The Little Known Canyon That Will Show You A Side Of South Dakota You’ve Never Seen Before
By Catherine Armstrong|Published June 04, 2018
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
South Dakota’s Black Hills offer an environment that’s very different from that found in the eastern portion of the state, but there’s one little canyon there that has an even more unique atmosphere. Check out Botany Canyon – a lush, green little oasis.
Botany Canyon, aka South Stagebarn Canyon, is located on the far east edge of the Black Hills, between Piedmont and Summerset.
To explore the canyon, take the Botany Canyon Trail, which is five miles out and back. The trail can be pretty tricky, with an elevation climb of 807 feet and plenty of scrambling on rocky terrain and up steep sections, but it's worth the effort to see this little paradise.
You might find a fence across the path. In the past, ATV enthusiasts were tearing up the canyon, despite signs telling them that the trail was for foot traffic only. ATV clubs have helped to educate the public and block motorized vehicle traffic through this delicate terrain.
Because the canyon is so narrow and deep, it offers a lush, wet environment that's unusual for this area. You'll find moss-covered rocks, ferns, and a bubbling little creek here.
