Picnic in the Palisades

After a relatively easy trip north and west via I-80 W and I-29 N, on Tuesday, August 2, we arrived at Big Sioux Recreation Area just outside Sioux Falls, S.D. 

Our site was large, shady, and backed up to the Big Sioux River and a wonderful paved walking trail that circles around and through the park.  We loved Site 39E, but the park has many sites that would work well for us.  The river is nearby, but the campsites are on higher ground so we weren't concerned about flooding.

And even better, the Rec. area has a beautifully-maintained frisbee golf course that crosses the trail at a number of places.  It was a great place to let the dogs stretch their legs.

  

We only stayed three nights at Big Sioux, but our days were full.  On the advice of our volunteer camp hosts, we drove twenty minutes up the road to Palisades State Park near Garretson.  The park is only 157 acres, but it features impressive cliffs and rock formations eroded out of the pink Sioux Quartzite.  

As well as an historic bridge that dates to 1908.

The cliffs line the banks of Split Rock Creek, and offer beautiful views upstream and down, as well as pretty picnic and camping spaces.  

We again had a lovely picnic lunch with a view.

The park was busy when we visited, with many families taking a last opportunity to visit before school starts.  The hiking trails wove in and out among tall trees and over the quartzite boulders.  When we had to unleash the dogs to navigate a particularly steep and narrow section of trail, Kota took the opportunity to have a swim in the creek.

On Thursday, John and I left the pups at home and visited downtown Sioux Falls.  The falls are impressive; there is a lot of water going down the Big Sioux.  

We took a walking tour of the downtown area and enjoyed the public art on display on every corner.  

We also had a memorable lunch at Minerva’s.  

In Texas, almost every menu offers crab cakes as an appetizer.  Not here.  The ingredient of choice is walleye, which is a real delicacy to John and me.  The walleye cakes at Minerva's did not disappoint, nor did the French onion soup, wedge salad or homemade bread that rounded out our lunch.  We enjoyed the Sioux Falls area and look forward to going back.