots, and catch a fish in nearby Lake Lakota. Newton Hills State Park, 28767 482nd Ave, Canton, SD 57013, USA
- Hartford Beach State Park
Goamick/flickr Big Stone Lake offers some truly scenic forest and a wonderful little beach that’s perfect for a weekend away. This state park offers plenty of campsites and cabins for your overnight stay. There’s also a boat ramp, fish cleaning station, flush toilets and showers and playground. Hartford Beach State Park, 13672 Hartford Beach Rd, Corona, SD 57227, USA
- Bear Butte State Park
sd2travel/TripAdvisor This gorgeous place has long been considered sacred by Native Americans. You’ll likely find trees with bit of cloth hanging from the branches. Leave them there - they’re prayer cloths. For an incredible view, take the 1.8-mile Summit Trail - it’s well worth your effort! 20250 SD-79, Sturgis, SD 57785, USA
- Good Earth State Park At Blood Run
605Kathy1/TripAdvisor This beautiful place is the site of the largest known Oneota settlement in the state. It’s located just a few miles from Sioux Falls, and offers some truly spectacular hiking trails. Take a picnic and plan on spending the day here. Good Earth State Park Visitor Center, 26924 480th Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
- Sica Hollow State Park
JinAbr/TripAdvisor 900 acres of woodland make up this pretty state Park in Sisseton. Take the self-guided, interpretive Trail of the Spirits hike, and you’ll see some reddish-colored bogs. The old Native American legend says that these bogs were the blood of the ancestors. Sica Hollow State Park, 44950 Park Road, Sisseton, SD 57260, USA
- Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve/Facebook This pretty preserve includes 1,500 acres right alongside the Missouri River. Take a tour of the restored home and barn, and enjoy 10 miles of trails that take you through forest and prairie, where you’ll see plenty of wildlife. Adams Homestead and State Nature Preserve, 272 Westshore Dr, North Sioux City, SD 57049, USA
- Lake Herman State Park
Lake Herman State Park/Facebook Visit the cabin of Herman Luce, the first settler in this area. The amenities at this charming park are numerous - everything from canoe rentals and game checkouts to a fishing dock, campsites, and playground. You’ll love it - and so will the kids! 23409 State Park Dr, Madison, SD 57042, USA
- Lake Louise Recreation Area
Lake Louise Recreation Area/Facebook You’ll have tons of fun at Lake Louise Recreation Area. Cool off in the lake by swimming, or take a jet ski or boat out for the afternoon. Watch for pheasants and ducks, and try your luck at fishing. . 35250 191st St, Miller, SD 57362, USA
- Oakwood Lakes State Park
Oakwood Lakes State Park/Facebook Visit this pretty park in the winter for some cross-country skiing and ice fishing; in the summer, enjoy hiking, fishing and picnics. You’ll find eight glacial lakes here, so there’s definitely plenty to explore. Kayaking here is a treat and a half. Oakwood Lakes State Park, 20247 S Oakwood Shoreline Dr, Bruce, SD 57220, USA
- Spirit Mound Historic Prairie
Larry A./Yelp Lewis and Clark visited this sacred place back in 1804 - you can stand in the same place these explorers once stood. Take the trail up and back - it’s less than a mile, and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Wildflowers, plants and wildlife are abundant here. Spirit Mound State Historic Prairie, 31148 SD-19, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
Which of these state parks have you visited? We’d love to hear your feedback in the comments! Looking for more great state parks in South Dakota to visit? Take a look at these 7 South Dakota state parks that will knock your socks off!
Newton Hills State Park/Facebook
This little state park is perfect for camping - amenities include 128 campsites, eight cabins and a lodge! Explore miles of hiking trails, horse trails and picnic spots, and catch a fish in nearby Lake Lakota.
Newton Hills State Park, 28767 482nd Ave, Canton, SD 57013, USA
Goamick/flickr
Big Stone Lake offers some truly scenic forest and a wonderful little beach that’s perfect for a weekend away. This state park offers plenty of campsites and cabins for your overnight stay. There’s also a boat ramp, fish cleaning station, flush toilets and showers and playground.
