Photo of the Week
We get so many great photos of South Dakota here at the magazine, we thought we'd share one every week with you. Enjoy!
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Bald eagle taking flight in Custer State Park. Photo by Karen Mahoney -
Sunset horseback riding in Badlands National Park. Photo by Byron Banasiak -
View of Deadwood from White Rocks. Photo by Jon Sailer -
Lighting up the night with sparklers in Chamberlain. Photo by Ezra Moore/Aerial 605 -
Air support crews work to extinguish the Silver Mountain fire. Photo by Curtis Fechner -
Which is taller, the corn or the storm cloud just outside of Aberdeen? Photo by Jay Kirschenmann -
Sunset at the Meridian Bridge in Yankton. Photo by Jacob Doyle -
Storm cloud over a barn near Mound City. Photo by Alex Resel. -
1880 Train headed back to Hill City. Photo by Jon Sailer -
A Highland cow at Black Hills Highland near Spearfish waits for the storm. Photo by Karla West -
Aerial view of the Rosebud Wacipi. Photo by Ezra Moore -
Northern lights near Baltic. Photo by Craig Persing -
Overlooking Pe’ Sla (Reynolds Prairie) from Flag Mountain. Photo by Leith Sandness -
Tending to the chickens at Circle View Ranch near Interior. Photo by Maxi Enthammer & Jay Grammond -
Fly fishing in Spearfish Canyon. Photo by Byron Banasiak -
Hot air balloons over Pageant Hill near Custer. Photo by Dawn Foiles -
Lightning strikes near Lake Norden. Photo by Forsaken Plains Photography -
Milky Way over Sylvan Lake in the Black Hills. Photo by SoDak Adventures -
Storm cloud over Buckhorn Mountain near Custer. Photo by Dave Scragg -
The Northern Lights over an abandoned schoolhouse near Castlewood. Photo by Greg Latza -
Just another day of prepping a massive colorful hot air balloon for flight. Flights offered daily May-October, weather permitting. Did you know their largest hot air balloon holds 275,000 cubic feet of air and can carry up to 12 people?! Photo by Black Hills Balloons -
Mount Rushmore National Monument in the Black Hills near Keystone. Photo by Jim R. Garringer -
Storm cloud forming over Rapid City. Photo by Bonny Fleming -
An abandoned farmhouse near Sioux Falls. Photo by Wes Eisenhauer -
Branding day in Long Valley. Photo by Amanda Richardson -
Sunset at the Dewey Gevik Waterfowl Preserve near Wall Lake west of Sioux Falls. Photo by Brenda Stough -
Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park. Photo by Tyler McSorley -
Moon setting in the early morning near Kenel. Photo by Frank White Bull -
MyKenzie Rouillard at Fort Thompson as the sun sets over the Missouri River. Photo by Lane Warner -
Paramotoring over Badlands National Park. Photo by Scott Osborn -
Searching for the Milky Way in Badlands National Park. Photo by Nicholas J. Narog -
A bison braves a spring snowstorm at Wind Cave National Park. Photo by SoDak Adventures -
Geese aren't the only flyers in the sky near Miller. Photo by Mike Kenney -
It's calving season in South Dakota. This tricolor calf was born near Hamill. Photo by Katie Schoenfelder -
Stargazing at Newton Hills State Park. Photo by Wes Eisenhauer -
Airglow over Badlands National Park. Photo by Brandt Ryder -
Long exposure outside the State Theatre in downtown Sioux Falls. Photo by Christian Begeman -
A snowy day at the Bullock Hotel in Deadwood. Photo by Bonny Fleming -
Patchy fog over Dinosaur Park in west Rapid City. Photo by Cody Lere -
On top of Bear Butte with a blanket of fog surrounding it. Photo by Keanu Phumipraphat -
A frosty evening over the Missouri River in Chamberlain and Oacoma. Photo by Ezra Moore -
Annual celebration of the Burning Beetle in Custer. Photo by Brittany Kahl -
Sun dog over the Arc of Dreams in downtown Sioux Falls. Photo by Christian Begeman -
The sun peeks through the trees near Custer. Photo by Curtis Fechner -
Kyle Norman checks pastures at sunset south of Stamford. Photo by Greg Latza -
Garden Glow at McCrory Gardens in Brookings. Photo by Allie Ellingson -
Ice crystal cloud above Devil’s Bathtub in Spearfish Canyon. Photo by Ronn Parkison -
Prescribed burn near Hill City in the Black Hills. Photo by Jed Burgers -
Morning reflection of a hot air balloon near Custer. Photo by Josh Lien -
Riverview Barn near Sioux Falls during a foggy sunrise. Photo by Rick Hoogeveen -
Jupiter rising over the Cathedral Spires in Custer State Park. Photo by Christopher Huot -
Evening walk along the Lewis and Clark Trail near Yankton. Photo by Ron Duvall -
Sunrise near Miller. Photo by Mike Kenney -
A deer hunter walking the bluffs near Ralph. Photo by Maverick Engelhart -
A mountain goat near the Needles Eye Tunnel in the Black Hills. Photo by Ryan Baskerville -
A bucking bronc at the Wall Rodeo. Photo by Bonnie Law -
Dahlias bloom at Pixie Acres Flower Farm near Castlewood. Photo by Rachel Clelland -
Northern lights near Carpenter. Photo by Wendy Glanzer -
The Castles of the Slim Buttes near Reva. Photo by Paul Heckel -
Big Sioux River at Falls Park in Sioux Falls. Photo by Brian Venghous Photography -
Sunflowers bloom across Hyde County north of Highmore. Photo by Dawn Foiles -
A heron in a tree at Bismark Lake in the Black Hills. Photo by Bonny Fleming -
A supercell with gusts up to 100 mph over Chamberlain and Oacoma. Photo by Ezra Moore -
A magical summer evening at Fort Randall Dam near Pickstown. Photo by Michael Mazourek -
