The Top 20 Natural Monuments in South Dakota
South Dakota’s landscape is a beautiful place to explore — something that you can best experience by visiting one of our 20
beautiful natural monuments in South Dakota. To help you find the one for, you can see all the details you need to explore the best natural monuments, and better plan your next outdoor adventure!
beautiful natural monuments in South Dakota. To help you find the one for, you can see all the details you need to explore the best natural monuments, and better plan your next outdoor adventure!
Last updated: November 14, 2025
Mount Rushmore
Highlight • Monument
Mount Rushmore is a mountain in the Black Hills in the state of South Dakota and a famous monument showing the heads of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt …
Tip by
Black Elk Peak
Highlight • Summit
Until August 2016, the peak was still called Harney Peak, named after General William S. Harney, who fought against the Brulé-Lakota. To honor Black Elk, for whom the Black Hills …
Tip by
Sign up now to discover places like this
Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places.
Sign up for free
Sylvan Lake
Highlight • Lake
Sylvan Lake is a popular destination to enjoy the wilderness. You can take a hike around the picturesque lake with unique smoothly shaped rock formations or climb up to Black Elk Peak – South Dakota's highest point.
Tip by
Notch Trail (Badlands National Park)
Highlight (Segment) • Trail
The Notch Trail in Badlands National Park is a popular hiking destination, especially from March to October. After winding through a canyon, the trail leads to a log ladder and …
Tip by
Harney Peak Lookout Tower (Black Elk Wilderness)
Highlight • Summit
The Black Elk Wilderness is home to the highest peak in South Dakota and to the famous Mount Rushmore National Memorial. It is a sacred area to Native Americans and …
Tip by
Presidential Trail
Highlight (Segment) • Trail
The Presidential Trail is an approximately 1-km-long trail at the foot of Mount Rushmore, which offers great views of the presidential heads and, if lucky, wild animals such as mountain …
Translated by Google •
Tip by
Window Trail
Highlight • Viewpoint
Next to the Door and Notch Trail, you can take an easy hike on the short Window Trail leading you to a gap in the Badlands formation. It is a nice photo spot and a great view into the backcountry.
Tip by
Big Sioux River Falls
Highlight • Waterfall
These dramatic falls give Sioux Falls, South Dakota its name. The falls are within Falls Park which has an observation tower and a cafe. There are plenty of pedestrian and bicycle trails.
Tip by
Castle Trail
Highlight (Segment) • Trail
At 5 miles one way, this is the longest trail within the park. You can hike it as an out and back to the Fossil Exhibit Trail, or loop it with the Medicine Root Trail.
Tip by
Door Trail Boardwalk, Badlands National Park
Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint
Located in Badlands National Park, South Dakota, this wheelchair-accessible ¼ mile boardwalk leads through a natural break in the Badlands Wall known as "the Door." This boardwalk offers visitors of …
Tip by
Sign up for free to discover even more natural monuments in South Dakota.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?
Other adventures in South Dakota
Most popular attractions in South Dakota
Get inspired with the komoot mobile app
With a free komoot account, you can easily find, customize, and navigate endless outdoor adventures around London and beyond.
Didn’t find what you were looking for?
Find even more amazing natural monuments in South Dakota by checking out the top Highlights region by region:
Explore more
Extend your search for the best caves by checking out these guides of the top ones in South Dakota:
UtahCaliforniaArizonaHawaiiNew YorkColoradoAppalachian MountainsSan FranciscoMaui CountyWyomingKauaʻi CountyVirginiaNevadaWashingtonHawaiʻi CountyOregonNorth CarolinaNew HampshireMaineGeorgiaMassachusettsWashington D.CDistrict Of ColumbiaHonolulu CountyMarylandTennesseeTexasFloridaAlaskaMinnesotaSan FranciscoIllinoisOhioNew MexicoNew JerseyPennsylvaniaIdahoWisconsinOregon Islands WildernessSouth CarolinaMichiganWest VirginiaKentuckyMontanaAlabamaConnecticutIndianaVermontMissouriIowaArkansasNebraskaLouisianaNorth DakotaKansasOklahomaPuerto RicoMississippiMonroe CountyRhode Island
Get ready to conquer new peaks
Sign up for Free