Humboldt South DakotaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Humboldt, South Dakota.
1. Porter Sculpture Park
UNIQUE METAL ART DISPLAYS
Porter Sculpture Park features impressive metal sculptures created by artist Wayne Porter, including a 60-foot tall bull's head that serves as the park's centerpiece. Visitors can wander through the outdoor gallery to view dozens of whimsical and thought-provoking pieces scattered across the prairie landscape. The park combines art with the natural beauty of South Dakota's rolling hills, creating a distinctive roadside attraction that appeals to art lovers and curious travelers alike.
2. Lake Vermillion Recreation Area
OUTDOOR WATER RECREATION PARADISE
Lake Vermillion Recreation Area offers visitors a peaceful oasis with fishing, swimming, and boating opportunities on its crystal-clear waters. The park features well-maintained camping areas, picnic facilities, and hiking trails that wind through the surrounding natural landscape. Families particularly enjoy the sandy beach area during summer months, making it a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts looking to escape city life.
3. Central Valley Golf Course
SCENIC PRAIRIE GOLFING EXPERIENCE
Central Valley Golf Course provides golfers with a challenging yet enjoyable experience across its well-maintained fairways and greens. The course features scenic views of the surrounding prairie landscape, creating a peaceful atmosphere for players of all skill levels. Amenities include a clubhouse with refreshments, cart rentals, and professional instruction for those looking to improve their game.
4. Badlands National Park
DRAMATIC ERODED LANDSCAPES
Badlands National Park showcases a striking landscape of buttes, canyons, pinnacles, and spires formed through millions of years of erosion. The park preserves 244,000 acres where visitors can discover ancient fossil beds, including remains of three-toed horses and saber-toothed cats. Wildlife enthusiasts can spot native species while exploring the park's extensive hiking trails or driving the scenic Badlands Loop Byway.
5. Mount Rushmore National Memorial
ICONIC PRESIDENTIAL MOUNTAIN CARVINGS
Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the colossal carved faces of four American presidents—Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln—standing as a monument to American democracy. The memorial is particularly stunning in autumn when fall foliage frames the massive 60-foot sculptures carved into the Black Hills granite. Visitors can enjoy the Presidential Trail, evening lighting ceremonies, and the informative Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center to learn about the monument's creation and significance.
6. Crazy Horse Memorial
MONUMENTAL NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBUTE
Crazy Horse Memorial is an ongoing mountain carving that, when completed, will be the world's largest sculpture honoring the Lakota leader and Native American culture. The project was begun by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski in 1948 and continues today as a multigenerational effort of remarkable scale and ambition. Visitors can explore the Indian Museum of North America and Native American Educational & Cultural Center on site to deepen their understanding of indigenous heritage.
7. Wind Cave National Park
COMPLEX UNDERGROUND WILDERNESS
Wind Cave National Park protects one of the longest and most complex cave systems in the world, known for having the world's largest concentration of rare boxwork formations. Above ground, the park encompasses 33,851 acres of mixed-grass prairie and forest that provide habitat for diverse wildlife including bison, elk, and prairie dogs. Guided cave tours take visitors through chambers of remarkable geological features while rangers explain the cave's formation and ecological significance.
8. Jewel Cave National Monument
SPARKLING UNDERGROUND PASSAGES
Jewel Cave National Monument preserves one of the world's longest known cave systems with over 220 miles of mapped and surveyed passages. The cave earned its name from the glittering calcite crystals that line its walls, creating a jewel-like appearance when illuminated. Visitors can choose from several guided tour options that showcase the cave's fragile formations, brilliant colors, and vast underground wilderness.
9. Custer State Park
WILDLIFE AND SCENIC BEAUTY
Custer State Park spans 71,000 acres of breathtaking landscapes in the Black Hills, featuring some of the tallest trees in South Dakota. The park is home to one of America's largest publicly-owned bison herds, with approximately 1,300 bison roaming freely throughout the territory. Visitors can experience wildlife viewing along the Wildlife Loop Road, hiking through scenic trails, or enjoying water recreation at Sylvan Lake, making it one of South Dakota's premier outdoor destinations.
10. Devil's Gulch
LEGENDARY NATURAL CHASM
Devil's Gulch features a dramatic natural chasm with red quartzite formations and a narrow gorge that, according to legend, outlaw Jesse James leaped on horseback while escaping pursuit. A half-mile trail leads visitors to a footbridge spanning the gulch, offering spectacular views of the Split Rock River and surrounding cliffs. During autumn, the area transforms into a photographer's paradise as fall colors provide a breathtaking backdrop to the rugged landscape.
11. Sica Hollow State Park
MYSTICAL FORESTED RAVINES
Sica Hollow State Park encompasses a mysterious forested area that Native Americans called the "place of evil spirits" due to its reddish bogs and eerie atmosphere. The park features the Trail of the Spirits, a National Recreation Trail that winds through ravines where springs and small streams sometimes appear to flow with rust-colored water due to natural iron deposits. During fall, the dense forest of maple, basswood, and oak trees transforms into a spectacular display of vibrant autumn colors.
12. Lewis & Clark Recreation Area
HISTORIC WATERFRONT DESTINATION
Lewis & Clark Recreation Area serves as one of South Dakota's premier water recreation destinations, situated along the shores of Lewis and Clark Lake. The park offers extensive camping facilities, boat ramps, swimming beaches, and hiking trails that attract outdoor enthusiasts throughout the warmer months. Visitors can explore the historic connection to the famous expedition while enjoying modern amenities including rental cabins, marina services, and interpretive programs.
13. Falls Park
CASCADING URBAN WATERFALL
Falls Park showcases the natural beauty of the Big Sioux River as it cascades over pink quartzite formations in a series of dramatic waterfalls that give Sioux Falls its name. The 123-acre park features an observation tower, historic ruins of the Queen Bee Mill, and a visitor center where guests can learn about the city's history and the geological significance of the falls. Beautiful walking paths wind throughout the park, connecting to the city's 29-mile recreational trail system and offering spectacular views of the falls from various vantage points.
14. Wall Drug
ICONIC WESTERN TRADING POST
Wall Drug began as a small pharmacy in 1931 and grew into a 76,000-square-foot roadside attraction famous for its free ice water, 5-cent coffee, and quirky Western atmosphere. The sprawling complex now includes multiple themed shopping areas, dining options, a backyard with photo opportunities, and an extensive collection of Western art. Millions of travelers stop at this legendary landmark annually, making it one of the most famous and successful roadside attractions in America.
15. Corn Palace
UNIQUELY DECORATED AGRICULTURAL MONUMENT
The Mitchell Corn Palace stands as the world's only corn palace, an architectural oddity decorated annually with thousands of bushels of corn, grains, and native grasses arranged in elaborate themed murals. The building serves as a multipurpose facility hosting concerts, sports events, exhibits, and the annual Corn Palace Festival that celebrates the agricultural heritage of South Dakota. Dating back to 1892, this unique attraction draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year who come to marvel at the intricate corn artwork that adorns both the interior and exterior of the building.