This small pull-off sits on a geologic slump, where a little extra moisture lets trees grow. The park has recorded over 300 archaeological sites, evidence of the peoples who used this country season after season. Anything found should be left in place and reported to a ranger.
There's a small pull-off in this bend, on a slump where trees do well. The grassy tops above the bare rock in this country are sod tables, the last traces of ancient prairies. They aren't rising. Everything around them is just washing away faster. One people after another hunted this country, and the Lakota gave it its name. Over three hundred sites are on record across the park, seasonal camps, not year-round homes. Seasonal doesn't mean empty, so look with your eyes and leave what you find.
Photo: NPS Photo / Serena Rosales, public domain · Public domain