Palisades State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palisades State Park |
|
|---|---|
King and Queen Rock in Palisades State Park
|
|
 Palisades State Park
Location in South Dakota
|
|
| Location | Minnehaha, South Dakota, United States |
| Area | 157 acres (64 ha) |
| Governing body | South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks |
Palisades State Park is a cool place in South Dakota, USA. It's a state park known for its amazing cliffs and rock formations. These rocks are a special pink color! They were shaped over a very long time by nature. The park is near a town called Garretson. It's about 10 miles (16 km) from Interstate 90. Even though it's only 157 acres (64 ha), it's South Dakota's second-smallest state park.
Contents
Amazing Rocks and Rivers
How the Park Was Formed
The main rocks you see at Palisades State Park are called Sioux Quartzite. These rocks are super old, about 1.2 billion years old! They can be as tall as 50 feet (15 m). You can see them on both sides of Split Rock Creek. This creek also flows through Split Rock Creek State Park in Minnesota.
Special Minerals and Land
Inside the quartzite rocks, you can find a softer mineral called catlinite. This mineral was very important to many Native American groups. They used it to make special ceremonial pipes. The park is also located on a high, flat area called the Coteau des Prairies. This area is part of the northern Great Plains.
A Look Back in Time
Early Settlers and Mills
People started settling in this area around 1865. In the 1870s, Split Rock Creek was used to power a big flour and feed mill. A small town called Palisades grew up around this mill.
Silver Rush and New Towns
In 1886, people found silver a little bit downstream. This caused a short "silver rush," where many people came hoping to get rich. But the silver wasn't very good quality. Three years later, in 1889, the nearby town of Garretson became a railroad junction. Most people from Palisades then moved north to Garretson. A strong steel truss bridge was built over Split Rock Creek in 1908. This bridge is now on the National Register of Historic Places because it's so important to history.
Fun Things to Do
Palisades State Park is a great place for outdoor adventures!
- Camping: The park has a campground with 37 sites. You can also stay in one of 6 camper cabins. There's even a special area for groups who want to tent camp.
- Lodge: There's a 4-bedroom lodge you can reserve for private events.
- Hiking: Four different hiking trails wind through the park. They let you explore the beautiful scenery.
- Rock Climbing: If you like climbing, you can climb on the quartzite formations. Just remember that using bolts to help you climb is not allowed.
