South Dakota’s 100 Years Scavenger Hunt

Do you like to participate in scavenger hunts? I sure do! When I found out the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks was celebrating their 100-year anniversary by sponsoring a 100 Years Scavenger Hunt, I just had to get involved!

So far, I have made it to three South Dakota Parks and Recreation Areas and submitted my selfies to be entered in the drawings. Hopefully, I’m going to be a winner! There are 29 parks and recreation areas, so if you are in South Dakota this summer, you too can participate to win prizes!

“I am a shelter from the waves. To my south people like to boat. To my north people like to float.” This was the clue to find a marker that took Mark and I quite a bit of time! We were just about to give up when we looked to our left and there the marker was in a secluded area near the boat ramp! Scavenger hunts are so much fun!

Scavenger Hunt Rules

There are five 100-year markers hidden inside participating South Dakota Parks and Recreation Areas. Scavenger clues are available online here or on the scavenger hunt poster at the park entrance. When you find the marker, take a selfie with it. When you find all five markers, email your selfies to parkinfo@state.sd.us. Include the name of the park, your name, email and photos to get entered in the drawing for that park’s prize package. Prizes include gift cards, hiking/camping gear, fishing trips, kayaks and more!

• Selfies must be submitted on or before July 31, 2019.
• One entry per person per park.
• Winners will be notified via email in early August 2019.
• For the official scavenger hunt rules and a list of participating parks, click here.

In addition, I thought you would enjoy an overview of the parks we visited and some scavenger hunt hints. We visited Big Sioux Recreation Area, Lake Vermillion Recreation Area and Palisades State Park.

Big Sioux Recreation Area in Brandon

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• Scavenger Hunt: The scavenger hunt markers were a little hard to find, especially with the spring flooding! Patience paid off when we found two on a hike we took! Scavenger Prize: 1-year subscription to SD Magazine and $50 Scheels gift card.
• Pros: The park campground is 10 miles from downtown Sioux Falls. The park is very clean and well maintained. The campground was basically empty during the week.
• Cons: Many of the hiking trails were closed due to spring flooding. This recreation area only has 49 campsites, so the weekends are booked during the summer.

Lake Vermillion Recreation Area in Canistota

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• Scavenger Hunt: This was our first scavenger hunt and it took awhile to figure out what we were doing. When we found the first marker, we decided to go on a hike where the marker was. The prairie views were so beautiful! Scavenger Prize: Camping Weekend Prize Package.
• Pros: We stayed at the East Campground. The camp hosts are phenomenal and the sites/facilities were well maintained. The sunsets here are amazing! Nearly every site has a view of the lake at the East Campground. Make sure to check out the spillway next to the dam. It was one of our favorite things to do every day. There are three campgrounds with a total of 94 campsites.
• Cons: This park is very popular on weekends. So, if you want a site in the East Campground, reserve early! We were lucky to get a site due to a cancellation. Due to spring flooding, the bridge outside the East Campground was closed. We had to travel five miles on a muddy gravel road to get to the main campground. As a result, our motorhome needed quite the bath after driving that road!

Palisades State Park in Garretson

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• Scavenger Hunt: The scavenger hunt markers were pretty easy to find and it helped us experience this beautiful park. Prize package: One day guided fishing trip for up to three individuals at Lake Poinsett.
• Pros: Sioux quartzite formations rose above Split Rock Creek, some were 50-foot vertical cliffs! The campground property/facilities were well maintained. They had recycle bins in several areas too!
• Cons: Some hiking trails were closed due to spring flooding. There are only 34 campsites at this park. Fortunately, they are adding additional campsites this fall.

It’s time to visit South Dakota!

In conclusion, you need to put South Dakota on your list to visit this summer, especially if you live in the Midwest. The scavenger hunt is a great experience for you to participate in. We are planning to visit more South Dakota parks this summer too! In the comments below, let us know what you like to do when you visit South Dakota.

Find Joy in the Journey – Heidi at Loving the RV Life