Full Buck Moon in Badlands National Park. Photo by Ankit Negi -
A low layer of fog enters Roubaix Lake in the Black Hills. Photo by Aaron J. Miller -
A thunderstorm in Lincoln County near Canton. Photo by Ron Duvall -
A beautiful evening of reflection in Belle Fourche. Photo by Leith Sandness -
Oahe Downstream boasts beautiful sunsets. Photo by Andy Ogan -
It's National Donut Day! You can find these tasty treats at Wall Drug. Photo by Chad Coppess -
The northern lights over Lake Louise near Miller. Photo by Mike Kenney -
Ospreys nestle into dead timber in Spearfish Canyon. Photo by K.J. Mahoney -
Spring has sprung up lightning in Yankton. Photo by Elijah Berry -
There’s something mysterious about fur coats, cowgirl hats and cigars. Photo taken in Rapid City by Mackenzie Scheff -
Mount Rushmore peeks through a tunnel on Iron Mountain Road. Photo by Chad Coppess -
The Northern lights above Cox Lake near Spearfish. Photo by John Mitchell -
Bison graze during the golden hour while snow falls in Custer State Park. Photo by Kay Paulson Grinsteinner -
The sun sets over a winding road through Badlands National Park. Photo by Kyle Morgan -
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Let’s think green! Photo by Chad Coppess -
Inside St. Joseph Cathedral in Sioux Falls. Photo by Frank White Bull -
Long exposure of car lights near Sylvan Lake Lodge in Custer State Park. Photo by Stephen Gassman -
A foggy morning near Hippie Hole in the Black Hills. Photo by Brandon Aseltine -
A bighorn ram at sunrise in the Badlands. Photo by Ryan Baskerville -
When it snows in the Black Hills, the Needles Highway never disappoints. Photo by Lacey Fiorelli -
A hot air balloon floats above frosted trees in Sioux Falls. Photo submitted by Brienne Manor -
Fresh snow makes for great skiing at Terry Peak in the Black Hills. Photo by Levi Kessler -
A bird's-eye view of Sullivan Lake. Photo by Daniel Lacker -
First Day Hike at Richmond Lake State Recreation Area near Aberdeen. Photo by Alexa Sheldon -
Even all the snow at Pheasant Crest Lodge near Kimball doesn’t stop these hunting dogs. Photo by Lisa Sall -
Even in a blizzard, there is still beauty to admire in Sioux Falls. Photo by Monica Melendez Rosales -
Snowfall in downtown Sioux Falls. Photo by Corey Gross -
Sunrise at a wintry Falls Park in Sioux Falls. Photo by Andrew Peschong -
A bridge over the Cheyenne River near Bridger. Photo by Brittany Kahl -
Frosty trees at a Mobridge overlook. Photo by Carissa Aberle -
Take a hike through the Community Caves in Spearfish Canyon. Photo by Ethan Burmeister -
Overlooking Higgins Gulch toward Spearfish. Photo by Elijah Robertson -
A mother and fawn roam Badlands National Park on a brisk fall day. Photo by Bella Bender -
The sun sets at Joy Ranch, just west of Watertown. Photo by Tamie Steffen Hornstein -
At the Circle View Guest Ranch near Interior, model Mikiela Greene posed during a session of the annual Black Hills Photo Shootout. Photo by Mackenzie Scheff -
Rounding up the buffalo in Custer State Park. Photo by Karen Mahoney -
Sunrise over the Missouri River at Gavins Point Dam. Photo by Rachel Eikmeier Kneifl -
Airglow seen from the top of Saddle Pass Overlook in the Badlands. Photo by Nicholas J. Narog -
Visitors explore the unearthly landscape of Badlands National Park. Photo by Chad Coppess -
Murphy, the Australian cattle dog, took a motorcycle ride past Mount Rushmore. Photo by Cindy McCarty -
Bison rut in Wind Cave National Park. Photo by Ryan Baskerville -
Double rainbow over Lake Yankton. Photo by Joshua Sampson -
Members of the Tri-State Old Iron Association make a windmill at their July gathering in Yankton. Photo by Dave Tunge -
Calm waters make for great paddle boarding on Horsethief Lake. Photo by Kaden Franke -
Stunning rock formations in a less-visited part of Badlands National Park. Photo by Ethan Burmeister -
The wheat harvest is in full swing in Tripp County. Photo by Kendra Koski -
A burrowing owl mother swoops down to find breakfast for her six owlets near Wind Cave. Photo by Ryan Baskerville -
Evening drive at sunset on the outskirts of Mitchell. Photo by Brian Fathke -
A storm cloud hovers over Bear Butte near Sturgis. Photo by Markus Erk -
Planting flowers requires all hands and paws on deck at Pixie Acres Flower Farms near Castlewood. Photo by Pixie Acres Flower Farms -
Worm’s-eye-view of the summit while rock climbing the Cathedral Spires near Custer. Photo by Brandon Emery/Sylvan Rocks Climbing School & Guide Service -
Beautiful skies over Badlands National Park. Photo by Jay Grammond -
Cattle trying to get a glimpse of a farm cat by Hamill. Photo by Katie Larson -
We are sending prayers for everyone affected by the storm in eastern South Dakota yesterday. Chris Allington captured this dust cloud on camera as it moved into Yankton. -
Golden sunset near Watertown. Photo by Alex Resel -
Wild weather near Gary in Deuel County. Photo by Tamie Steffen Hornstein -
Thin ice on Sylvan Lake. Photo by Ethan Burmeister -
Backpacking in the Black Hills National Forest. Photo by Kaden Franke -
Enjoying the sunset at Falls Park in Sioux Falls. Photo by Lathan Ford -
This is no April Fool’s joke! Pasqueflowers are blooming in Spearfish Canyon. Photo by John Mitchell -
Spring in South Dakota's Slim Buttes. Photo by Jesse Brown Nelson -
Horses ready to roam near Hamill. Photo by Katie Larson -
