Palisades State Park, located
in southeastern South Dakota in the town of Garretson, is the second
smallest state park in South Dakota. At 157 acres in area, the park
is quite small compared to the vastness of other state parks in South
Dakota. Although compact in size, this park packs a powerful visual
punch, and the history of the area, complete with larger-than-life legends
and tales, more than compensates for its small size.
Palisades State Park is one of the few places in the nation that contains pipestone which is a mineral found in the matrix of quartzite and is used by Native Americans for making peace pipes. Several pipestone quarry sites can be found within the park. |
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Below; The Sioux Quartzite
rocks are 1.2 billion years old and up to 50 feet high. They are exposed
on either side of Split Rock Creek. Below is a view of Chimney Rock
from an overlook by Balancing Rock. |
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Below: After passing Balancing
Rock and going down a few stairs, the two RV Gypsies strolled alongside
the Split Rock Creek. They were not too impressed with a picnic table
directly underneath steep cliffs and falling rocks. |
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Below: The two RV Gypsies
explored the King and Queen Trail at Palisades State Park just as they
did in 2012. |
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Below: On the other side of
Split Rock Creek, the two RV Gypsies took a short walk down the King
and Queen Trail and reached the King and Queen formations,
but could not really figure out which was the Queen and which
was the King. |
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Below: Lee Duquette walked further up the trail while Karen Duquette
sat and waited for his return. |
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Below: The lunch view of
the two RV Gypsies in Palisades Park. |
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