Bundle up, grab your gear and hit the slopes during the winter sports season from December through March. In South Dakota, we’re not scared of a little snow and a little cold, because that means there are even more winter activities to enjoy.
Machines kick out snow before the first snowfall, giving you a head start for downhill skiing and snowboarding. You’ll love skiing in South Dakota, zipping down runs made for a variety of skill levels. When your legs get tired, hop aboard a snowmobile for a thrilling ride through forests, prairies and welcoming communities on both the eastern and western borders of the state. If none of the above are an option, there are always serene winter hikes, snowshoeing or good old-fashioned cross-country skiing in South Dakota’s snow-covered hills and countryside to warm you.
Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding & Snowtubing
Terry Peak Ski Area, Lead
Use five lifts to reach nearly 30 trails — clearly marked for beginner, intermediate or advanced levels — at Terry Peak Ski Area in the northern Black Hills near the historic towns of Deadwood and Lead. The summit reaches 7,100 feet, and accomplished skiers and snowboarders can brave adrenaline-pumping runs like Holy Terror or Inferno. Newbies will want to try the aptly named, much tamer Little Phil trail. Need some pointers before zooming down the mountain? Sign up for private or group lessons at the Ski School. Take a break to eat, relax, shop and enjoy entertainment at the Nevada Gulch or Stewart day lodges. To enjoy multiple days in the area, reserve overnight lodging in nearby Historic Deadwood, or book one of the cabins or chalets near Lead.
Great Bear Ski Valley, Sioux Falls
Enjoy traversing 14 downhill runs at Great Bear Ski Valley, operated by the Sioux Falls Parks & Recreation Department. Trail difficulty ranges from the beginners' bunny hill to terrains designed to challenge those with alpine experience, and families can enjoy the Kirby Family Tubing Park. When it’s time to warm up, sit by the fireplace and sip a hot drink inside The Lodge. Take advantage of the Great Bear SnowSports School for great tips to enhance your skills. The trip to get back to your hotel in Sioux Falls takes less than 15 minutes, making Great Bear a convenient place to play in the snow while enjoying everything the city has to offer.
Top Snowmobile Trails
Black Hills National Forest Trail System
Within the 1.2-million-acre Black Hills National Forest, you’ll find 350 miles of marked, mapped and groomed trails reserved for snowmobiles from December 15 to March 31. Travel through the forest, past waterfalls and lookout points, and pull up to one of the lodges found along the way. The Black Hills system is an especially fun destination — when you’re not zipping through stunning natural landscapes, you can play tourist in the surrounding towns of Deadwood, Lead, Spearfish, Sturgis, Hill City, Custer and Rapid City.
Plan your winter journey with this interactive South Dakota trails map and see why the Black Hills Snowmobile Trail System has been ranked one of the “Top 10 Places to Ride in North America” by SnoWest Magazine and SuperTrax International.
Eastern South Dakota and the Coteau des Prairies Snowmobile Trail System
In eastern South Dakota, discover 1,168 miles of snowmobile trails. In the Coteau Des Prairies System, for example, you can ride through 340 miles of trails by lakes, into the forest and through towns such as Watertown, Clear Lake, Badger and Altamont. One of the many connecting routes is Four Lakes Trail, which features picturesque farms, prairies and charming communities. Explore even more by hopping on the Whetstone Valley and Heartland trails, or head south to experience the Siouxland Trail, which nearly reaches the Minnesota border.
Best Snowshoe Treks
South Dakota's openness and vast parklands provide plenty of access to incredible winter landscapes, and snowshoes make traversing snow-covered trails a relative breeze! Whatever corner of the state you find yourself in, get out, strap up and leave your cabin fever at the door. Beginners can check out South Dakota's Game, Fish and Park's various snowshoe hikes held on trails throughout the state during the season. During special events and at select state parks, you can check out snowshoes for free.
Good Earth State Park at Blood Run, Sioux Falls
Only 25 minutes from Great Bear Recreation Park and just southeast of Sioux Falls, this National Historic Landmark’s natural draw is as significant as its legacy as an Indigenous settlement centuries ago. Beautiful as it is in spring, summer and fall, Good Earth State Park should not be forgotten in the winter, as the park is home to several snowshoe trails and offers a snowshoe rental. Green forests and fields transform into sparkling white expanses that stretch toward the horizon. At the same time, even the shortest snowshoe hike along the Big Sioux River reveals its normally fast-flowing waters are frozen in time.
Fort Sisseton Historic State Park, Sisseton
History meets outdoor adventure at Fort Sisseton Historic State Park, where an 1864 military fort includes original structures such as stone barracks, a powder magazine and officers’ quarters. Visitors can see these relics from the Western frontier days, enjoy lakefront views and then snowshoe along the Fort Sisseton Trail through frozen wetlands.
Farm Island Recreation Area, Pierre
Escape to blissful solitude when you snowshoe along powder-coated trails. Farm Island Recreation Area, near Pierre, offers three loops along its Exploration Nature Trail, where you can snowshoe and cross-country ski, then warm up at the warming shelter. This area is also connected to the Lewis and Clark expedition; inquiring minds can learn more in the Lewis and Clark family center.
Cross-Country or Nordic Skiing
South Dakota saw a large migration of Scandinavians to the area in the early 1900s, and some of their lifestyles and traditions can be found in winter activities like cross-country skiing.
Eagle Cliff Trails, Black Hills
Drive just 10 miles south from Lead on Highway 85 for excellent cross-country skiing. In the mid-1980s, local skiing enthusiasts developed the Eagle Cliff Trails in the Black Hills National Forest. With more than 20 ski trails, the system offers classic and skate skiing. Trails range from short, rugged and remote to longer, looping trails with a range of difficulty, and skiers can combine trails to create a truly unique winter adventure. Local clubs like the Eagle Cliff Ski Association groom many loops regularly.
George S. Mickelson Trail, Black Hills
The premier trail within the South Dakota State Park system, this 109-mile jewel stretches the length of the Black Hills. It follows an abandoned railroad bed and climbs gently into jagged cliffs and pine forests. Open year-round with opportunities for snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, the Mickelson Trail tops out at 6,100 feet but rarely exceeds a 4-percent grade, making it perfect for beginner skiers. Start your adventure at any of 15 trailheads from Edgemont to Deadwood.
Big Hill Trail System, Spearfish
Big Hill Trail, named after the prospectors who struggled to get over the “Big Hill” near Spearfish, is home to outstanding snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails in the winter months. Lined with quaking aspen and ponderosa pine, these extensive groomed trails will allow you to take in the beauty of the Black Hills. Take a break — and warm up — in the warming hut at the Big Hill Trailhead.
Dakota Nature Park, Brookings
Located on the southern edge of Brookings, the Dakota Nature Park is open year-round but is groomed perfectly for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter. The many cross-country ski and walking trails are groomed on Mondays and Fridays, depending on weather conditions.
Richmond Lake, Aberdeen
Richmond Lake Recreation Area in northeastern South Dakota provides numerous outdoor recreational opportunities year-round. The Forest Drive unit has a scenic drive, multi-use trails and a warming shelter at the trailhead for the local snowmobile trail. Cross-country ski trails are groomed regularly during the winter.
