Behold breathtaking views of the Missouri River, diverse landscapes, and tribal history & culture along the magnificent Native American Scenic Byway. Running north and south through central South Dakota, the route takes travelers through the lands of the Yankton, Crow Creek, Lower Brule, Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Sioux Tribes. Where will it take you?
Map & Route
The Missouri River leads the byway from the Chief Standing Bear Bridge on the Nebraska border to the North Dakota border near Kenel. Highways 37, 1804 and 50 make up the route, starting in Running Water at the southern border and running to Fort Thompson at the northern border. On Big Bend Dam at Fort Thompson, the byway crosses the Missouri River and follows Highway 1806 to Fort Pierre. It then heads west on Highway 34 and north on Highway 63 to Eagle Butte. Continuing east on Highway 212, the route allows for going north on gravel BIA 7 on the west side of the river or following Highway 83 on the east side. At Mobridge, Highway 1806 again heads north to Kenel.
Wildlife
Landscapes along the way include mixed-grass prairie and rolling hills ending in limestone cliffs that line the river in many places. Expect to see abundant wildlife, including prairie dogs, pronghorn, deer, and bison and elk herds maintained by several tribes. Much of this wild, rugged country remains undeveloped, making this a truly unique road trip.
Things to Do and Places to Stop
Play at Yankton & Lewis and Clark Recreation Area
Begin or end your journey in Yankton, the capital of the Dakota Territory from 1861 to 1883. Study Indigenous artifacts and learn about their history at the Dakota Territorial Museum. Don’t miss the natural beauty of Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, where day-trippers and overnight campers alike fish, Jet Ski, boat, tube, paddleboard and water ski on Lewis and Clark Lake, and hike, bike, play disc golf and horseshoe along its beachy shoreline.
Spot Soaring Bald Eagles
As you follow Highway 50 northwest toward Pickstown and Lake Andes, keep your eyes open for bald eagles. Both the Randall Creek State Recreation Area and the Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge are known for being prime eagle-spotting locations, with the latter home to a refuge that provides habitat for 100 to 300 bald eagles. Eagles are considered sacred in the Native culture, representing truth, strength, power and wisdom.
Experience Dignity's View in Chamberlain-Oacoma
These communities each occupy a side of the Missouri River, offering magnificent views of open hills and water in central South Dakota. Just outside of Chamberlain, on a hill overlooking the river, stands Dignity: Of Earth and Sky, a 50-foot-tall statue of a Native woman. This detailed statue honors the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people, standing atop a hill overlooking the Missouri River just outside Chamberlain. The Aktá Lakota Museum and Cultural Center in Chamberlain offers a unique learning opportunity about Native heritage.
Take in Fort Thompson
Home to the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Fort Thompson is the largest settlement on the Crow Creek Reservation. The byway passes 6 miles along the Missouri River, where the Fort Thompson Mounds mark the largest burial mound complex on the Great Plains. At the Big Bend Dam, scenic drivers enter the lands of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. In Fort Thompson, don't miss the sculpture of Lewis and Clark interacting with an Indigenous man.
Explore Our Capital City: Pierre/Fort Pierre
The Pierre/Fort Pierre area has much more than the beautiful Missouri River. In Fort Pierre, visit the Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center and the Verendrye Monument, where French explorers buried a lead plate claiming the region for France. View the lead plate — and many Native artifacts — at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center across the Missouri River in Pierre. Tour the beautifully restored South Dakota State Capitol. Stop by the Oahe Dam, which gives way to colossal Lake Oahe, the fourth-largest reservoir in the United States.
Discover Art & Culture in Eagle Butte
The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's headquarters is located at Eagle Butte, the reservation’s largest community. The Red Can Graffiti Jam results in eye-popping murals on buildings throughout the town. Stop by the H.V. Johnston Cultural Center, a hub for cultural activities. See displays of historical artifacts, murals, photographs, beadwork and paintings.
Mobridge
Stop by the Klein Museum, home to many artifacts of the area's history. The museum possesses very rare Native pieces that alone make the trip worthwhile. Inside the Mobridge Auditorium, see 10 murals by legendary Native artist Oscar Howe. Some of Howe's earliest works, these murals were completed in 12 days in the early 1940s and are sights to behold. Find information on how to see these murals at no cost.
On a bluff along the Missouri River across from Mobridge is a monument to Sakakawea (Sacagawea), the only female Lewis & Clark Expedition member. There's also the Sitting Bull Monument, a 7-ton granite bust marking the final resting place of the legendary Sioux leader. The story behind how the remains ended up there? Well, that's a doozy.