Early morning sunrise touching the tops of the Badlands. Photo by Bonnie Law -
Sundogs at sunset near Winner. Photo by Kendra Perry-Koski -
Nature’s reflection on Sylvan Lake in the Black Hills. Photo by Joshua Sampson -
Ice washed up along the shore of Lewis and Clark Lake near Yankton. Photo by Austin Jerke -
Using nature to your advantage while snowboarding at Terry Peak. Photo by Landin Burke -
The Lower Brule Reservation's bison herd grazes through the snow. Photo by Greg Latza -
Feeding weaned calves northwest of Martin. Photo by Laura Hicks -
Winter hike to the Community Caves in Spearfish Canyon. Photo by Tammy Bashore -
A tribute mural at the Firehouse Mercantile in Rapid City. Photo by Walks Your Way -
A wintry hike up Little Devils Tower revealed a beautiful night sky over the Cathedral Spires. Photo by Matthew Lynn -
Christmas light display in Hermosa. Photo by Mark Petruska -
Twinkling lights shine at McCrory Gardens' annual Garden Glow in Brookings. Photo by Jessica Callahan -
Rapid City’s 23rd annual Festival of Lights featured horse-drawn carriages covered in sparkling lights. Photo by Paul Hyland -
A perfect sunrise on December 1 in Rapid City. Photo by Alissa Junge -
Can you find the two mule bucks along Firesteel Creek near Firesteel? Photo by Robin Bickel -
Inside a frozen waterfall at Bakers Cave in Spearfish Canyon. Photo by Matthew Lynn -
Inside the Cathedral on the Prairie in Hoven. Photo by Julie Gladfelter -
Bison wander along the road in Wind Cave National Park. Photo by Carissa Raye Todd -
Sunrise through the wildflowers on the Ingalls Homestead near De Smet. Photo by Kevin Rowley -
Reminiscing over a beautiful fall sunset at Lewis & Clark State Recreation Area near Yankton. Photo by Chris Allington -
The Northern lights reflect among the stars near Kennebec. Photo by Randy Halverson -
Autumn along the Needles Highway. Photo by Joe Tieszen -
Sunrise on the opening day of duck hunting season in Sanborn County. Photo by Bryn Dubs -
A thunderstorm approaches over Split Rock Creek in Palisades State Park near Garretson. Photo by Chris McCollum -
Hot air balloons launch from the historic Stratobowl near Rapid City. Photo by Brittany Newburn -
Peace and tranquility at Moccasin Springs Natural Mineral Spa in Hot Springs. Photo by Jennifer Dame -
The Badlands offers an amazing variety of colors and textures. Photo by Marijana Krokar -
Family kayaking at Oakwood Lakes State Park near Bruce. Photo by Kimberly Caldwell -
Originally built in 1910 and rehabilitated in 1950, the Big Sioux River Bridge appears through the mist outside of Brookings. Photo by Jessica Callahan -
Sunflowers make the morning even brighter near Wall. Photo by Bonnie Law -
Even though you’ll need an RZR to get to Ice Cave in the Black Hills, it’s worth exploring further on foot. Photo by Jill Scott -
Even a flashlight can’t hide all these stars in the Badlands night sky. Photo by Nicholas Narog -
Single-speed group cycling through Dinosaur Park in Rapid City. Photo by M. Huot -
Riding horses under the clouds at the DX Ranch near Gettysburg. Photo by Chris Dickinson -
A sunny summer day along the railroad tracks through De Smet. Photo by Ayla Brayer -
Canoeing on a peaceful Canyon Lake near Rapid City. Photo by Bonny Fleming -
Finding the Milky Way near Freeman. Photo by Srikanth Adurthi -
Dignity as the sun sets near Chamberlain. Photo by Courtney VanZanten. -
Sunlight reflections at Pactola Reservoir, as seen from the northern overlook. Photo by Edward Kearns. -
An aerial view of Falling Rock near Rapid City. Photo by Brittany Kahl. -
The last of the Black Hero tulips have been harvested at Pixie Acres Flower Farm near Castlewood. Photo courtesy of Pixie Acres Flower Farm. -
Exploring granite slot canyons on a rainy day in the Black Elk Wilderness. Photo by Daniel Klein. -
A lone tree reflected in the waters at Arrowhead Park near Sioux Falls. Photo by Scott Rasmusson. -
A springtime walk through the first hints of green at Great Bear Ski Valley in Sioux Falls. Photo by Laura Nerness. -
A concrete brontosaurus gazes out over his hilly domain at Rapid City's Dinosaur Park. Photo by Josh Lien. -
A windy sunset at Black Elk Peak. Photo by John Steitz. -
Skipping rocks on Easter weekend at Lewis & Clark Lake just above Gavins Point Dam. Photo by Paul Heckel -
A helicopter dips its bucket into Canyon Lake as part of the effort to fight the Schroeder Fire. Photo by Mark Petruska. -
Alone in the Badlands, with only ancient rock formations and the setting sun for company. But what company! Photo by Nole Stay. -
Gazing up at the Milky Way at Cottonwood Lake near Redfield. Photo by Israel Appel. -
Ridin' the rails into Roscoe to start off a sunny South Dakota day. Photo by Malcolm Filbrun. -
Foggy-day ATV fun on a stretch of gravel outside of Spearfish. Photo by Byron Banasiak. -
Heifers enjoying their meal at a farm near Huron. Photo by Katie Schoenfelder -
A mugful of boiled water and bitterly cold -20 degree air made frozen fireworks in Sioux Falls last Saturday. Photo by Shaldrin Malcolm Pereira -
Bronc riding at the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo in Rapid City. Photo by Mackenzie Karoline Scheff. -
Snowboarder Linus Welsh catches air while enjoying a sunny day at Terry Peak. Photo by Kyle Sawatzke. -
