Page 16 - visitor-guide-2020-2021

Hiking and Biking
Whether you enjoy a challenging hike across rugged terrain
or a leisurely stroll through a city park, you’ll find the perfect
path in Pierre.
Hiking through the Fort Pierre National Grassland is like
stepping back in time. The grassland is 116,000 acres of
rugged, unspoiled terrain, offering seasoned hikers and cyclists
a look at the South Dakota prairie as it was hundreds of years
ago. There are no developed campgrounds, but camping is
permitted throughout the area; the reservoirs and ponds dotting
the prairie are popular spots.
The parks and woods around Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe
feature both easy and challenging paths with excellent birding
and nature-watching opportunities. Oahe Downstream’s
Cottonwood Path, a National Recreation Trail, is popular with
hikers, cyclists and birders. One may see the majestic bald
eagle as they typically perch in the tall cottonwood trees. Open
year-round, the seven miles of hiking, biking and walking trails
at LaFramboise Island wind through woods and meadows
inhabited by diverse wildlife. Farm Island Recreation Area
features a three-mile Island Nature Trail. Information about all
three state parks is at www.gfp.sd.gov.

Garden is located south of the parking lot by the Visitor Center.
The Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Trail runs from Farm Island, A large kiosk is at the edge of the trail.
south of town, to Oahe Downstream Recreation Area. At 26 Within the city of Pierre, bike trails and walking paths connect
miles, it’s an easy to moderate bike trip, with interesting sites and
stops along its route. Find information on the Lewis and Clark historical sites and recreation areas. Hiking paths through
Trail in brochures distributed by the Pierre Convention and Pierre’s Native Plant Arboretum, located off the Farm Island
Visitors Bureau. For a map of the trail in the local area, visit the Nature Trail, can provide excellent views of deer, wild turkey,
Chamber’s website, www.pierre.org. mourning doves, bald eagles, songbirds and pheasants. The
The USFWS South Dakota Field Office and the South Dakota Nature Trail ends near the Riverwalk/Bicycle Path, which runs
Game Fish and Parks Departments created a Prairie Butterfly about 14 miles along the Missouri River shoreline. The Capitol
Garden at the Oahe Downstream Recreation Area. Over 3,000 Creek Walk connects the Capitol grounds to the Riverwalk. The
perennial plants and numerous annual plants are established Governor’s Walk winds just over a mile through Hilger’s Gulch
in an area approximately 90’X50’. Everyone is welcome and Park. The map in this guide shows the location of these walks
encouraged to visit the garden to see native prairie plants, and paths; call the Pierre Convention and Visitors Bureau at
try to identify some of the common butterflies of the area, and 800.962.2034 for more information.
learn something new about butterflies of South Dakota. The Volksmarches, noncompetitive walking events which
16 | PIERRE VISITOR GUIDE