Hartford Beach State Park, 13672 Hartford Beach Rd, Corona, SD 57227, USA
sd2travel/TripAdvisor
This gorgeous place has long been considered sacred by Native Americans. You’ll likely find trees with bit of cloth hanging from the branches. Leave them there - they’re prayer cloths. For an incredible view, take the 1.8-mile Summit Trail - it’s well worth your effort!
20250 SD-79, Sturgis, SD 57785, USA
605Kathy1/TripAdvisor
This beautiful place is the site of the largest known Oneota settlement in the state. It’s located just a few miles from Sioux Falls, and offers some truly spectacular hiking trails. Take a picnic and plan on spending the day here.
Good Earth State Park Visitor Center, 26924 480th Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
JinAbr/TripAdvisor
900 acres of woodland make up this pretty state Park in Sisseton. Take the self-guided, interpretive Trail of the Spirits hike, and you’ll see some reddish-colored bogs. The old Native American legend says that these bogs were the blood of the ancestors.
Sica Hollow State Park, 44950 Park Road, Sisseton, SD 57260, USA
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve/Facebook
This pretty preserve includes 1,500 acres right alongside the Missouri River. Take a tour of the restored home and barn, and enjoy 10 miles of trails that take you through forest and prairie, where you’ll see plenty of wildlife.
Adams Homestead and State Nature Preserve, 272 Westshore Dr, North Sioux City, SD 57049, USA
Lake Herman State Park/Facebook
Visit the cabin of Herman Luce, the first settler in this area. The amenities at this charming park are numerous - everything from canoe rentals and game checkouts to a fishing dock, campsites, and playground. You’ll love it - and so will the kids!
23409 State Park Dr, Madison, SD 57042, USA
Lake Louise Recreation Area/Facebook
You’ll have tons of fun at Lake Louise Recreation Area. Cool off in the lake by swimming, or take a jet ski or boat out for the afternoon. Watch for pheasants and ducks, and try your luck at fishing. .
35250 191st St, Miller, SD 57362, USA
Oakwood Lakes State Park/Facebook
Visit this pretty park in the winter for some cross-country skiing and ice fishing; in the summer, enjoy hiking, fishing and picnics. You’ll find eight glacial lakes here, so there’s definitely plenty to explore. Kayaking here is a treat and a half.
Oakwood Lakes State Park, 20247 S Oakwood Shoreline Dr, Bruce, SD 57220, USA
Larry A./Yelp
Lewis and Clark visited this sacred place back in 1804 - you can stand in the same place these explorers once stood. Take the trail up and back - it’s less than a mile, and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Wildflowers, plants and wildlife are abundant here.
Spirit Mound State Historic Prairie, 31148 SD-19, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
State Parks to Visit in South Dakota February 16, 2022 Tori Jane What are some of the best state parks in South Dakota? South Dakota is home to an impressive 63 state parks, each of which is lovely and well worth a visit on its own. Our sibling state of North Dakota is home to just 13 state parks, so we feel pretty special down here in our little corner. Some of our picks for the best state parks in all of South Dakota include the incredibly popular Custer State Park, which is the largest, oldest park in the whole state. It attracts more visitors every year than most parks in this region, with an impressive 1.9 million people coming through annually. Palisades State Park is a good one if you’re a fan of intriguing geography; marvel at the 50-foot-tall quartzite spires jutting up from the earth surrounding a crystal-clear creek you’ll want to dip your toes into. Lake Herman State Park is smack-dab in the middle of Lake Herman, which is a beautiful, natural glacial lake that dates back tens of thousands of years. Finally, we love Hartford Beach State Park, because lake beaches need love too! Need a little more inspiration? These seven state parks in South Dakota will blow you away. What are the most popular hiking trails in South Dakota? With lots of land to roam around and explore comes lots of hiking trails; South Dakota is no exception. There are more than 300 trails to choose from, each of which comes with its own pros, cons, challenges, and sights to see. Perhaps our favorite is the Notch Trail, at Badlands National Park. It’s a 1.5-mile hike featuring mind-blowing canyon views and is rated as moderate in difficulty. Then, there’s Black Elk Peak Loop, a 7.1-mile moderately challenging trail within Custer State Park that takes you up to the highest point in the entire state for some truly spellbinding views of the Black Hills. Another can’t-miss hiking trail in South Dakota is the amazing Cathedral Spires Trail, whose geology will blow you away. It’s a 1.6-mile trek through some absolutely unreal landscapes. Finally, take the Door Trail at Badlands National Park if you’re looking for an easy hike under one mile in length that still features awesome badlands views.
