chinook203
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2006
Posts: 849
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Post by chinook203 on May 22, 2010 22:33:06 GMT -5
I finally get to go to South Dakota. I've never been up to this area of the U.S. I am going with Ed and my sister to Sturgis. Ed and I are going more for rock hunting and exploring, but very cool we will get to do Sturgis as well. We are actually camping about 45 minutes from there.
I know South Dakota can be in the 100 degree range in August, but is it a humid hot, or non humid like out west?
Any good rock hunting on the western edge of South Dakota?
I am so excited!
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on May 23, 2010 1:14:10 GMT -5
Go to the National Grasslands Visitor Center in Wall SD. You can get a map showing where the grasslands are and you can look for prairie, bubble gum and fairburn agates in the national grasslands. They will even show you some spots to look, or just look for exposed gravel (there is quite a bit). You need the map because the grasslands are not marked all that well and there is a fair bit of private land too.
Its hot but not too humid.
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Post by jakesrocks on May 23, 2010 6:49:29 GMT -5
The weather can get pretty sticky out there in August. Rockhounding is some of the best you'll find.In the Black Hills you'll find gold, silver, TeePee Canyon agates, and lots of other stuff. In the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands you'll find everything Scott mentioned, plus black agates, pet wood, marine fossils, possibly some dino bone, tons of jasper and possibly an indian artifact or two. The grasslands are rattle snake country, and the grass will be high that time of year, so be careful. I'd suggest you pick up a copy of Midwest Gem, Fossil and Mineral Trails, Prairie States by June Culp Zeitner. Also a word of warning. If you're in the grasslands and see rain approaching, get out quick. The gumbo mud out there will swallow a truck. I'll be out there around the end of June with a group of rockhound friends. I'm from S.D., so if you have any questions, just ask.
Don
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chinook203
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2006
Posts: 849
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Post by chinook203 on May 23, 2010 8:57:03 GMT -5
Thanks guys! I have to look through all of my trail books by June, not sure if I have the SD one yet or not, if I don't, I definitely plan on getting it. Wow, I didn't realize all thats out there. I guess I need to take the metal detector out there to.
We will actually be staying just south of Belle SD on a river.....I think its the Belle Fourche....
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on May 23, 2010 9:04:55 GMT -5
If you don't want to drive from Sturgis, you can order a map from the Visitor Center and they'll mark it for you before they mail it. I also recommend the Zeitner book.
I'd also recommend Railroad Buttes, which is east of Rapid City. There is lots of material there, much the same as you'll find in the Grasslands.
I didn't have much luck with Tepee Canyon, but didn't have much time. Zeitner mentions garnets in the same area, but I missed the location and didn't have time to look for it. If you go looking for lepidolite by Mt. Rushmore, be sure you don't drive through Custer State Park unless you have a lot of time and want to enjoy a beautiful park. The lepidolite I found is pretty, but not a stone you can do anything with as it's crumbly.
Ditto the warning on the gumbo. We were there after the briefest of showers and we were walking around with six inch platform shoes.
Roger (Fairburned) lives in or near Rapid City, so you might contact him, too.
Chuck
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Post by jakesrocks on May 23, 2010 9:15:31 GMT -5
Just be sure you pronounce the name right, so you don't offend the locals. The Fourche is pronounced Foosh. LOL. Forgot to mention that gem stones are found in the hills too, and a very nice type of puddingstone in the grasslands. I live in the N.E. corner of S.D., but have many rockhound friends who live in and around the hills. One even takes folks out to the good collecting sites. The only thing he charges is a piece or two of your home state material big enough to cut a
3 or 4 inch sphere out of. If interested, let me know and I'll put you in contact with him. One of my friends turned me on to a new site for Fairburn agates, very near the town of Fairburn. I'll be checking it out in June. If it proves to be a good spot, I'll let you know how to get there.
Don
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Post by NatureNut on May 23, 2010 9:24:59 GMT -5
Not to hijack, but we'll be heading to Sioux Falls, SD (SE) in early July. If anyone has any info on that area also, sure would appreciate it. Jo
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Post by NatureNut on May 23, 2010 9:32:14 GMT -5
Chuck, I was reading reviews of Zeitner's book and the feeling was that the directions were sketchy. Just curious what your opinion is. I know that sometimes when given directions publicly, there is usually some work that you have to do for yourself built-in. Is that what you found to be the case, or are the directions really that bad? Jo
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Post by jakesrocks on May 23, 2010 9:57:56 GMT -5
What do you want to know about S.D. Jo ? Really not a lot to be found in that area, unless you can get permission to hunt farmers fields. Most of the land on the east side of the river is privately owned. The maps in Zeitner's book are fairly accurate for this area. My copy is sitting right beside me. Along the river and streams you may find a few laker type agates. Keep an eye out for arrow heads, and marine fossils. It's also possible to find mammoth bones and tusk pieces. They are too recent to be fossilized, but interesting finds none the less.
