Mount Rushmore. Falls Park. Crazy Horse. South Dakota is home to some of the most unique landscapes and landmarks in the country, but did you know that we also have some one-of-a-kind parks to match? Take, for instance, this incredibly unique (and, often, criminally overlooked) park that is located right here in South Dakota’s own backyard:

Welcome to Hartford Beach State Park!
Hartford Beach State Park Facebook
Located in northeast SoDak, Hartford Beach is arguably South Dakota's most little-known and underrated state park, which is a shame considering all that this hidden oasis has to offer.
Flickr/Goamick
What makes Hartford Beach so special? For starters, its centerpiece Big Stone Lake was created by runoff from melting glaciers some 10,000 years ago, which is popular for watersports (a la swimming and sunning in the summer, boating, and fishing) and general sightseeing.
Hartford Beach State Park Facebook
Surrounding Big Stone Lake are rugged bluffs and timbered shorelines, which adds to the area's uniqueness.
Hartford Beach State Park Facebook

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As if you needed another reason to visit, Hartford Beach State Park is also home to campsites and cabins, plus hiking and biking, cross-country skiing, wildlife sightings, and birdwatching.
Hartford Beach State Park Facebook
Admission to Hartford Beach State Park is $8 per vehicle, with campsites starting at $26/night.
Hartford Beach State Park Facebook
To learn more about this hidden gem - or to reserve your campsite or cabin - please visit the South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks' website.
Flickr/Goamick
Hartford Beach State Park is open year-round.
Hartford Beach State Park Facebook

Do you have a favorite attraction, event, or restaurant that you would like to see featured here on Only in South Dakota? Remember to nominate it here! For even more SoDak state parks that you cannot afford to miss, you will want to Get Your Outdoor Fix At These 10 State Parks In South Dakota.

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Hartford Beach, SD 57227, USA