The beauty of South Dakota radiates through its scenery, wildlife, and its people. When the perfect combination of scenery and photographer meet, you end up with what are arguably the 16 best photos of South Dakota. It is truly beauty like you have never seen before.

  1. Check out this stunning highway view near the Badlands.

Jason Mrachina / Flickr If you think this South Dakota scenery is beautiful, you should check out the Badlands (242,756 acres of colorful buttes, pinnacles, and canyons) for yourself!

Address: 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD 57750

  1. And this beautiful bison herd roaming near Custer State Park…

Charles (Chuck) Peterson / Flickr Until you have see the bison roaming free at Custer State Park, you have yet to really experience South Dakota! (For a true one-of-a-kind experience, you will want to take in the Buffalo Roundup, which takes place September 26-28, 2019).

Address: 13329 US Highway 16A, Custer, SD 57730

  1. Don’t you just want to roll your windows down and go for a drive?

Kyle Taylor / Flickr

  1. A painted sky over a stunning man-made monument…

Mark Kaletka / Flickr Right here is the epitome of the Mount Rushmore State… wouldn’t you agree?

Address: 13000 SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751

  1. A simple yet jaw-dropping South Dakota morning…

John B. Kalla / Flickr You have our blessing to use this South Dakota landscape photography as your computer background.

  1. One lucky photographer captured this perfectly “South Dakota” photo.

David / Flickr

  1. The Badlands of South Dakota in stunning afternoon light.

John B. Kalla / Flickr Aren’t pictures of South Dakota in the fall the most glorious of all?

  1. This photo perfectly captures the beauty that draws visitors to these falls.

Jerry / Flickr Covering 123 acres and averaging 7,400 gallons of water dropping off the 100-foot-tall cliffs each second, Falls Park is a photographer’s dream come true.

Address: 131 East Falls Park Drive, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

  1. Home on the range is honestly this beautiful.

Michael Janke / Flickr

  1. This silhouetted photo is enough to take your breath away.

South Dakota / Flickr

  1. Fields of gold highlight our gorgeous state. This photographer captured their glorious colors perfectly.

Madeleine Deaton / Flickr Did you know that agriculture is the biggest industry in South Dakota (followed by tourism)?

  1. The beauty radiated by Sylvan Lake never ceases to amaze.

Tom (‘Mas) Pickering / Flickr In the summer, there is no better place to be than the warm beaches of Sylvan Lake! Not a swimmer? There is tons of hiking, fishing, and other water sports, too!

Address: 13329 US Highway 16A, Custer, SD 57730

  1. The glowing pink sunset over this scenic view is unreal.

Chris / Flickr

  1. The peace and beauty of rushing water brings a sense of calm.

Jerry and Pat Donaho / Flickr

  1. These ducks caught mid-flight in the golden light of dusk could not be more breath-taking.

USFWS Mountain-Prairie / Flickr

  1. Wild, wild horses in all their natural beauty…

South Dakota / Flickr

These photos are so stunning they seem unreal! We sure are lucky to get to see sights like these every day.

Jason Mrachina / Flickr

If you think this South Dakota scenery is beautiful, you should check out the Badlands (242,756 acres of colorful buttes, pinnacles, and canyons) for yourself!

Address: 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD 57750

Charles (Chuck) Peterson / Flickr

Until you have see the bison roaming free at Custer State Park, you have yet to really experience South Dakota! (For a true one-of-a-kind experience, you will want to take in the Buffalo Roundup, which takes place September 26-28, 2019).

Address: 13329 US Highway 16A, Custer, SD 57730

Kyle Taylor / Flickr

Mark Kaletka / Flickr

Right here is the epitome of the Mount Rushmore State… wouldn’t you agree?

Address: 13000 SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751

John B. Kalla / Flickr

You have our blessing to use this South Dakota landscape photography as your computer background.

David / Flickr

Aren’t pictures of South Dakota in the fall the most glorious of all?

Jerry / Flickr

Covering 123 acres and averaging 7,400 gallons of water dropping off the 100-foot-tall cliffs each second, Falls Park is a photographer’s dream come true.

Address: 131 East Falls Park Drive, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Michael Janke / Flickr

South Dakota / Flickr

Madeleine Deaton / Flickr

Did you know that agriculture is the biggest industry in South Dakota (followed by tourism)?

Tom (‘Mas) Pickering / Flickr

In the summer, there is no better place to be than the warm beaches of Sylvan Lake! Not a swimmer? There is tons of hiking, fishing, and other water sports, too!

Address: 13329 US Highway 16A, Custer, SD 57730

Chris / Flickr

Jerry and Pat Donaho / Flickr

USFWS Mountain-Prairie / Flickr

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Address: South Dakota, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Best Photos of South Dakota May 31, 2019 Annie What is the best thing about South Dakota? If we had to choose one thing about South Dakota to call the best, it would be the good people! Wait, no… the state parks and national monuments. Scratch that… the best thing about South Dakota is our incredible German and Native American cuisine! Or… well, you get the picture (everything is pretty great). What are the best things to do in South Dakota? If you love the great outdoors, we recommend visiting Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, or the Black Hills. Is history your jam? We have a lot of it, thanks to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and the Mammoth Site. Do you like to shop til you drop? Check out Sioux Falls for tons of antiquing, boutiques, and other mom and pop shops. Did you know that South Dakota is also a foodie paradise? You can find killer home-cooking in nearly every corner of the state! Why is South Dakota so beautiful? Aside from our gorgeous locals, South Dakota is beautiful for its rugged canyon, peaceful prairie, colorful rolling hills, and gorgeous cities.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Best Photos of South Dakota

May 31, 2019

Annie

What is the best thing about South Dakota? If we had to choose one thing about South Dakota to call the best, it would be the good people! Wait, no… the state parks and national monuments. Scratch that… the best thing about South Dakota is our incredible German and Native American cuisine! Or… well, you get the picture (everything is pretty great). What are the best things to do in South Dakota? If you love the great outdoors, we recommend visiting Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, or the Black Hills. Is history your jam? We have a lot of it, thanks to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and the Mammoth Site. Do you like to shop til you drop? Check out Sioux Falls for tons of antiquing, boutiques, and other mom and pop shops. Did you know that South Dakota is also a foodie paradise? You can find killer home-cooking in nearly every corner of the state! Why is South Dakota so beautiful? Aside from our gorgeous locals, South Dakota is beautiful for its rugged canyon, peaceful prairie, colorful rolling hills, and gorgeous cities.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

What are the best things to do in South Dakota? If you love the great outdoors, we recommend visiting Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, or the Black Hills. Is history your jam? We have a lot of it, thanks to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and the Mammoth Site. Do you like to shop til you drop? Check out Sioux Falls for tons of antiquing, boutiques, and other mom and pop shops. Did you know that South Dakota is also a foodie paradise? You can find killer home-cooking in nearly every corner of the state!

Why is South Dakota so beautiful? Aside from our gorgeous locals, South Dakota is beautiful for its rugged canyon, peaceful prairie, colorful rolling hills, and gorgeous cities.