A waterfall trickles into Fall River on a misty day along River Street in Hot Springs. Photo by Mark Petruska. -
Craving green grass and warm winds? Dream of summer days as you gaze at Jenn Zeller's photo of broodmares at the DX Ranch near Gettysburg. -
Mount Moriah gets all the glory, but early Deadwood's Catholic settlers were laid to rest at St. Ambrose Cemetery on Pleasant Street. Photo by John Mitchell. -
A frosty morning at Blue Tin Ranch, a hunting lodge near Burbank. Photo by Kelley Jorgensen -
As the sun sets on 2020, Paul Schiller's photo of the Arc of Dreams in downtown Sioux Falls just seems to encapsulate all the hopes that we carry forward for a better 2021. Have a safe night, friends. We'll see you next year. -
Merry Christmas from downtown Deadwood. Photo by Seth Tautkus. -
In Hill City, the holidays come with a hefty dose of steam power. 1880 Train, Black Hills Central Railroad photo by Noe Garcia Robles. -
Artfully decorated Christmas trees sponsored by groups across South Dakota adorn the State Capitol in Pierre every year. Andy Ogan visited in early December to admire the holiday spectacle and photograph this scene from the center of the rotunda, under the Capitol’s dome. -
Iron Creek Arch in Spearfish Canyon near Savoy. Photo by Brittany Kahl. -
Pheasant hunting under moody skies near Murdo. Photo by Michelle Terry. -
A lofty granite perch north of Sylvan Lake. Photo by Aaron J. Miller -
Pactola Lake's waters cover the site of an old Black Hills mining community, but its recreational riches and tranquil setting dazzle today's visitors. Photo by Jesse Brown Nelson. -
Good morning, Black Hills! Photographer John Steitz recently visited Black Elk Peak at sunrise. -
A fat bike adventure on the snow-covered Sylvan Lake Shore Trail. "Shortly after riding through this section, the temp dropped and it started blizzarding. It was a cold ride back," says photographer Michael Huot. -
A mallard's bright colors pop against a serene South Dakota sky. Photo by Steve Oehlenschlager. -
Last Saturday, all was golden at Oahe Downstream Recreation Area's Campground #2, but strong fall winds have undoubtedly scattered the scene by now. Photo by Andy Ogan. -
Mountain goats are not native to South Dakota — the first herd was introduced in Custer State Park in 1924 — but this pair sure looks at home in Spearfish Canyon. Photo by Brittany Kahl. -
Another successful year at the 55th Governor’s Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park. Photo by Kendall Nelson -
The Milky Way dazzles in the night sky near the Needles Highway. Photo by Jim Weatherly. -
Social distancing Badlands style. Photo by Riley Schoonover. -
A little snow turned the 1880 Train's route into a wintry paradise earlier this week. Photo by Christine Sorensen of Keystone. -
Moments after sunrise, a sunflower by Mission prepares to open up. Photo by Joshua Larson. -
One of summer's dreams fulfilled: a campfire on a cool-ish night. Photo taken by Byron Banasiak near Lennox. -
Finishing up the spring wheat harvest in Clark County. Photo by Casey Briggs. -
Lake Louise, located near Miller, is calm after a thunderstorm. Photo by Kory LaFurge. -
Things are looking up! Katie Schoenfelder took this unusual view of a windmill in the Huron area. -
Dark skies above Union Presbyterian Church, located northeast of Canova. Photo by Jeffrey Halbritter. -
The road that cuts through Island Lake, located along the Minnehaha and McCook county line, is a popular spot for local fishermen, but when Christian Begeman visited recently, the setting sun and passing clouds painted a picture everyone can appreciate. -
Formations of ancient Sioux quartzite tower over Split Rock Creek at Palisades State Park near Garretson. Photo by Adrian Moon. -
A full moon illuminates clouds as fireworks explode in the sky over Custer on July 4. Several communities in the Black Hills featured a fireworks display this year, including the return of fireworks over Mount Rushmore after a 10-year absence. Photo by Chad Coppess/S.D. Tourism -
Biking through a tunnel on the Mickelson Trail near Mystic. Photo by Tyler Kissner. -
A rainbow stripe colors the Black Hills near Hill City. Photo by Janet Jeppesen. -
Morning mist rises off Stockade Lake near Custer. Photo by Eden Bhatta. -
A warm and sunny walk along the trails at The Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls' Sertoma Park. Photo by Candace Laackmann. -
A protestor offers cleansing sage smoke to an officer on the steps of the Pennington County Courthouse in Rapid City. Photo by Bonny Fleming. -
A serene sunset at Arrowhead Park in Sioux Falls. Photo by Scott Rasmusson. -
A lone cow stands out against a dramatic sky on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Photo by Cheyenne Glade Wilson, a fifth-generation cattle rancher and enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota tribe. -
Sunset's glow fades and stars twinkle just west of Chester, South Dakota. Photo by
A storm over Bear Butte, as seen from Elk Vale Road. Photo by Bonny Fleming
High above Highway 1806, just outside of Fort Pierre. "The morning I shot this, I saw prairie dogs, buffalo, horses, deer, hawks and countless other birds," says the photographer, SoDak Nomad.
Say good morning to this handsome wood duck. Unlike most ducks, these colorful critters nest in trees. Photo by Steve Oehlenschlager.
