These 7 State Parks In South Dakota Will Knock Your Socks Off
Katie
Author
Those who call South Dakota home love nothing more than to brag about the serene beauty of their state. How could you not brag with all of these beautiful state parks to visit in South Dakota?! You will not believe some of the jaw dropping beauty that exists in this midwest state.
Related Stories
9 Reasons You'll Fall In Love With South Dakota's State Parks Over And Over Again
10 Under-Appreciated State Parks In South Dakota You're Sure To Love
Badlands National Park In South Dakota Was Named One Of The 25 Most Beautiful Places In The World
Of course, this list is just a few of the many amazing state parks to visit in South Dakota. There are so many truly beautiful places in South Dakota we just can’t fit them all in one list! No doubt about it: South Dakota is most certainly full of beauty waiting to be discovered. What parks would you add to this short and sweet list?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
More to Explore
State parks to visit in South Dakota
What are the most well-known parks in South Dakota?
Majestic and mighty, full of pomp and circumstance, Mount Rushmore is an American treasure and is definitely one of South Dakota's proudest claims to fame. Featuring George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, Mount Rushmore is the world's largest sculpture, with each granite-carved bust roughly 60 feet tall. Originally created to entice tourists out to South Dakota; today, the iconic attraction attracts three million visitors annually and is a magnificent, modern-day wonder.
What are some national parks I should visit in South Dakota?
While South Dakota is best-known for its epic presidential monolith (hence our nickname of the "Mount Rushmore State"), our state is so much more than just one headlining attraction. South Dakota is a state that is immensely beautiful, and nowhere is this more true than the Badlands. The massive 242,756 acres known as Badlands National Park is a true show stopper; it offers varied landscaping with sharp buttes and pinnacles among its untouched prairie expanse. Home to numerous different wildlife species, it's also a favorite spot for birdwatching, photography, and stargazing. The sunsets here are surreal, and absolutely worth seeking out.
What are some of the prettiest state parks to visit in South Dakota?
While we adore all of the Mount Rushmore State's superlative state parks, Custer State Park sure ranks at the top of the list! Tucked away in the Black Hills is gorgeous Custer State Park and its equally gorgeous Sylvan Lake - the result of a man-made dam that is now one of the most photographed places in the state. Created in 1881 via a dam built across Sunday Gulch Creek, Sylvan Lake in South Dakota is quite possibly the most easy-to-recognize body of water, thanks to the dramatic rock walls that surround it every which way. It's known as one of the most beautiful places in the country, with Architectural Digest even saying, "Within Custer State Park, which is part of the Black Hills, the natural rock formations surrounding Sylvan Lake are mesmerizing."