South Dakota: The Land of Infinite Variety

Capital: Pierre
Largest city: Sioux Falls 
Population (2019): 884,659

South Dakota is another United States destination that often gets overlooked. Yet it has a fascinating past and a curious present. South Dakota is the seventeenth largest, but the 5th least populous of the 50 states. It was admitted to the Union in 1889 and has been known as “the land of infinite variety,” reflected in everything from geography to culture. I experienced the contrast firsthand, traveling to quiet, flat Pierre and then the Black Hills, a Colorado-like mountain range popping with tourism. 

The Missouri River divides South Dakota into two halves, “East River” and “West River.” Although the state is considered the Midwest and has a strong presence in agriculture, its parts lie within the Great Plains, which contributes to the drastic socio-economic differences. The East River portion is a corn- and wheat-growing region where immigrants of German and Scandinavian descent settled in the 19th century. Because of the climate limitations, the West River’s predominant activity is ranching. Most of the nine Native American reservations are located there.

South Dakota offers plenty to explore: remote towns and urban areas, wildlife parks and monuments, Native American heritage and remainders of European presence. Here’s what I’ve managed to see in two days:

Pierre

Since winters in South Dakota get pretty cold, visiting Pierre in February was not a great idea. Open to high winds with the Missouri River running through the city, Pierre feels much colder than it actually is. If I weren’t Russian, I would not be comfortable walking around in such harsh weather. Even then I went outside for no longer than 30 minutes, worried about freezing my dog, Bruno.  

Locals said that late spring to early fall is when things become livelier. Tourists can enjoy boat rides, fishing, jet skiing, biking and hiking. The main attraction is the Capitol. It was designed under classical Roman influence and is still an active office building. Nearby memorials, the Trail of Governors and a lake promise a pleasant stroll on a summer day. During the winter months though, Canadian Geese, attracted by flowing warm water, are the only ones doing any kind of sightseeing.

Something else to keep in mind about South Dakota is time zones. The state lies in the Mountain Time Zone and the Central Time Zone. You don’t really notice an hour difference until places start to close. Despite being small, Pierre is split up between the two zones, making you play catch-up. Overall, not a lot is going on in the capital. Folks usually come here to relax and unwind.

Black Hills

Famous Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial are about a three to four-hour drive from Pierre. Both belong to a beautiful land of Black Hills, filled with pine forests, lakes, martian-looking peaks and underground caves. I liked viewing these colossal mountain sculptures one after another as together they represent a painful birth of the American nation. 

While many are familiar with carved faces of former U.S. Presidents, the legendary Lakota warrior, Crazy Horse, is less known. Dedicated to all North American Indians, his symbolic portrait is the world’s largest monument in progress. This project has been going for 71 years to preserve Native American traditions and values.   

No matter how long you are staying in Black Hills, you won’t see it all. Rapid City, Keystone, Custer City and Hill City have endless recreational possibilities and seasonal events. Some require good research. For example, certain Indian reservations welcome tourists as long as you have reached out to the tribal government office and understand their expectations. Other tribes prefer to remain reclusive, so planning ahead is crucial.

I enjoyed my first time in South Dakota and hope to return again for a deeper cultural dive-in and outdoor adventures.

Personal favorites

Eats & drinks:
– Pizza Ranch, Fort Pierre
– Alpine Inn, Hill City

Lodging:
– Alpine Inn, Hill City

Find more trip ideas & everything travel in this section of my blog. Happy exploring!