A red fox pauses at the entrance to her den along the Missouri River in central South Dakota. Photo by Chad Coppess
Sunshine sets the ponderosa pines aglow at Buzzard's Roost in the Black Hills. Photo by Jacob Servaty.
A ladybug investigates a pasqueflower in Spearfish Canyon. Photo by John Mitchell
A lone horse admires the setting sun near Spearfish. Photo by Brittany Kahl.
[Photo Friday] Are birds, with their tiny brains, expert engineers? Consider the nest — a mass of grass, sticks or other materials that cradles eggs, supports a family and stands up to the rigors of weather. Mallard nest photo by Richard Visker.
Sunrise at the Big Badlands Overlook. Photo by Tucker Olson.
A trail along the lake at Family Park in Sioux Falls. Photo by Duane Duimstra
The new Poet's Table is weathering its second winter in Custer State Park. Photo by David Stradling.
After an afternoon of snowshoeing around the Black Hills, the Moonshine Gulch Saloon in Rochford is a welcome sight. Photo by Byron Banasiak.
A stone arch bridge crosses Alkali Creek just north of the Sturgis city dams. Photo by John Mitchell of ,a href="http://www.sodakmoments.com".Sodak Moments
Frosted treetops in the Black Hills. Photo by Bonny Fleming.
A bald eagle prepares for takeoff near Rapid City. Photo by Ryan Baskerville.
Icy Baker's Cave, located in Spearfish Canyon. "The hike is a bit treacherous but worth the view," says photographer Brittany Kahl.
Stopping to enjoy the sunset over icy Sheridan Lake. Photo by Eden Bhatta of The Tainted Tripod.
A short-eared owl perches north of Belle Fourche. Photographer Ryan Baskerville says, "I often drive through the different gravel roads in the area looking for owls, hawks and eagles and was lucky enough to have a patient owl that allowed me to get a few images before flying off."
Perfect peace in the early morning of Christmas Eve day. Devon Alexander snapped this photo on his in-laws' farm just west of Selby.
A hike in Spearfish Canyon provides a welcome break from holiday festivities. Photo by Brittany Edgar.
Each winter, Falls Park in Sioux Falls is transformed into a winter wonderland. View the Christmas light display nightly through January 5. Photo by
Sunset over a frozen Lewis and Clark Lake. Photo by Aaron Groen
At home in the Black Hills. Photo by Jensen Twite
Two pheasants duke it out on a gravel road in southeastern South Dakota. Photo by Richard Visker
A white dog stands in the snow by the icy-pale waters of the Big Sioux on an overcast day. Photo by Eunice Hong.
A misty Veterans Day at Pactola Reservoir. Photo by Tyler Rehmeier.
Finishing up the soybean harvest in Eden Township, Clark County. Photo by Casey Briggs.
An early morning duck hunt in a flooded corn field near Hecla. Photo by Alex Russo.
Morning sunbeams bounce off of freshly fallen snow in Spearfish Canyon. Photo by Seth Tautkus.
Northern Flickers are often spotted on the ground looking for insects to eat, but this bird chose a better vantage point from which to enjoy Custer State Park. Photo by Wyatt Adam Beyer, a public relations major at SDSU.
Boston photographer Mike Ste. Marie was awed by his visit to Badlands National Park this summer. He says, "A postcard image at every turn. A must see if you visit South Dakota!" We agree.
Observing fall colors at Eleventh Hour Gulch in Spearfish Canyon. Photo by Brody Troxel.
Fall must be here — aspens are starting to turn color in the higher elevations of the Black Hills. Sara Liberte found these yellowing leaves near Moon.
A trio of hot air balloons made their way up and over the rim of the Stratobowl last Sunday as part of the Stratobowl Historic Hot Air Balloon Event. Photo by Brittany Kahl.
Looking over the banks of Antelope Creek east of Mission at sunset. Photo by Josh Larson.
This line of leaning timbers near Cheyenne Crossing in Spearfish Canyon obscures an old aqueduct. Photo by John Mitchell
A cropduster takes off from Hayes International Airport above a sunflower field along Highway 34/14 west of Fort Pierre. Photo by Chad Coppess of SD Tourism and Dakotagraph.
After ascending Classic Crack at Custer State Park, a climber deserves a break to admire the view. Photo by Byron Banasiak
At county fairs across South Dakota this month, summer-long efforts are brought to conclusion with the decision of a judge. That was the thankless task of Justin Freuchte (left), who had to pick a senior sheep showmanship champion at the Turner County Fair. And the winner, after much deliberation, was ….. Madison Hofer (left). Kody Goehring (right) was reserve champ. Photo by Bernie Hunhoff.
Sunday morning in Meade County. Photo by Jason Morris.
It's Rally time. Are you ready to ride? Photo by Don Kates of Shooters Images, Inc.
Thunderhead clouds form over the southern Black Hills, a few miles west of Hot Springs. Photo by Paul Horsted
"A night under the stars is a 5 billion star hotel offered here in South Dakota," says photographer Eric Sprecher. He checked in to a secluded spot west of Hill City recently to enjoy nature's celestial show.
Into the mist at Spring Creek in the Black Hills. Photo by Joe Tieszen.
A storm rolls in northeast of Hartford, South Dakota. Photo by Paul Schiller.
An inviting spot to sit and enjoy Sylvan Lake. Photo by Brittany Kahl.
RASDak rider Angie Mulder paid a visit to Chief Red Cloud's grave on her trek across the state last week.
A shimmering night scene from 11th Hour Gulch in Spearfish Canyon. Photo by Bonny Fleming.
Bonnie "Mama" Law found this bright bunch of birds (Baltimore, Bullock's and Orchard orioles plus one Black-Headed Grosbeak) fighting to fuel up before a rain/snow storm hit her backyard in Wall on May 19.
