A short season of snowmelt and summer rain keeps the canyon's falls flowing for hikers. For South Dakotans, the outdoors is less a pastime than a birthright.

Roughlock Falls is reached by an easy, accessible boardwalk trail.

What sets it apart

Bridal Veil Falls drops from the canyon wall right beside the highway. It is the kind of specific that turns a passing curiosity into a lasting fascination.

Spring runoff and autumn color are the canyon's busiest photography seasons.

Why it matters

What ties it all together is a distinctly South Dakota balance between the wild and the worked-over. Come prepared, respect the land, and South Dakota's wild country will give back in kind.