Claremont South DakotaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Claremont, South Dakota.
1. Granary Rural Cultural Center
RURAL ARTS AND HISTORY
The Granary Rural Cultural Center offers visitors a unique glimpse into South Dakota's rural heritage through art exhibitions and cultural events. The center features historical buildings and outdoor spaces where guests can explore the agricultural history of the region. Visitors can enjoy rotating art exhibits, educational programs, and special events celebrating the local culture throughout the year.
2. Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge
BIRD WATCHER'S PARADISE
Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a premier destination for bird watching enthusiasts, spanning thousands of acres of wetlands and prairie habitats near Claremont. The refuge serves as a crucial stopover for migratory birds, with spring and fall migrations bringing spectacular displays of waterfowl. Visitors can explore hiking trails, observation points, and educational exhibits that showcase the diverse wildlife that calls this protected area home.
3. Fort Sisseton State Park
HISTORIC MILITARY OUTPOST
Fort Sisseton State Park preserves a well-restored 1864 frontier military outpost that offers visitors a journey back to Dakota Territory's frontier days. The park features 14 original buildings where visitors can explore military life in the late 19th century. Throughout the year, the park hosts living history demonstrations and the annual Fort Sisseton Historical Festival, bringing the past to life through reenactments and period activities.
4. Colorful Creations
LOCAL ART AND CRAFTS
Colorful Creations showcases the talents of local artisans through a carefully curated selection of handmade arts and crafts. The shop offers unique souvenirs, gifts, and decorative pieces that reflect the culture and natural beauty of South Dakota. Visitors appreciate the opportunity to purchase authentic, locally-made items while supporting the regional creative economy.
5. Mount Rushmore National Memorial
AMERICA'S ICONIC MONUMENT
Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the iconic 60-foot faces of four great American presidents carved into the Black Hills granite. This national treasure represents the birth, growth, development, and preservation of the United States through the likenesses of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Visitors can explore the Avenue of Flags, Presidential Trail, and the evening lighting ceremony that brings a patriotic dimension to this remarkable monument.
6. Crazy Horse Memorial
MONUMENTAL MOUNTAIN CARVING
Crazy Horse Memorial is an ongoing mountain sculpture project honoring the spirit and culture of North American Indians through the carving of Lakota leader Crazy Horse. When completed, this tribute will be the largest mountain carving in the world, dwarfing even nearby Mount Rushmore. The site features the Indian Museum of North America and Native American Educational & Cultural Center where visitors can learn about indigenous history and traditions.
7. Wildlife Loop Road
SCENIC WILDLIFE VIEWING
Wildlife Loop Road offers visitors an 18-mile scenic drive through Custer State Park where they can observe free-roaming wildlife in their natural habitat. The loop is famous for its herd of approximately 1,300 bison, along with pronghorn antelope, elk, deer, and the park's famous begging burros. Early morning or evening drives provide the best opportunities for wildlife sightings and spectacular photography in this pristine natural setting.
8. Jewel Cave National Monument
MAGNIFICENT UNDERGROUND WORLD
Jewel Cave National Monument protects the third-longest cave system in the world, with over 200 miles of mapped passages adorned with calcite crystals that sparkle like jewels. Visitors can choose from a variety of guided tours that showcase the cave's remarkable formations, including boxwork, flowstone, and draperies. Above ground, the monument offers 1,279 acres of pine forest with hiking trails and wildlife viewing opportunities.
9. Wind Cave National Park
UNIQUE CAVE FORMATIONS
Wind Cave National Park features one of the world's longest and most complex cave systems, known for containing the world's largest concentration of rare boxwork formations. Above the cave, the park protects nearly 34,000 acres of mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa pine forest where bison, elk, and prairie dogs roam freely. Ranger-led cave tours take visitors through the mysterious underground world while highlighting the cave's unique geology and cultural significance to Native American tribes.
10. Historic Deadwood
WILD WEST HERITAGE
Historic Deadwood invites visitors to walk in the footsteps of Old West legends like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane in this authentic gold rush town established in the 1870s. The entire city is designated as a National Historic Landmark, preserving its frontier architecture and colorful history through museums, historic sites, and daily reenactments. Modern amenities like casinos, restaurants, and entertainment venues blend seamlessly with the town's historic character, creating a unique destination that balances past and present.
11. Missouri River Recreation Areas
WATER RECREATION PARADISE
The Missouri River in South Dakota offers extensive recreation opportunities along its free-flowing sections and four major reservoirs: Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis & Clark Lake. These waters are renowned for world-class fishing, with anglers pursuing walleye, bass, catfish, and northern pike throughout the year. Visitors can enjoy boating, swimming, camping, and hiking along the scenic shorelines that have shaped South Dakota's history and landscape.
12. Custer State Park
WILDLIFE AND NATURAL BEAUTY
Custer State Park encompasses 71,000 acres of breathtaking landscapes where nearly 1,300 bison roam freely alongside pronghorn antelope, elk, mountain goats, and burros. The park features scenic drives like Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road that wind through granite spires and pine forests, offering spectacular views and photo opportunities. Visitors can enjoy swimming at Sylvan Lake, hiking on numerous trails, or staying overnight in historic lodges that blend rustic charm with modern comfort.
13. Spearfish Canyon
SCENIC NATURAL WONDER
Spearfish Canyon is a breathtaking limestone gorge featuring towering cliffs, dense forests, and cascading waterfalls that create one of the Black Hills' most scenic drives. The 19-mile scenic byway follows Spearfish Creek through the narrow canyon, providing access to hiking trails and lookout points at Bridal Veil Falls, Roughlock Falls, and Spearfish Falls. The canyon's beauty changes dramatically with the seasons, from lush summer greenery to spectacular autumn colors to serene winter snowscapes.
14. Badlands National Park
DRAMATIC ERODED LANDSCAPES
Badlands National Park showcases a surreal landscape of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires amid the largest protected mixed-grass prairie in the United States. The park's layered rock formations contain one of the world's richest fossil beds, where ancient mammals like the saber-toothed cat once roamed. Visitors can explore scenic drives, hiking trails, and fossil exhibits while watching for modern wildlife such as bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets.
15. Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
COLD WAR HISTORY
The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site preserves relics of the Cold War era, including a missile silo and launch control facility that once housed nuclear weapons aimed at the Soviet Union. Visitors can tour Delta-01 Launch Control Facility to see the underground control center where Air Force officers stood ready to launch missiles if commanded. The site offers a powerful reminder of how close the world came to nuclear war and the technology that helped maintain an uneasy peace through deterrence.