Bear Butte State Park

Not technically in the Black Hills, Bear Butte is a standalone attraction often included in tourist itineraries. Rising dramatically from the surrounding prairie, Bear Butte has served as a sacred site for Native American tribes for over 4,000 years. Over 30 Native American tribes still come here for prayer, vision quests, and ceremony. Colorful prayer cloths and tobacco ties hanging from trees along the trails represent the prayers of worshippers. Please leave them undisturbed and do not photograph them. Notable Lakota leaders including Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, and Red Cloud made pilgrimages to Bear Butte throughout history. For outdoor recreation, the Summit Trail climbs 1.85 miles to the top with roughly 900 feet of elevation gain and sweeping views of four states, while the Lake Trail follows the western shoreline of Bear Butte Lake and connects to the northern terminus of the 111-mile Centennial Trail.