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Explore Devils Gulch Park

Garretson, South Dakota

4.0/5
based on 2 reviews

Details

Distance

0.5 miles

Elevation Gain

29 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Rachael Westergard

This park has a beautiful waterfall! There are plenty of places to relax and have a picnic or if you are looking for an activity there are multiple trails you can hike.

Devils Gulch Park is located in Garretson, South Dakota, about a half hour from Sioux Falls. It’s free to visit, and is a great spot to hike or picnic. There are trails along the river and cool bridges to walk across. 

Along with trails, there’s a covered picnic area right when you pull in. A neat part of the park is its history with Jesse James. It’s told that Jesse James jumped across the ravine on his horse to escape capture. The town of a Garretson prides itself on this historic event, so don’t be surprised if you see more Jesse James related things. 

Overall, great little spot to listen to rushing water while you sit and enjoy the nature. Probably not the best park for very little kids, but kids over 3 or 4 would probably love it!

*Dogs are allowed on leash*

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Features

Chillin
Fishing
Photography
Swimming
Hiking
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
Groups
Picnic Area
River
Scenic
Waterfall
Wildlife

Explore Devils Gulch Park Reviews

The trail is a nice change of pace from most hikes in eastern SD. It’s a winding, forested trail, with some cool geography. The signage on Jesse James is also worth the read if you like history.

It's a short hike through the gorge to the waterfall, which is the highlight of the trek. While taking in the gorgeous views I couldn't help but think how crazy it was that Jessie James had actually jumped a horse across the gap to evade capture. It's quite the drop to the bottom, and the gap is rather wide.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Camp at Palisade State Park

Hike the King and Queen Trail at Palisades State Park

Walk the Sioux River Red Rock Trail

Hike Great Bear Valley Trail

Mountain Bike Leaders Park Trail

Hike "The Mound" at Blue Mounds State Park

Go Great Places in South Dakota

In the Mount Rushmore state, travels to South Dakota are full of one-of-a-kind adventure with wide-open spaces as endless as the horizons. Between legendary landscapes and scenic drives, you can always find space that shifts life into park. When you’re ready, go great places.

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