Spirit Mound is one of the many sacred spots located in South Dakota.
Spirit Mound is one of the many sacred spots located in South Dakota. It was considered to be the home of small folk and thus off limits to the Native Americans who called the locale home. It was considered especially bad luck to see any of the small folk. In spite of the warning, explorers Lewis and Clark explored Spirit Mound during their epic exploration of the Louisiana Territory in 1804. This is a panoramic view from the trail that winds up to the summit from a parking lot south of the hill. Jerry · CC BY-SA 2.0

Spirit Mound Historic Prairie

State Natural Area · South Dakota · South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks

Plan your visit

Trails & hiking

Hiking · Trail

Know before you go

Official site
gfp.sd.gov
Managed by
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

Things to do

Activities & features: Historic Feature · Interpretive Signage · Picnic Area · Wildlife Viewing

Photos

Nearby parks

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65 parks mapped in South Dakota

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Guides for the trip

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Sources: Wikimedia Commons / editorial, USGS PAD-US, State agency · updated 2026-09-12