Top 7 Waterfalls in South Dakota, United States

September 28, 2021 Tonie Szymanski

South Dakota has good golf courses, skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, hiking, and biking among rolling prairies, pine forests, and granite mountain peaks like Mount Rushmore. Glacial lakes and Missouri River reservoir lakes provide great fishing, boating, canoeing, water skiing, and windsurfing. The whole family will enjoy this prairie land where grain growing begat roadside attractions like the Corn Palace in Mitchell. Everything made from corn, even the popcorn, tastes better here. Where buffalo roam, roadside diners serve up buffalo and luscious homemade fruit pies. Shop for good deals on cowboy boots on the same Black Hills and Badland Main Streets where cowboys and cowgirls outfit themselves. Be near the eroded buttes, spires, and prairie grasslands of Badlands National Park in Lead, Deadwood, Rapid City, Spearfish, Sturgis, Hill City, Custer, and other nearby towns. The whole family will enjoy watching for big game like bison, bighorn sheep, antelope, eagles, and hawks. Drive the one-hour Hwy 240 loop road, with a side-trip to Robert's Prairie Dog Town. Learn about the Oglala Sioux Tribe at the White River Visitor Center, which is near Wounded Knee. Tour the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site's Cold War nuclear silos, just outside the Park's boundaries. About 90 minutes west of Badlands National Park is Mount Rushmore. Lead, Deadwood, Rapid City, Spearfish, Sturgis, Hill City, Whitetail Springs, and Custer are also very near Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park, and Jewel Cave National Monument. View Mount Rushmore from the aerial tramway in Keystone, which also houses the Borglum Historical Center celebrating the artist behind the sculpting of Rushmore. Take the kids to the Dinosaur Park in Rapid City. Attend Custer State Park’s Annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival. Bedazzle the whole family with sparkling calcite crystals in 151-mile long Jewel Cave. Bison, pronghorn, and elk graze the grasslands of Wind Cave National Park. Central South Dakota has the state capitol, Pierre, in addition to numerous lakes along the Missouri River. Go fishing and boating in the rivers and lakes. Take the kids to the South Dakota Discovery Center and Aquarium in Pierre to see the state’s native fish. Drop by the Dacotah Prairie Museum along the James River in Aberdeen in the northeast to learn prairie history and natural history. Swing by Sioux Falls to see the USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial and special exhibits at the Old Courthouse Museum. Choose from among 10 golf courses in Sioux Falls.
Restaurants in South Dakota

1. Cascade Falls and Swimming Hole

Northeast Fall River, Hot Springs, SD http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/Rocky_Mountain/CascadeSprings
Excellent
58%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
4%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 130 reviews

Cascade Falls and Swimming Hole

It is a small cascade fed by natural spring water with a swimming hole at the base of it. There is a pavilion and parking area next to it.

Reviewed By aspoe093 - Pierre, United States

This was a great place to bring the family. Very easy to swim and they have a nice little area where kids can go if they don't feel comfortable in the bigger part. This place was a great little gem, it's free, there is a nice picnic area and it's just an overall fun place to swim.

2. Spearfish Falls

14A in Savoy Behind Latchkey Restaurant, Savoy, SD 57754-3779 http://www.spearfishcanyon.com/landscape/canyonfloortrail.html
Excellent
68%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 31 reviews

Spearfish Falls

Reviewed By Medas2005 - Minneapolis, United States

About a 20 minute walk from our Spearfish Lodge. Pathway was very nice and the viewing area was beautiful.

3. Devil's Gulch

5th Street & North Central Avenue Devil's Gulch Park Rd, Garretson, SD 57030 +1 605-594-6721 http://www.visitgarretson.com
Excellent
35%
Good
48%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
5%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 63 reviews

Devil's Gulch

Reviewed By 50nrose - Kansas City, United States

This park has a Jesse James legend attached to it. It's a beautiful place to see and hike around. It's out of the way but is my favorite stop near Sioux Falls. There are falls and you can walk the trail over to the next park, Splitrock Falls. Information center is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Outhouse type bathrooms available. Pretty place for a picnic.

4. Bridal Veil Falls

Spearfish Canyon Highway, Spearfish, SD 57783 http://visitspearfish.com/things-to-do/bridal-veil-falls
Excellent
45%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 235 reviews

Bridal Veil Falls

Reviewed By MindyandRogerA - Janesville, United States

Beautiful Waterfall adjacent on Hwy 14A (Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway) south of Spearfish. There is a pull-off, crosswalk and viewing platform that provides an excellent view of the waterfall. Great spot for pictures. With some difficulty, you can climb down to the adjacent stream, remove your shoes and walk across the shallow stream to the base of the falls. Well worth a short stop that is no more than 5 miles south of Spearfish. Access to the platform is possible for almost everyone.

5. Thunderhead Falls

10940 W Highway 44, Rapid City, SD 57702-8651 +1 605-343-0081
Excellent
20%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
16%
Terrible
31%
Overall Ratings

3.0 based on 69 reviews

Thunderhead Falls

Part of an old mine, the falls encompass eight cubic feet of water spewing vertically for more than 30 feet.

6. Roughlock Falls

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, Savoy, SD
Excellent
0%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
100%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

3.0 based on 1 reviews

Roughlock Falls

7. Little Spearfish Trail

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, Savoy, SD
Excellent
0%
Good
100%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 1 reviews

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