Palisades State Park

Palisades State Park encompasses a total area of 157 acres near the city of Garretson, Minnehaha County, South Dakota. To get to the park just travel 10 miles north of I-90, Brandon Exit 406.

This park is South Dakota's second smallest state park. That said it is also one of South Dakota's most unique parks due to its unusual topography and colorful past. As for the topography, the land where the park sits is mostly comprised of Sioux quartzite formations that vary from a few feet high to about 50-foot vertical cliffs. There are plenty of scenic overlooks and the Split Rock Creek provides the sound of rushing water to complete the beautiful vista that the park provides. The park lies on a plateau on the northern Great Plains called the Coteau des Prairies.

As for the history of the park, Split Rock Creek was used by early pioneer settlers in the 1870s to power a feed mill and large flour mill. A town called the Palisades formed around this mill. Soon after, silver deposits were found downstream in 1886 but the low quality of the ore led to a short-lived silver rush. A few years later Garretson became a railroad junction and in 1908 Split Rock Creek was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Besides the historical interest of the Palisades State Park, there are several other activities that you can enjoy at this park. Some of the popular activities include camping, volleyball, birdwatching, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, and snowshoeing. Amenities at the park to facilitate these activities include 34 campsites, 6 cabins (each of which 4 people can sleep, most have electric power) and a group lodge, playground, campground, picnic shelter, drinking water, flush toilets/showers, game check out, and vault toilets.

The park allows pets, both big and small, at no additional cost. Park rules that you must adhere to with respect to your dog include always cleaning up after your dog, always maintaining immediate control of your dog including keeping them on a leash not longer than 10-feet long, keeping your dog at least 200-feet away from other visitors to the park, and preventing your dog from getting into park buildings. You can bring your dog into tent and campsites.