Best hikes within 60 minutes of Sioux Falls: Where to see waterfalls, bison and wildflowers

You don't have to go to the Black Hills to find picturesque and challenging hiking spots in South Dakota and the area.

And just because you live in Sioux Falls doesn't mean you're limited to Great Bear or Sertoma Park — there are several options outside of well-trafficked state parks like Palisades and Good Earth.

If you're willing to drive just a little farther or try some smaller parks, you'll find hiking gems that you'll be sure to love.

Here are 15 trails within an hour's drive of Sioux Falls you should visit:

Disclaimer: There are other great areas you should check out, they just don't fit within the 60-minute parameter we've set here, which means you miss out on Yankton hikes, Nebraska hikes and Minnesota lake hikes.

Hiking with elevation changes

Great Bear Recreation Area: Southeastern South Dakota is known more for its flat expanse than its steep hiking trails. So, you're pretty limited if you're looking for significant elevation changes for hikes. However, the Great Bear Recreation Area does offer a 446-foot elevation gain along its 3.1-mile Skyline, Cactus Hills and Valley Trail Loop within the heavily wooded park.

Newton Hills State Park (30-40 minutes from Sioux Falls): Hike along the 4.6-mile Blue Diamond and Woodland Trail Loop and you'll get a 518-foot gain in elevation through the wooded valley and up along prairie views. More than 200 species of birds visit the state park near Canton each year. You'll also find white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, marmots, rabbits, red and gray fox, and squirrels throughout your hike.

Union Grove State Park (45 minutes): This little-trafficked state park features a 4.2-mile, 433-foot elevation gain as it winds through South Dakota prairie, woods and along Brule Creek. Spot deer, wild turkeys, beaver and a variety of birds as well as a range of trees and plant life. This trail does include a horse trail, so watch where you step; otherwise, the hiking-only trail is a 1.2 mile loop.

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Hikes with prairie views

Touch the Sky Prairie (40 minutes): Get 360-degree views of the prairie along the 2.4-mile To The Sky hike at Touch the Sky Prairie near Luverne, Minnesota. The grassland is dominated by Bluestem native grasses and wildflowers in the spring and summer.

Good Earth State Park (15-20 minutes): While you can take a hiking trail down into the Big Sioux River valley at Good Earth, the state park also offers acres of natural prairie land as well. Good Earth State Park is also the largest Oneota Native American cultural site discovered to date in the upper Midwest, as a significant trader center and gathering place for tribes from the 1300-1700s.

Wildflowers & wildlife

Blue Mounds State Park (40 minutes): You don't have to drive to Custer State Park or visit the Great Plains Zoo to see bison. Take a peek at herds of bison grazing on the open prairie at Blue Mounts State Park, near Luverne, Minnesota. Take the 4.1 mile Mount Loop Trail or the 6.8 mile Mound, Lower Cliff Line and Campground Loop Trails to see the bison enclosure, natural prairie and old rock quarry views. If you're birdwatching, check off the birds you see on the Minnesota State Park bird checklist.

Valley of the Giants (20 minutes): This Brandon hiking trail is a 1.5-mile loop that cuts through several large trees growing along the Big Sioux River floodplain soil, boasting some of the state's largest oak and cottonwood trees. There are also plenty of elm, ash, boxelder and willow trees to walk through, as well as plants and animals to spot along the trail.

Oak Grove County Park (60 minutes): Explore along the Big Sioux River on the border of South Dakota and Iowa in Hawarden, Iowa. The Oak Grove County Park Loop is a 3.9-mile loop with a bounty of wildflowers to see in the summertime. There's also two large outcroppings of Sioux Quartzite along the trail and a mound of slag, which is the remains of a 100-year-old coal bed.

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Hiking with waterfalls & waterfronts

Dell Rapids (25-30 minutes): Hike along the Sioux River Red Rock Trail, which is a 2.6-mile route that features waterfalls along the Ace Park Trail. The city hopes to expand the trail to a 12-mile-long trail for hikers and cyclists to share through the city and along the river.

Dakota Nature Park (45-60 minutes) What began as a city landfill is now a multi-purpose, 135-acre park in Brookings with miles of paved bike and hiking trails. Use docks and small beaches to access the water and enjoy some fishing or bird watching as well. If you have a kayak, three of the four ponds are connected and there is a kayak and canoe launch at the park.

Touch the Sky Prairie (40 minutes): Explore this nature preserve near Luverne, Minnesota along the 1.3-mile Prairie Waterfall trail. The hike is lightly trafficked but has plenty of wildflowers along a sleepy creek that leads to a secluded waterfall and pool. The area is part of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge, which covers over 12,000 acres.

Pipestone National Monument Trail (50-60 minutes): Hike along this 3/4-paved path trail as it cuts through a Tallgrass Prairie, along a creek with endangered Topeka Shiner, in front of a waterfall and past the working pipestone quarry.

Palisades State Park (30 minutes): One of the most popular hiking destinations in southeastern South Dakota, the Palisades offers a variety of hiking trails that follow the Big Sioux River and rapids along the Palisades. Pause on your hike and go fishing, wading in water below the rapids or enjoying a riverside picnic.

Historic hikes

Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum (15 minutes): Explore the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum and East Sioux Falls Historic Site, a granite mining town that had 500 residents at one time. The Perry Nature Area features a handful of trails throughout its 23 acres that are full of native plants, wildflowers and wildlife.

Follow the Quarry Trail along the old rail bed to the quarry where stone cutters of East Sioux Falls worked, then veer northeast on the House Trail to discover the remains of a house that was abandoned years ago. As you continue through the nature area, explore the creek and historic bur oak, which is over 200 years old or hike along the Floodplain Trail.

Lake Herman State Park (50-60 minutes): Take a drive up near Madison and hike along the 1.25-mile Luce Adventure loop at Lake Herman State Park. The park is the site of historic and prehistoric artifacts, including Native American villages, a historic cabin and fossils.

You'll also see plenty of wildflowers depending on the time of season, including Blue Flax, Blanketflower, Coreopsis, Coneflower, Sunflower, Aster, Lupine, Purple Prairie Clover, Spiked Gayfeater and Yarrow. You might even catch a glimpse of the state flower, the Pasque flower.

Spirit Mound Historic Prairie (50-60 minutes): 1.4 mile hike that traces the steps of Lewis and Clark and their party during their 1804 exploration of the western United States. The group hiked a few miles north of the Missouri River to visit Spirit Mount, which was believed to be important to Native American tribes such as the Omaha, Sioux and Oto tribes.

After the damming of the Missouri River, this spot is one of the few sites the explorers visited that isn't now underwater. The site is being reestablished with prairie grasses and other native plants. Spirit Mount features a variety of prairie wildflowers and grasses and is home to Fritillary butterflies, birds and other prairie animals.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota hiking: Hikes for waterfalls, wildlife near Sioux Falls