Just southeast of Sioux Falls is an amazing place that, if you ask me, just doesn't get the appreciation it so rightly deserves. Just about every square mile of South Dakota is beautiful, but our state parks provide a front-row seat to all the best of it. Take the awesome park known as Good Earth State Park - an underrated state park in South Dakota just a skip away from Sioux Falls - and make a day to explore it from top to bottom. It's the perfect place for a nice, long, peaceful walk, be it to clear your head or simply to enjoy the beauty all around us.

...but if I'm being honest here, it's so much MORE than "just" a place to relax.

This just so happens to be a remarkably important historical site as well. It's one of the oldest known sites of long-term human inhabitation in the world.

From approximately 1300 to 1700 C.E., it's believed that people used this as an important gathering site and center of trade.

They picked an excellent spot; the river, which runs right through the region, provides never-ending life, which this park seems to teem with in every nook and crannie.

At these times, the primary people residing here were the Oneota peoples, including folks from Ponca, Omaha, Otoe and Ioway.

It is, after all, the largest Oneota cultural site discovered thus far in the Midwest. It is truly a gem, both historically and, of course, naturally.

At the time of this writing, there are six hiking trails within Good Earth State Park - and all of them are worth doing.

The best news is that none of them are overly difficult; they're perfect for a nice, long walk like the one I mentioned before.

You know you wanna.

It's almost too easy to get lost out here, and I wouldn't blame you if you did - unless, of course, you go off a trail. Please don't do that. Keep your wandering on established trails for your safety (and the safety of the wilderness, too).

The Big Sioux River is one of the most beloved aspects of the park.

Sink your toes in the sand or skip stones across the more peaceful parts of the river... or simply get some rays. Kayaking is another popular activity.

Unfortunately, as of right now, there is no camping allowed in this underrated state park in South Dakota.

Perhaps that's WHY it's so underrated: folks often confuse no camping with being "less than."

Personally, I disagree: I feel like that just makes the space all the more special... and all the better for a long walk over anything else. To learn more about the park, please visit the official Good Earth State Park site on SD.gov. Do you love this underrated state park in South Dakota? Let me know!

Planning on hiking while you're here? You might also be interested in our definitive hiking packing list.