South Dakota is a must-visit destination for motorcycling enthusiasts. While many motorcyclists first drive the state's highways, interstates and country roads on a trip to Sturgis for the annual rally, they often find other reasons to return. With a multitude of scenic byways and highways, there is no shortage to hit the open road and rev those engines.

It’s hard to beat the allure of fishing in South Dakota. Whether it’s the feeling of the sun on your face as you cast a line or the thrill of pulling up a gilled treasure from a hole in the ice, the sensations produced by fishing here have a certain kind of magic.

How can one activity be relaxing and exciting at the same time? We’re not sure. We just know that’s how fishing works.

You have plenty of opportunities in South Dakota, where nearly 98% of the state’s waters are publicly accessible and open for fishing. Fly-fish for trout in a flowing Black Hills stream. Reel in trophy walleye from a Missouri River reservoir or land bass and crappie from a northeastern glacial lake. Cold winters transform the state’s bodies of water into solid, shimmering ice fishing playgrounds. Fishing options here range from creeks, rivers and lakes to 63 state parks and recreation areas. Heck, we even have a lake with a ghost town at the bottom. When we say there are options, we mean it. (Check out South Dakota Game, Fish & Park’s up-to-date Public Fishing Access map.)

The residents of South Dakota are a welcoming bunch, and that especially extends to visitors arriving with rod and reel. Accommodations across the state cater to fishing folks, with boat-sized parking spots or restaurants that will cook up your day’s catch. Many shops and organizations also share fishing reports throughout the year. In South Dakota, convenience is key. After all, every minute spent trying to hook that perfect fish is well spent.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a pro angler, a weekend enthusiast, or a first-timer who doesn’t know the difference between a walleye and a can of tuna. South Dakota has year-round fishing opportunities for everyone. See why anglers travel from all over the world to fish in South Dakota. We’re pretty confident you’ll be, well…hooked.

Friendly hosts, private lodges and more than 1 million acres of publicly accessible hunting land within the primary pheasant range welcome residents and non-residents alike. And pheasant hunters aren’t the only ones who flock to this world-class hunting haven: South Dakota also offers opportunities to hunt big game, waterfowl, turkey and more. 

To experience hunting in South Dakota is to find paradise in the middle of America. Come make some memories of your own this year. Come hunt in SD.

Delight in a frosty frolic during the winter in South Dakota, where magical, snow-covered landscapes offer endless winter adventures.

Whether you're carving through powdery slopes while skiing or snowboarding at Terry Peak or Great Bear Ski Valley, exploring tranquil trails on snowshoes or gliding gracefully across ice rinks while ice skating, there's something for everyone. Or for a more relaxed experience, try your hand at ice fishing. If you're a fan of snowmobiling, South Dakota boasts more than 1,500 miles of well-maintained trails that wind through breathtaking scenery, making it one of the nation's premier snowmobiling destinations.

No matter your winter sport of choice, South Dakota provides a stunning backdrop of pristine wilderness, perfect for creating unforgettable winter memories.

South Dakota's diverse landscape and variety of rock formations attract climbers of all skill levels. Visit Custer State Park, the southern Black Hills and Spearfish Canyon in the west and Palisades State Park in the east, and choose from nearly 500 plotted climbing courses of varying levels of difficulty.

Looking for a horseback adventure? South Dakota's varied terrain and scenic trails are favorable for all types of horseback riding, from open prairies to rugged, winding trails. Several parks and recreation areas designate trails for horseback riding, including Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, Black Hills National Forest, Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, Sica Hollow State Park and Bear Butte State Park, Palmer Gulch in the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, and around the Crazy Horse Memorial. (Click here for a complete list of Black Hills horse trails.)

Even the least experienced riders will have opportunities to ride, with beginner and kid-friendly lessons available with experienced riders on trained horses. Horse accommodations at more than a dozen bed and breakfasts, horse camps and lodges in South Dakota include horse barns, feed and water, open pastures and horse trailer parking, making it a comfortable stay for everyone.

Whether you're looking for a short 1-hour ride, or an extended horseback trail ride, South Dakota has all the riding tours that you could ever want.
 

South Dakota Brand Laws

For those transporting their own animals, all cattle, horses and mules are required by South Dakota law to be brand inspected prior to leaving the South Dakota Ownership Inspection Area. This requirement applies whether or not the horse or mule is branded. The South Dakota Ownership Inspection Area is comprised of all counties located west of the Missouri River in South Dakota. Failure to obtain a brand inspection prior to leaving the Ownership Inspection Area is a Class 1 Misdemeanor.

Explore wooded trails, climb rugged peaks, or walk through native prairie grasses. Countless trails lead to scenic landscapes, thundering waterfalls and invigorating overlooks. Conquer a hiking trail in South Dakota and the journey stays with you forever