Don
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Post by NatureNut on May 23, 2010 11:33:02 GMT -5
Thanks Don! Didn't mean to leave you out.  Thanks for that info and your opinion, was just curious about the reviews I read. We'll be setting up residency there with a service, so I'll be sure to ask if I can poke around any creeks nearby. Not sure where we'll be traveling on from Sioux Falls yet, but if we head west to Black Hills, you can bet we'll be checking out the Grasslands. Thanks so much! Jo |
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Post by jakesrocks on May 23, 2010 11:47:13 GMT -5
Hey Jo, if you come north, give me a shout. I'll have the coffee pot on. If you head west to the grasslands, it would be a good idea to get a pair of snake gaiters, and carry a long walking stick to beat the bushes ahead of you. Those old buzz tails don't always rattle a warning. Always best to be safe, rather than sorry.
Don
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on May 24, 2010 12:25:17 GMT -5
Hi Jo,
Yes, I did find some of the Zeitner maps a little sketchy, but between the Grasslands map and Google Earth, I was able to find nearly everything. As I mentioned above, the garnet and Tepee Canyon locations were the ones I had the most trouble with. Part of the problem, and it's not Zeitner's fault, is that so many of the roads are not signed, so you have to do a certain amount of dead reckoning.
Chuck
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Post by jakesrocks on May 24, 2010 12:44:18 GMT -5
The old TeePee area is pretty well worked over, but a couple of friends of mine have located a new area. I haven't been there yet, but they say it takes some hiking to get to it. I'll find out more in late June, and hopefully haul some nice stuff out of there.
Don
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2005
Posts: 1,775
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Post by Roger on Jun 14, 2010 17:50:41 GMT -5
I know of many teepee locations and grasslands areas to look.Let me know and I'll throw in a tour of my rock shop.
Roger
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2005
Posts: 1,775
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Post by Roger on Jun 14, 2010 17:52:37 GMT -5
oh yea the Belle Fourche river is a great place agates and fossils
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 14, 2010 18:44:42 GMT -5
I've been eyeing the area south east of Fairburn, along Lame Johnny creek. I know that's all private land, but there's a forest service road running through there. The road and road right of way are public land. I've heard of some nice Fairburns coming out of there in past years. I'll be heading out there on the 23rd. Should be at the Stockade North campground by noon.
Don
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chinook203
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2006
Posts: 849
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Post by chinook203 on Jun 14, 2010 21:10:03 GMT -5
All of this reading makes me more excited about going. Sounds like we may bring back a truck full!
Thanks everyone. Roger & Don, might have to get your number before we leave. I'm going to start working on mapping things out this week and getting the books pulled out to see if I have the one yet. If not, need to get it ordered.
Sandy
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chinook203
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2006
Posts: 849
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Post by chinook203 on Jun 14, 2010 21:21:37 GMT -5
I do have quick question on the Belle Fourche.......is it a clear river? We scuba dive, lots of snorkeling, how deep is it?
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 14, 2010 21:23:34 GMT -5
When will you be out there Sandy ? I'm meeting up with friends from Colorado and Michigan, and have several friends from the Black Hills area that will be joining us. If you don't already have reservations at a camp ground, you'd better get them. Things fill up quick around the end of June, and stay that way at least through August.
Don
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2005
Posts: 1,775
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Post by Roger on Jun 14, 2010 23:11:55 GMT -5
Sorry the Belle Fourche river is muddy lined with shale cliffs and red dirt.Good luck on the lame johnny road I've looked and it's well looked over with all the rain I'd head out to the grasslands to see whats washed out.
Roger
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Thanks for that info and your opinion, was just curious about the reviews I read. We'll be setting up residency there with a service, so I'll be sure to ask if I can poke around any creeks nearby. Not sure where we'll be traveling on from Sioux Falls yet, but if we head west to Black Hills, you can bet we'll be checking out the Grasslands. 