Tyler Kissner's dog Kash checks for chipmunks on their acreage near Rockerville. Photo by Tyler Kissner.
The Milky Way glimmers over Island Lake near Montrose. Photo by Peter Nord.
A flock of sandhill cranes stops off in Jerauld County on its way north. Photo by KJ Mahoney.
Becky Tomac of Oh Geez! Design celebrated Earth Day last weekend by flying kites with her niece and nephew, Hadley and Jensen Schweitzer, on the family ranch south of Keldron.
Brittany Kahl found this surprise on a foggy morning stroll near St. Onge. “Walking by, I happened to look through the windows of this old building that sits along the road and there was the horse,” she says. “One of those moments I wasn't expecting!”
An elevator near Nunda reflected in spring snowmelt. Photo by Jeff "Doze" Halbritter.
Last Friday, Jeff "Doze" Halbritter was driving north of Montrose when he saw this abandoned shed on fire. He looked to see if anyone was present, called the fire department, then snapped this photo while waiting for the truck to arrive.
After a long winter of cold and snow, there is perhaps no more welcome sight in South Dakota than blooming pasque flowers. Photo by Christian Begeman.
After three brutal days of wind, snow, ice, rain and flooding, the sun rose this morning over South Dakota. Here are the first rays, brightening an inundated Green Island on the Missouri River near Yankton. Photo by Bernie Hunhoff.
The evening sky over the grounds of the High Plains Western Heritage Center in Spearfish. Brittany Kahl.
Eurasian collared doves make for a pretty picture in winter, but the birds are an invasive species, aggressively competing with native doves, cardinals and blue jays for food and habitat. This dove was fluttering around a Pierre backyard. Photo by Chad Coppess/S. D. Tourism
A frosty day on Terry Peak. Photo by Bonny Fleming.
Good morning, South Dakota! Sunrise at Cox Lake near Spearfish. Photo by Brittany Kahl.
Sun dogs at dawn over Falls Park in Sioux Falls. Photo by Christian Begeman.
Wednesday's polar vortex at the Missouri River near Yankton. Photo by Bernie Hunhoff.
Super Blood Wolf Moon? Nah. The Lakota called the first moon of the year Wiotekika Wi, the Moon of Hard Times. Photo by John Mitchell.
Custer hosts the Burning Beetle festival this weekend. It's a mix of fun gatherings that celebrate the arts and the outdoors, culminating in the burning of a wooden replica of a mountain pine beetle. Photo by Paul Horsted.
The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal in the world, reaching speeds over 200 mph when it dives to catch its prey. Visitors to the The Journey Museum & Learning Center in Rapid City this Sunday will have a chance to take a closer look at this swift creature when falconer Dan O'Brien presents "A Falconer's Memoir." Photo by Jill O'Brien.
No need to shovel out in Preston, South Dakota. The Black Hills gold mining town went bust over a hundred years ago. Photo by Brittany Kahl.
A bald eagle perches at the marina in Chamberlain. Photo by Natalie Brandt.
Festive reflections in the water at the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives in Spearfish. Photo by John Mitchell of Sodak Moments.
Jeffrey Halbritter of Doze Photography spotted this stunning night sky halfway between Wall Lake and Parker — "close enough to Sioux Falls to make the clouds glow," he says.
A clear road through snowy Spearfish Canyon. Anyone else want to hop in the car and enjoy a gently wintry drive, or is it just us? Photo by John Mitchell.
A skeletal man and his bony pet enliven a sunset west of Murdo. Photo by Eden Bhatta of The Tainted Tripod.
Paul Heckel spotted this misty moon last month over one of the quarry ponds at Arrowhead Park in Sioux Falls.
Fresh snow blanketed the lower walkway of Yankton's Meridian Bridge last week. Photo by Ben Hanten.
Sunset at the Lewis & Clark Marina near Yankton. Photo by Paul Harens.
A foggy day in Spearfish Canyon. Photo by Brittany Kahl.
Byron Banasiak's drone captured the first snowfall of the season on October 14 at this Vermillion River crossing west of the Clay County seat.
Fallen leaves add a splash of color to a snowy Sioux Falls street. Photo by Tracy Pollard.
A serene Sylvan Lake scene, trimmed in white. Photo by Brittany Kahl.
What a difference a day makes! This pair of images was taken at Roughlock Falls last Friday and Saturday. Photos by Paul Schiller.
Hay from Harrisburg! Photographer Dez Daily says, "Love South Dakota and how the city is never far from the country."
Fall begins in the Black Hills. Photo taken near Spearfish by Seth Tautkus.
Balancing between spires at the Needles. Photo by Linda Tande Waldo.
Smoke from fires on the west coast lent a hazy look to this Badlands ride. Photo by Dan Ray.
Looking towards Crow Peak as rain washes the Northern Hills. Photo by Bob Molder.
The Perseid Meteor Shower added a little extra flash to an already-stunning night sky over the Missouri River at Fort Thompson, near the Big Bend Dam. Photo by Sierra Rae Photography.
Sunset near Spearfish. Photo by John Mitchell
The 50-foot Sioux quartzite cliffs at Palisades State Park don't look quite so imposing when viewed from above. Photo by Byron Banasiak.
Sunflowers at Bear Butte. Photo by Jon 'Fiskr' Larsen.
Sam Moore and his feline friend take in a stunning South Dakota sunset on the dock of Prairie Sky Game Ranch located in Veblen. Photo courtesy of Prairie Sky Game Ranch and Guest Lodge.
Kayakers cut through an ethereal fog when they began the Fort to Field 50 Paddle Battle race last Saturday. Chad Coppess of SD Tourism photographed the race from Fort Randall to Springfield.
