The TRACK Trail follows the 1.5 mile Split Rock Creek Trail. Split Rock Creek, near Garretson has run for millions of years through Palisades State Park. Geologists say the Sioux quartzite spires are approximately 2.6 billion years old. The trail head for Split Rock Creek Trail is located just beyond the park entrance station, near the picnic shelter. This trail meanders through one of the many wooded areas that the park features.
Using stairs to navigate a steep section of the trail you will find yourself hiking on the edge of the campground and further descending towards the south shore of Split Rock Creek, for which the trail is named. From this point the trail levels out and provides quiet places to sit and reflect on the natural beauty of the park. Views from the trail include, scenic rock formations, woodland creatures, including raccoon, turkey, and whitetail deer, there also may be signs of beaver activity in the area. Song birds and seasonal wildflowers can be found in abundance on the meadows of Split Rock Creek Trail. As you approach the turn around loop at the end of the trail, you will be able to see Palisades State Park’s group lodge to the right of the trail.
Location Details
Adventures for Palisades State Park
Animal Athletes
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Birds of South Dakota
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Nature's Hide & Seek
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Hikin' to Find Lichen
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Palisades: Need For Trees
Difficulty:Directions
Longitude: -96.513981000000
Palisades State Park is located Northeast of Sioux Falls, SD. For directions, please visit http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/palisades/docs/palisades.pdf
Partners
The TRACK Trail program is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.
The Palisades State Park TRACK Trail was made possible through partnerships formed between the Kids in Parks program and the South Dakota State Parks Department, with funds provided by South Dakota Department of Health, Healthy South Dakota Program.