The western states in the U.S. are filled with fantastic opportunities for adventure travel. Whether you enjoy backpacking, camping, skiing, or just taking in beautiful landscapes, places like Wyoming, Montana, Utah, and Colorado are tough to beat. But one U.S. state that often gets overlooked is South Dakota, a destination that mixes history, adventure, and natural beauty in some surprisingly great ways.
If you've never been to South Dakota before, here five adventurous things that you can do there that make it a place you'll want to have on your bucket list.
Go Hiking in Custer State Park
One of the crown jewels of South Dakota is Custer State Park, a place so magnificent that it even rivals some of the best national parks in the U.S.
The park offers visitors dramatic landscapes that include jagged rock peaks, serene mountain lakes, and dense forests that are home to unique wildlife, including a surprising number of bison. But the park is also a great place to go hiking, and with miles of trail there are scenic options for every visitor. For a particularly great walk, consider hiking to the summit of Harney Peak, the state's high point at 7244 feet. The two hour hike to the top is mildly challenging, but the views are well worth the effort.
Learn to Rock Climb
Custer State Park is also home to an array of wonderful rock faces that are ideal for beginning rock climbers to gain the skills necessary for taking on taller, more difficult peaks.
The so called "Needles' in the park serve as a great place to learn the sport, with the local guides from the Sylvan Rocks Climbing School standing by to lend a hand. More experienced climbers will want to test their abilities on the more challenging rock found near Mount Rushmore instead.
Mountain Bike the Black Hills
South Dakota's legendary Black Hills offer an incredibly diverse number of activities for visitors, including opportunities to ride some of the best single track in the country.
Additionally, the region features nearly 6000 miles of fire roads, logging roads, and abandoned railroad grades to explore on two wheels, giving visitors plenty of places to ride. Amongst the very best is the Centennial Trail, which runs for 111 miles between Bear Butte and Sturgis, giving experienced riders a real taste of just how wild South Dakota can get.
Explore a Cave
South Dakota isn't just a compelling adventure destination above ground, it plenty to offer below ground too. The state is home to several extensive cave systems including Jewell Cave National Monument, which has more than 177 miles of mapped passages and chambers. Visitors can take a tour of that underground setting, as well as the equally impressive Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns or Wonderland Caves. Whether you're an experienced spelunker, or venturing beneath the Earth's surface for the first time, you'll find plenty of intriguing options throughout the state.
Experience Sunrise Over the Badlands
Visiting Badlands National Park is a bit like landing on the surface of another planet. Stretching out for more than 244,000 acres, the park is an otherworldly place filled with towering rock walls, twisting canyons, arid plateaus, and numerous fossils deposits. The unusual landscapes found there feature a variety of orange, red, and yellow hues that virtually guarantee it is one of the most unique places that you'll ever set eyes on. But it is particularly striking in the early morning, when the sun's rays bring an unexpected glow to the region. Slip into the park before dawn to experience this peaceful and awe inspiring setting for yourself.
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