Zach Ducheneaux leads his cattle to the branding pen on the DX Ranch, located on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. Photo by Kaila Baril.
Dick Brown of Custer was captivated by this double rainbow at Rocky Road in the Black Hills.
South Dakota ranks sixth in the nation for beef, but don't mention that to these cattle near Fairburn. That would be rude. Photo by Michaela Mader Truly.
A yucca blossom spotlighted by a gorgeous Spearfish sunset. Photo by John Mitchell.
The Badlands before dawn. Photo by Duane Klipping of Bonfire Photography.
Corn's up near Canistota. Photo by Keith Duerksen.
Once a Lake Preston gas station, this cute little structure is the centerpiece of the cottage garden at McCrory Gardens in Brookings. Fundraising efforts to restore the cottage and garden are scheduled for this summer. Photo by Julie Kingery-Conner.
Melissa Halligan sent us this photo of the Clearfield baseball field, taken on May 24 after a storm rolled through. She calls it "Clearfield of Dreams."
Springtime storm in the Badlands. Photo by Bonny Fleming of Bonzeye Studio.
A rainbow graces the sky over St. Paul Lutheran Church in Union County. Photo by Jerry Klumper.
Springtime is pasque time in South Dakota. Photo by Bonny Fleming.
A rainbow, amplified by photographer Christian Begeman's lens, adorns the prairie near Baltic.
Do you suppose these horses near Spearfish were aware of the beauty around them when John Mitchell snapped this photo?
Winner residents dug out of an epic spring blizzard in 1913. Let's hope this isn't us on Monday!
A deer near Trail City knows where to find the best hay. Photo by Mark Landis.
A pair of donkeys near Dolton. Photo by Jeff Halbritter.
A brilliant pillar of light in Hand County. Photo by Jamie McClain.
Forestburg Lutheran Church in the snow. Photo by Debey Senska.
Horses on a hillside northeast of Sturgis. Photo by Bonny Fleming.
A cold morning along Spearfish Creek. Photo by Jon Larsen.
A splash of green accentuates a Spearfish sunset. Photo by John Mitchell.
A bald eagle passes the Capitol in Pierre. Photo by Chad Coppess/S.D. Tourism.
Badlands National Park’s peaks and valleys blend with ranch country by the Stronghold Unit near Scenic. Photo by Bonny Fleming.
An icy view at Lake Oahe. Photo by Lance Bertram.
A solitary tree surrounded by a blanket of snow at Custer State Park. Photo by Eden Bhatta.
Water droplets from mounds of ice each winter inside Spearfish's Community Caves. Photo by John Mitchell.
New Year's Eve at the Franklin Hotel in Deadwood. Photo by TDG Communications Inc.
A snowy owl takes flight. Photo by Christian Begeman.
A dramatic sunset over Spearfish. Photo by John Mitchell.
Horses grazing above Lake Oahe. Photo by Stu Surma.
Campbell Park in Huron was decked out in fall flair for the 24th annual Great Scarecrow Festival last weekend. Photo by Craig Lee.
Bear Butte stands high above the prairie near Sturgis. The area is sacred to many Native American tribes. According to Cheyenne legend, Bear Butte is where holy man Sweet Medicine met the Creator and the Four Sacred Persons who guard the universe. Photo by Andy Ogan.
Amber shades of autumn spread over the rolling hills above Lake Oahe in Campbell County. Photo by Christian Begeman.
Sylvan Lake, the oldest reservoir in the Black Hills, was created in 1881 when Theodore Reder built a dam across Sunday Gulch Creek in Custer State Park. Today it’s a popular destination for rock climbers, paddlers and hikers. Photo by Bonny Fleming.
Writers, readers and thinkers fill the town of Deadwood this weekend for the 15th annual South Dakota Festival of Books. It’s our magazine staff’s fall tradition to attend the events that take place all over town. Pull the guide out of our Sept/Oct issue and join us! Photo courtesy of Deadwood.com.
A coyote keens to its pack in Wind Cave National Park. Photo by Karen Mahoney.
The life cycle of a monarch is six to eight weeks, but those that hatch in South Dakota in August live an incredible six to eight months. When autumn arrives, they fly 2,500 miles to winter in the Oyamel fir forests in southern Mexico. Christian Begeman spotted this one on a blazing star at Sica Hollow State Park.
A summer storm leads to a rising Big Sioux River and rushing waters at Falls Park in Sioux Falls. Photo by Paul Schiller.
Christian Begeman caught this stunning cloudscape last Sunday south of Bridgewater.
A lone paddle boarder skims Belle Fourche Reservoir just east of Belle Fourche. The reservoir, also known as Orman Dam, was created in 1911 for agricultural use and was the largest earthen dam of it’s time. Its 8,000+ acres and 58 miles of shoreline are now active with camping, fishing and other water recreation. Photo by Joe Bohlmann.
A recent summer storm produced an ominous shelf cloud south of Arlington. Photo by Phil Andersen.
A mama merganser watches over her babies at Canyon Lake in Rapid City. Photo by Bonny Fleming.
South Dakota’s only sailing camp for kids was held last weekend. Sydney Skarda (left) and Maris Grabill captained a boat on breezy Lewis & Clark Lake at Yankton. Some 20 aspiring sailors spent an hour on land learning the ropes (or is that the sheets?) and then they were on the water for the rest of their schooling. What a classroom! Photo of Bernie Hunhoff.
A pronghorn buck nibbles on native plants along the wildlife loop in Custer State Park. Photo by Deborah Johnson.
Wayne Fuchs spotted these bucks having a bedtime snack Thursday night in Bennett County.
Christian Begeman captured the Milky Way rising over the abandoned Pioneer Concordia Church of rural Roberts County last weekend. "This was taken as the blue hour slowly faded into the north northwest," Begeman says.
