The Underrated River Trail In South Dakota You'll Want To Hike Over And Over Again
By Catherine Armstrong|Published August 09, 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.
No matter where you live in South Dakota, there are opportunities for you to get out and witness our state’s natural beauty on foot. Whether you’re hiking on a wilderness trail, down a country road, or through one of South Dakota’s towns, you’ll benefit from a stroll. Here’s a trail that runs along the Sioux River, and you’ll want to check it out!
The Sioux River Red Rock Trail is located in Dell Rapids, and it's one of the prettiest trails you've ever seen.
Right now, the paved trail exists in just one section, but eventually it will be a 12-mile-long trail that takes hikers and cyclists all the way through town, following the river. In the meantime, you can enjoy the section that's open.
The trail starts near the Dell Rapids Dam, west of River Road near State Route 115, and makes its way along the river to City Park. You'll enjoy gorgeous river views, shady, wooded areas, and quiet places where you can bask in nature when you take a stroll on this path.
You'll want to keep an eye open for wildlife all along the trail. Many creatures call this river home, and if you're lucky, you'll be observe some of them along the way.
Take your time to sit and just watch the water move past. This is the kind of trail that begs you to slow down, take in the sights, and enjoy the fresh air.
This trail map shows the current and proposed trail. You'll see the current trail marked in green; the parts in orange and blue represent hiking areas that offshoot the main trail; the purple shows the part of the trail that's currently under construction, and the red areas are proposed additions to the trail that are awaiting approval. We're excited to see this trail continue to grow and improve!
