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News • South Dakota • United States • 2012-12-20

Hit the Open Road in South Dakota

South Dakota is home to wide-open spaces, rolling prairies, roaring rivers and lush, pine-covered mountains. The 17th-largest state in the union also features five scenic byways that highlight some of the most dynamic landscapes in South Dakota.

Eastern South Dakota is characterized by mixed-grass prairies, glacial lakes and the expansive Missouri River. The Native American Scenic Byway follows the path of the largest river in the United States from South Dakota’s southern reaches near Yankton all the way to the North Dakota border. The Native American Scenic Byway extends through the heart of the Great Sioux Nation, routing travelers through the lands of the Yankton, Crow Creek, Lower Brule, Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Sioux Tribes. At the turn of the 19th Century, Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery reported seeing an abundance of wildlife when they passed through this area. Today, visitors can still view much of the same wildlife, including prairie dogs, pronghorn and deer. Several tribes also maintain bison and elk herds. Located along the Native American Scenic Byway, the Buffalo Interpretive Center offers visitors an educational experience by illustrating the impact of the buffalo on Native American culture. The most notable characteristic about this extensive byway is the wild, rugged country your clients will experience. Much of this terrain is undeveloped and looks the same as it did hundreds of years ago.

Located just south of Wall, Badlands National Park features a landscape far stranger than the terrain experienced on the Native American Scenic Byway. On-going rains, wind, freezes and thaws have revealed millions of years of sediment that paint a colorful landscape on the prairies of southwestern South Dakota. When the Lakota first encountered the striking, moon-like landscape, they aptly called the area “Mako Sica” or “bad land.” Early French trappers also described the area as “bad land” after difficult travels over the rugged terrain. Covering 244,000 acres, Badlands National Park is one of the largest protected mixed-grass prairies in the United States. The Badlands Loop Scenic Byway is an approximately 30-mile drive on SD 240 that cuts through the middle of these breathtaking formations. This byway features a number of lookout points as well as the Ben Reifel Visitor Center Museum, which educates visitors on the paleontological significance of the area. Visitors to Badlands National Park can also catch glimpses of bighorn sheep, bison, the swift fox and the endangered black-footed ferret along with the more commonly seen pronghorn antelope and deer.

Venturing farther west, visitors to South Dakota will come upon the world-famous Black Hills National Forest. Stretching for 1.2 million acres, the Black Hills are characterized by grassy mountain meadows, towering granite peaks, deep canyons, cascading trout streams and clear, clean lakes, creating an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. The Black Hills are also home to South Dakota’s three remaining scenic byways.

The northern reaches of the Black Hills are characterized by pine-laden mountains and jutting limestone formations. Located between Deadwood and Spearfish, the Spearfish Canyon State and National Forest Service Scenic Byway is a 20-mile route along US 14A. Flanked by towering limestone cliffs, this scenic byway offers some of the most beautiful scenery found anywhere. A forest of spruce, pine, aspen, birch and oak covers the hillsides while Spearfish Creek flows along the canyon bottom. Spearfish Canyon is also home to a number of waterfalls, including Roughlock and Bridal Veil Falls.

The central Black Hills give way to the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway. This 70-mile drive offers breathtaking views of some of the Black Hills\' most stunning scenery. The popular Needles Highway (SD Highway 87) and Iron Mountain Road (US Highway 16A) are both part of the byway. Needles Highway features tunnels, hairpin curves and slender granite pinnacles while three granite tunnels on Iron Mountain Road perfectly frame the faces of Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the distance. Also on the route are three pigtail bridges, built in the 1930s, which have a corkscrew shape. It is important to note tunnel sizes on the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway to ensure your clients’ vehicles have clearance.

The southern hills of South Dakota provide a dynamic contrast to the northern hills. Jutting granite outcroppings surrounded by vibrant ponderosa pines enlighten the senses as your clients wind through the countryside. The southern hills are the home of Custer State Park, the second-largest state park in the United States. The Wildlife Loop Road (SD Highways 87 and 16A) in Custer State Park is pure nature at its finest. This 18-mile route follows the diverse landscape offering views of mountain foothills, prairie meadows and lush streambeds. Many of the park\'s wildlife species occupy this area and are commonly seen. Some of the wildlife your clients might encounter include: bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, deer, elk, burros, coyotes, prairie dogs and numerous birds. The bison herd located in Custer State Park is recognized as one of the world’s largest.

South Dakota’s scenic byways showcase some of the state’s most spectacular sites. However, there are many more Great Faces and Great Places for your clients to experience in beautiful South Dakota

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