Good Earth State Park at Blood Run

A chance to enjoy one of the last warm days of autumn got us out of the house and on the road. And having the annual South Dakota state park pass that we purchased at Custer State Park last month helped us choose our destination...Good Earth State Park at Blood Run. The park is just barely outside the city limits of Sioux Falls...an easy drive for us.

Good Earth State Park (a National Historical Landmark) is South Dakota's newest state park, but the land on which it sits has a history that goes back centuries. Archeologists believe the Blood Run site was used as early as 6,500 BC. Native American cultures were attracted to this settlement for its location next to the Big Sioux River, the abundant wildlife, the availability of pipestone (catlinite) and protection from the winds. The area was an important gathering place for ceremonies and a trading center for many tribal peoples from 1300 to 1700 AD. It is estimated that as many as 10,000 people would have been present at various times of the year. Blood Run is considered one of the oldest sites of long-term human habitation in all of the United States. 

The parking lot was quite full when we arrived but we took our chance and went inside the visitor center (which had just opened in 2017.) Only a couple of other people were inside...and wearing masks...so we took some time to look at the exhibits.

A large buffalo skin structure and wall murals showed what life might have been like to the early inhabitants of the area. 

We were on the look out for one of these boulders, but didn't see any.

Close up of previous sign.

Our main objective was to check out some of the six miles of trails that wind through the woods, prairie land and river bottom in the park. Even with a map, we somehow ended up on a different trail than what we had planned. Thinking we were headed to the Riverview Loop we found ourselves on the Cottonwood Loop instead.

Arrow pointing to Cottonwood Loop trail that we walked.

The beginning of the trail system by the visitor center.

Initially the trail took us through a wooded area and somewhere along the way we made a wrong choice at a fork in the path.

Once we realized we were headed the opposite way, the Cottonwood Loop looked like a good choice.

Beginning of Cottonwood Loop. Much of the trail was along tall prairie grass until we reached the river.

Someone had constructed a small shelter from tree branches. Chief Bob is pretending to smoke his peace pipe.

After almost no rain for the last few months, the Big Sioux River wasn't all that big. 

I used the app "Map My Walk" to record our hike which turned out to be a little over 2 miles. By mid-October, much of the landscape was brown, but there were patches of yellow leaves on the trees and if you looked, little spots of color in the prairie grass.

This flower was no bigger than a quarter.

A little pop of red in a sea of brown.

Along the river bank the sun was warm and the winds were light. Once we returned to the bluff by the visitor center a brisk breeze had us pulling on our jackets and cinching up our hoods to try and stay warm as we ate the picnic lunch we had brought along. 

Our initial plans were to make a second stop at Palisades State Park but instead we headed straight home. A short, but enjoyable outing. 

It was nice to explore Good Earth State Park for the first time, but unless we have an annual pass in the future, I'm not sure we would return. (A day pass is $8.) There are too many other places nearby that are equally good or better for hiking.