Good Earth State Park Trails at Blood Run
Sioux Falls, SD
Map:
Hiking: https://gfp.sd.gov/userdocs/goodearthtrailsfinal.pdf
Know Before You Go: Some of the trails can be muddy during rainy weather. Mosquitoes can be pretty thick in some areas, so bug spray is recommended.
Length: 7 miles total. There are many small loops ranging from .3 to a little over one mile.
Time: 2.5-3 hours if you walk all of the trails.
Difficulty level: Moderate.
Terrain: Grass, dirt, mulch.
Dog-friendly: Yes.
Kid-friendly: Yes.
Sioux Falls, SD
Map:
Hiking: https://gfp.sd.gov/userdocs/goodearthtrailsfinal.pdf
Know Before You Go: Some of the trails can be muddy during rainy weather. Mosquitoes can be pretty thick in some areas, so bug spray is recommended.
Length: 7 miles total. There are many small loops ranging from .3 to a little over one mile.
Time: 2.5-3 hours if you walk all of the trails.
Difficulty level: Moderate.
Terrain: Grass, dirt, mulch.
Dog-friendly: Yes.
Kid-friendly: Yes.
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It’s gorgeous nature combined with important history. Good Earth State Park at Blood Run not only offers beautiful deciduous-forest hiking trails, but also was one of the oldest sites of long-term human habitation in the United States.
The hiking includes around 7 miles of trails over rolling hills covered with beautiful oak-dominated deciduous woods, along the Big Sioux River, and through grass-covered prairie. It offers several lookouts with views of surrounding states and the Big Sioux River. Near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, this trail is frequented by many local residents. It’s popular for hiking and for trail running. The park’s proximity to South Dakota’s largest city and its lush green beauty aren’t what sets it apart, however – it’s the cultural significance of Blood Run. It was once home to several Native American tribes belonging mainly to the Oneota, including Omaha, Ponca, Ioway and Otoe. Many other tribes traded agricultural product, hides, pelts and pipestone with the area’s inhabitants. The Visitor Center offers great interpretive exhibits, including interactive activities for all ages that teach about the history of the area. 
THE HIKING DOGGIE
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VISITOR CENTER IN GOOD EARTH STATE PARK AT BLOOD RUN
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VIEW OF BIG SIOUX RIVER FROM LOOKOUT IN GOOD EARTH STATE PARK AT BLOOD RUN