The OIYS Visitor Center
State Parks to Visit in South Dakota
February 16, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some of the best state parks in South Dakota? South Dakota is home to an impressive 63 state parks, each of which is lovely and well worth a visit on its own. Our sibling state of North Dakota is home to just 13 state parks, so we feel pretty special down here in our little corner. Some of our picks for the best state parks in all of South Dakota include the incredibly popular Custer State Park, which is the largest, oldest park in the whole state. It attracts more visitors every year than most parks in this region, with an impressive 1.9 million people coming through annually. Palisades State Park is a good one if you’re a fan of intriguing geography; marvel at the 50-foot-tall quartzite spires jutting up from the earth surrounding a crystal-clear creek you’ll want to dip your toes into. Lake Herman State Park is smack-dab in the middle of Lake Herman, which is a beautiful, natural glacial lake that dates back tens of thousands of years. Finally, we love Hartford Beach State Park, because lake beaches need love too! Need a little more inspiration? These seven state parks in South Dakota will blow you away. What are the most popular hiking trails in South Dakota? With lots of land to roam around and explore comes lots of hiking trails; South Dakota is no exception. There are more than 300 trails to choose from, each of which comes with its own pros, cons, challenges, and sights to see. Perhaps our favorite is the Notch Trail, at Badlands National Park. It’s a 1.5-mile hike featuring mind-blowing canyon views and is rated as moderate in difficulty. Then, there’s Black Elk Peak Loop, a 7.1-mile moderately challenging trail within Custer State Park that takes you up to the highest point in the entire state for some truly spellbinding views of the Black Hills. Another can’t-miss hiking trail in South Dakota is the amazing Cathedral Spires Trail, whose geology will blow you away. It’s a 1.6-mile trek through some absolutely unreal landscapes. Finally, take the Door Trail at Badlands National Park if you’re looking for an easy hike under one mile in length that still features awesome badlands views.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
South Dakota is home to an impressive 63 state parks, each of which is lovely and well worth a visit on its own. Our sibling state of North Dakota is home to just 13 state parks, so we feel pretty special down here in our little corner. Some of our picks for the best state parks in all of South Dakota include the incredibly popular Custer State Park, which is the largest, oldest park in the whole state. It attracts more visitors every year than most parks in this region, with an impressive 1.9 million people coming through annually. Palisades State Park is a good one if you’re a fan of intriguing geography; marvel at the 50-foot-tall quartzite spires jutting up from the earth surrounding a crystal-clear creek you’ll want to dip your toes into. Lake Herman State Park is smack-dab in the middle of Lake Herman, which is a beautiful, natural glacial lake that dates back tens of thousands of years. Finally, we love Hartford Beach State Park, because lake beaches need love too! Need a little more inspiration? These seven state parks in South Dakota will blow you away.
What are the most popular hiking trails in South Dakota?
With lots of land to roam around and explore comes lots of hiking trails; South Dakota is no exception. There are more than 300 trails to choose from, each of which comes with its own pros, cons, challenges, and sights to see. Perhaps our favorite is the Notch Trail, at Badlands National Park. It’s a 1.5-mile hike featuring mind-blowing canyon views and is rated as moderate in difficulty. Then, there’s Black Elk Peak Loop, a 7.1-mile moderately challenging trail within Custer State Park that takes you up to the highest point in the entire state for some truly spellbinding views of the Black Hills. Another can’t-miss hiking trail in South Dakota is the amazing Cathedral Spires Trail, whose geology will blow you away. It’s a 1.6-mile trek through some absolutely unreal landscapes. Finally, take the Door Trail at Badlands National Park if you’re looking for an easy hike under one mile in length that still features awesome badlands views.
