Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States South Dakota Garretson Palisades State Park

Palisades State Park

The cliff and rock formations are made out of Sioux Quartzite.

Garretson, South Dakota

Added By
Delanie Johnson
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
King and Queen Rock   McGiever
Sumac Grove   South Dakota
Bridge over Split Rock Creek   Alexis Horatious
Summer at Palisades   showmestateofmind / Atlas Obscura User
  ZBRAH / Atlas Obscura User
Chimney Rock   Kevin OKeeffe / Atlas Obscura User
Balancing Rock   Kevin OKeeffe / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Glittering pink quartzite 50 feet high split by a babbling creek is an unexpected sight in the vast plains of South Dakota. Despite being the second smallest state park in the state, Palisades attracts hikers, fishers, paddlers, campers, and rock climbers.

A geologist's paradise, Palisades contains catlinite, or pipestone. This mineral is used by local Indigenous groups to make calumets, ornately-decorated tobacco pipes used in traditional ceremonies. There are several quarries on the 157-acre park still being used for just that! The formations at Palisades are over 1.2 billion years old.

The power of Split Rock Creek (the bisecting creek of Palisades) has been used by pioneers since the 1800s as a mill. Low-quality silver was even found in the creek. The steel truss bridge that crosses Palisades is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Related Tags

State Parks Rock Formations Geology

Know Before You Go

$8 per vehicle

Community Contributors

Added By

showmestateofmind

Edited By

Kevin OKeeffe, ZBRAH

  • Kevin OKeeffe
  • ZBRAH

Published

November 3, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Palisades State Park
25497 485th Ave
Garretson, South Dakota, 57030
United States
43.690702, -96.512639
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Devil's Gulch

Garretson, South Dakota

miles away

Falls Park

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

miles away

'Arc of Dreams'

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Garretson

Garretson

South Dakota

Places 2

Nearby Places

Devil's Gulch

Garretson, South Dakota

miles away

Falls Park

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

miles away

'Arc of Dreams'

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Garretson

Garretson

South Dakota

Places 2

Related Stories and Lists

The United States of Camping

List

By Michelle Cassidy

Related Places

  • Palisades Sill

    Eagle Nest, New Mexico

    Palisades Sill

    Spectacular 300-foot cliffs in a lush mountain canyon.

  • Overlook of Little Jerusalem

    Winona, Kansas

    Little Jerusalem Badlands

    Once an ancient sea, this landscape of rocky ravines is filled with the fossils of ancient marine life.

  • Medicine Rocks State Park

    Ekalaka, Montana

    Medicine Rocks State Park

    This beautiful ancient site is dotted with perforated sandstone pillars considered sacred by some Native American groups.

  • Otter Rock, Oregon

    Devils Punchbowl

    This coastal rock formation resembles a churning cauldron at high tide.

  • A beach on the island with distinctive rock formations.

    Malpe, India

    Thonsepar

    These four small islands contain unique hexagonal rock formations.

  • The winding curves of Ybykty Canyon.

    Koyulus, Kazakhstan

    Ybykty Canyon

    This small canyon is home to a treasure trove of geological oddities.

  • Window arch in the City of Rocks.

    Almo, Idaho

    City of Rocks

    This U.S. natural reserve is an ancient spiritual place and rock climber’s paradise.

  • Pyramids of Euseigne

    Hérémence, Switzerland

    Pyramides d'Euseigne

    These spindly, stone-capped formations are the product of glacial deposits and thousands of years of erosion.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.