Pullin' Chocks

Bear Butte

Bear Butte is a geological butte feature located near Sturgis, South Dakota, and was established as a State Park in 1961. Bear Butte is very prominent in the landscape as it lies east of the Black Hills on flat land. We can easily see Bear Butte at our campsite 35 miles away. Bear Butte has been an important landmark and religious site for the Plains Indians tribes long before Europeans reached South Dakota. Bear Butte is called Bear Mountain, by the Lakota, or Sioux. To the Cheyenne, it is known as Giving Hill or Bear Hill and is the place where Ma'heo'o (God) imparted to Sweet Medicine, a Cheyenne prophet, the knowledge from which the Cheyenne derive their religious, political, social, and economic customs.

The mountain is sacred to many indigenous peoples, who make pilgrimages to leave prayer cloths and tobacco bundles tied to the branches of the trees along the mountain’s flanks. Other offerings are often left at the top of the mountain. The site is associated with various religious ceremonies throughout the year. The mountain is a place of prayer, meditation, and peace.

We hiked to the top and back. It was a 4 mile hike and we ascended just over 1,000 ft. Some of the terrain was very steep.

Bear Butte from our campsite. Do you see it? It's just off the back end of the trailer, just to the left of Steve.

On the way to Bear Butte we took the scenic route ditching I-90 for 5 miles of dirt road through BLM land and Ft Meade Recreation Area. Below are a few views of Bear Butte as we approached.

We passed by the famous Full Throttle Saloon an Buffalo Chip biker bars on the way, so we stopped to take a little look around.

A little farther down the road, the Buffalo Chip.

We came to Bear Butte Lake and state campground first, so we stopped in to look and see.

Bear Butte from the lake area.

Looking back toward Sturgis

Bear Butte state dedication plaque.

Bust of Lakota Holy Man Frank Fools Crow at the Bear Butte Visitors Center. Many native people have left their spiritual offerings on the bust foundation.

Setting off approaching the trail head building that you must pass though to enter the trail.

Finally on the trail.

The prayer flags start showing up right away.

The views were beautiful right away. A peaceful easy feeling...

Wait! What's this? Snakes?! Only one poisonous snake found in the state and it rattles. Even better we didn't see a one or hear any rattles, and that is OK!