South Dakota is full of enchanting places that look like they could come straight out of a fairy tale. Bear Butte is beautiful and sacred. It towers over the land like part of a magical kingdom, but is also a sacred Native American site.
Just a few miles from Sturgis, you’ll find the most enchanting place in all the land.
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Bear Butte proudly towers 1,253 feet over the prairie, like the crown jewel of the most beautiful kingdom on earth.
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From here, you can survey the entire kingdom of Bear Butte State Park. Great men, including Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, once visited this place and would have enjoyed a similar view, while wondering what would become of the land they cherished. They likely didn’t see this land as a kingdom owned by men, but must have felt deeply moved by its beauty.
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You won’t find fairy tales of this mountain, but it’s a sacred place to the Plains Indians. The Cheyenne people believe that their prophet, Sweet Medicine, was given knowledge and direction from Ma’heo’o at the top of this mountain, and many native people believe this is a place of great importance.
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When you visit, you’ll certainly find that Bear Butte has an enchanting, peaceful presence. You can take the Bear Butte State Park Trail to see some incredible views. The trail is 3.1 miles roundtrip, and takes you right up the mountain. It’s steep, but well worth the effort.
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You’ll see prayer cloths and tobacco pouches tied to trees along the way. These offerings are left by those who make pilgrimages to this sacred place. Please leave them undisturbed, and be respectful of this sacred place.
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Bear Butte State Park is located in the western part of the state, north of the Black Hills National Forest, near Sturgis.
If you haven’t visited Bear Butte yet, you definitely need to put this gorgeous place on your summer bucket list. Have you explored it? If so, tell us about it in the comments!
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