What Pine Ridge Reservation is known for

The Pine Ridge Reservation Destination is located in the Midwestern United States. While the destination itself comprises a portion of South Dakota and Nebraska, the namesake is almost entirely found in South Dakota, with the exception of the city of Whiteclay, Nebraska. Pine Ridge Reservation is an Indian reservation of the Oglala Lakota tribe, presently covering approximately 3,468.86 square miles. Both the destination and the namesake compose a mix of residential communities, urban districts, and natural settings. Pine Ridge Reservation is reportedly home to an estimated total population of 19,779 people as of 2017.[1]

To the west of the Pine Ridge Reservation, a city known as Hot Springs contains numerous tourist attractions. As the name would suggest, the city features six mineral springs that were formed from the Fall River Canyon. The hot springs often pique the interest of visitors; however, the city’s historic district also receives a considerable number of tourists. Boutiques, museums, and restaurants comprise Hot Springs’ historic district, among other historically significant establishments.[13] Moreover, Wind Cave National Park tends to appeal to travelers, as Hot Springs has been deemed the "gateway to the attractions of the southern Black Hills, particularly Wind Cave National Park.”[12]

The city of Hot Springs is about 10 miles southeast of the Angostura Recreation Area.[12] The Angostura Reservoir covers roughly 4,407 acres, and about 36 miles of shoreline comprise the coast of the lake.[10][12] Tourists—especially those who enjoy outdoor activities—frequently visit this site to engage in lake recreation, such as swimming, boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Some of the specific types of fish that visitors may have the opportunity to catch in Angostura Reservoir include smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, northern pike, perch, largemouth bass, and bluegill. In addition to lake activities, visitors can go camping, bird watching, biking, or picnicking. Equipment for some activities is also provided for park visitors, namely disc golf, an area for volleyball, and horseshoes.[10]

Geography

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge is a particularly notable area in the Pine Ridge Reservation’s southeastern corner. This wildlife refuge is located in the Central Flyway—one of North America’s four major migratory bird flyways. In 1935, Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge was established as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds as well as other wildlife. Several types of birds have been observed in the refuge, such as sandhill cranes, grassland-dependent migratory birds, and shorebirds. Trumpeter swans can also be seen along a 4.5-mile tour route that starts at the refuge’s visitor center.[11]

Outdoor enthusiasts are often drawn to Oglala National Grassland in the western region of the destination. Located in the northwestern corner of Nebraska, Oglala National Grassland is composed of mixed-grass prairies and fairly unique formations that developed through erosion on layers of siltstone. Forested streambeds and clay also constitute a considerable portion of the grasslands. Many of these topographic features can be observed in the Toadstool Geologic Park along its hiking trails. A fair amount of visitors who take an interest in wildlife tend to frequent the area to view the pronghorn sheep that inhabit Oglala National Grassland. Coyotes, badgers, red-tailed hawks, ferruginous hawks, golden eagles, and Swainson’s hawks are other wildlife species that one may encounter in the grasslands. In addition to wildlife viewing, horseback riding and camping are also permitted at Oglala National Grasslands.[4]

Neighboring Oglala National Grassland is Nebraska National Forest in the central western region of the Pine Ridge Reservation Destination. The Pine Ridge Trail system is found within this national forest, with 80 miles of marked trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders to utilize. Hunters are also welcome to pursue game in the Nebraska National Forest, as white-tailed deer, mule deer, and antelope inhabit the region.[5]

Badlands National Park encompasses 244,000 acres of land that is characterized by mixed-grass prairies. The park serves as the home for an abundance of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, bison, black-footed ferrets, and prairie dogs, to name a few. Notably, Badlands National Park “contain[s] one of the world’s richest fossil beds.”[2] The park is acknowledged for having the most substantial deposits of Oligocene mammals known, with its geographic history dating back 33 million years. Beyond the fossils that are found in the park, the site’s topography also includes eroded buttes and pinnacles.[3]

Pine Ridge, a census-designated place in the southwestern corner of the Pine Ridge Reservation, experiences what some have described as “hot and mostly clear” summers. July tends to be the hottest month of the year in Pine Ridge, as temperatures reach an average high of 89°F. The warm season generally lasts from June to September, during which temperatures remain around 79°F. In contrast, winters have been characterized as “freezing, snowy, windy, and partly cloudy,” as Pine Ridge receives the most amount of snow from October to May. The cool season is typically from November to March, with a daily average high dropping below 47°F. December is most commonly the coldest month in Pine Ridge, as temperatures range between 14°F and 38°F. For travelers who are hoping to undertake warm-weather activities in Pine Ridge, it is recommended that they visit from mid-June to early September for moderate climatic conditions.[6]

History

Throughout the late 19th century, conflicts between the United States and multiple subgroups of the Sioux people arose, causing what is known as the Sioux Wars. The war first began in 1854 when a dispute took place at Fort Laramie in Wyoming.[7] Following the defeat of the Indian tribes in the 1870s, numerous smaller reservations were created in several parts of the United States. Nearly 7.7 million acres of Black Hills land had been confiscated from the Sioux, as the US government designated the Pine Ridge Reservation—a 2.7 million acre site—for the Oglala to live. Over 300 residents were then killed by government troops in 1890 near Wounded Knee Creek—a site that presently commemorates this event.[8] The Wounded Knee Massacre Site currently has an interpretive center and museum where visitors can learn more about this conflict. Another attraction in the Pine Ridge Reservation that honors the Sioux is the Oglala Lakota Nation Powwow and Rodeo, which is an event that features traditional music and cultural dances. This weekend-long celebration is typically held annually in August.[9]

As a prominent paleontological site in the Pine Ridge Reservation Destination, Badlands National Park bears historical significance, with the discovery of fairly large fossilized bones throughout its history. The park’s capability to serve as a fossil resource was made possible through the knowledge of the Native Americans who originally inhabited the area. Fossilized seashells and turtle shells were found by the Lakota, ultimately leading to their accurate presumption that the land had previously been underwater and that these bones belonged to extinct creatures. As such, paleontological interest began in the 1840s, as trappers and traders started to visit the area—traveling from Fort Pierre and Fort Laramie nearly 300 miles away. In an effort to preserve the fossils throughout the site’s natural stone formations, the area was established as a national monument. Since then, the park has received a relatively high quantity of fossil poachers/hunters as well as visitors who intend to search for the park’s fossils for scientific value or financial gain.[3]