The Crystal Springs Rodeo is in full swing near Clear Lake this weekend. Founder E.W. Weisel bought the Crystal Springs Ranch in 1936 and staged his first rodeo there in 1945. The natural shape of the hills creates a theater that seats over 5,000 spectators. Photo by Ben Schumacher.
Severe weather spread through the state earlier this week painting the sky to the delight of many photographers and storm chasers. Paul Schiller captured these clouds near Lake Vermillion.
Chad Pickard shared this shot from Badlands National Park while biking across the state on RASDAK (Ride Across South Dakota). Follow along at instagram.com/sodakmagazine. as they finish up the ride.
South Dakota stargazers were treated to a spectacular showing of the Aurora Borealis last Saturday night. It extended farther south than what is normal, making it visible to the naked eye in some places in the northern U.S. Justin Schmidt shot this display of the Northern Lights and the Milky Way near Pierre.
A Saturday night sunset at South Whitlock Bay near Gettysburg. Photo by Amy Liebing.
1880 Town west of Murdo, home to the collection of Clarence and Richard Hullinger, started in the 1970s with an Old West movie set abandoned in the area after filming. The attraction has grown to include props from the movie Dances with Wolves, an exhibit on rodeo star Casey Tibbs, horse drawn wagons and more. Photo by John Mitchell.
This week’s Photo Friday celebrates Mother’s Day with a mountain goat and her kid perched along Needles Highway in Custer State Park. While the goats are a common sight in the Hills, they aren’t native to the area. The goats that roam the Hills today are descended from a group of animals that escaped a zoo in the state park in the 1920s. Photo by Bonny Fleming.
Pari-mutuel horse racing, the “Sport of Kings,” is a roller coaster of emotions that nothing can replicate. Place your bets this weekend, May 6-7, in Fort Pierre at the Stanley County Fairgrounds (pictured) or at Aberdeen's Brown County Fairgrounds, May 20-21 and 27-29, 2017. Photo by Bob Grandpre.
A pair of horses enjoy a sunrise graze near Spearfish. Photo by John Mitchell.
A foggy early spring morning on the Big Sioux River near Volga. Photo by Vickie Prussman.
Native Americans left their mark by chiseling petroglyphs onto Scored Rock thousands of years ago. You can find the ancient drawings just south of Hermosa where French Creek crosses Highway 79. Photo by John Mitchell.
Yankton’s 31,000-acre Lewis and Clark Lake attracts water enthusiasts from throughout the Midwest, hosting over 1 million visitors per year. Photo by Kat Howard.
John Mitchell spotted this antelope near the east trailhead of the French Creek Natural Area in Custer State Park. "The antelope was just standing up after lying down and did a little stretch at the same time it happened to look over,” Mitchell says. "I was fortunate enough to capture this brief moment before it walked away.”
Pasqueflowers, our state flower, are a sure sign of spring. Ron Linton found this one on the vernal equinox at Falling Rock west of Rapid City.
Cirrus, or horse tail clouds, can be a sign of change in the weather. Bruce Porisch spotted these near Flandreau.
Today's Photo Friday is titled Prairie Sunset and is an entry in the SDPB photo contest. Visit www.sdpb.org/photocontest/ to vote for the People's Choice in each category!
Photo Friday! This week we heard from the owners of our March/April cover model. They were thrilled to see their horse, Joe, on the cover. Our current issue features Bridges over the James, Hobby Prospectors, Horse Nation Art, and a story on Volin filmmaker Chuck Nauman.
South Dakotans have raced lawnmowers in Pukwana and turtles in Volin, so why not outhouses? They’ve been doing so for over 10 years at the Nemo Guest Ranch as a fundraiser for NAJA Shrine club. This year’s race is tomorrow, February 25. If you don’t have a racing outhouse, come as a spectator to this unique West River event. Photo by Chad Coppess, S.D. Tourism.
Two mule deer pose east of Sturgis. Photo by April Oedekoven.
A midwinter morning on the Missouri River in Yankton. Photo by Sam Stukel.
The sun sets over POET Biorefining in Chancellor. Though the biofuel company has plants all over the United States, their facility in Chancellor is the largest. It produces 110 million gallons of ethanol a year from locally grown corn. Photo by Christian Begeman.
The sun rises over Red Shirt Table in Badlands National Park. The table mountain, south of the village Red Shirt on the Pine Ridge Reservation, was named for an Oglala Lakota chief, warrior and statesman. Red Shirt became an international celebrity when traveling with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Photo by Cody Lere.
Sky and ice meet on the Missouri River near Yankton. Photo by Sam Stukel.
A male northern cardinal perches on sumac at Big Sioux Recreation Area near Brandon. Cardinals are considered permanent residents, meaning they don’t migrate. They keep their bright plumes in winter to help advertise to the ladies what great mates they’d make. Photo by Christian Begeman.
A bald eagle grabs breakfast at Gavins Point Dam near Yankton. Photo by Sharon Koller.
Deer shed in fall to make way for a winter coat with hollow hair shafts and wool-like under fur. Special muscles adapt the angle of the hairs to create maximum insulation. This buck weathered the recent storm near Spearfish. Photo by John Mitchell.
Comments
South Dakota is one place that I want to come back for my final days
to enjoy.
The photo shown is a great rendition of how beautiful that it is in the
state of South Dakota. The photographer captured a great scene that is so typical of our beautiful state.
SPECTACULAR !
Just viewed some of your photos and they are
some of the best I have ever seen.
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The only butte with it`s own website.
Thank you---- John Crowley
Thank you.
Thank you
Natalie Brandt
I recently visited the Black Hills area and found it wonderful.
Thanks.