Gitchie Manitou State Preserve (Iowa)

South Entrance - the best place to enter the preserve

Gitchie Manitou State Preserve is located just to the east of Sioux Falls, across the Big Sioux River.  To reach this 91-acre preserve, my preferred route is to drive east out of Sioux Falls along 26^th Street and join Highway 42 just past Arrowhead Park.  Just after crossing the bridge over the Big Sioux River, take the first paved road to the right (115) and continue south.  This road becomes 481^st Avenue and continues to a sharp left, where the road becomes 268^th Street.  At that sharp turn, there is a limited space to park a car, and the north entrance to the preserve leads off into the wooded area as a foot-path. 

Parking Lot for the South Entrance

A better way to enter the preserve is to continue on the paved road (268^th Street) around the curve where it becomes Adams Avenue and continues south.  Just a mile or little more, the north entrance to the preserve is clearly marked on the right side of the road.  There is a parking lot, a large sign, and a clearly indicated pathway into the preserve. Past the entrance to the preserve, the road continues on to the village of Granite and then leads on to the Grandview Road back over the Big Sioux River to the highway past Blood Run and back into Sioux Falls.  I have searched for the main entrance to Gitchie Manitou on previous occasions and had difficulty locating it.  If you follow the directions above, it should be fairly easy.  The total distance from our home near Sycamore and 26^th Street is about six miles or so and takes less than 15 minutes.

Entering from the south entrance, the trail leads along a relatively open prairie area with the woodlands off to the left.  The trail follows the course of the Big Sioux River; at times it runs along the bank and other times it is separated by a swath of heavy woodland growth.

The first section of the trail, perhaps a mile or so in length, is through this open area.  The next section passes through a canopy of trees that extends for most of the remaining distance of the trail.  Again, the east bank of the Big Sioux River is off to the left.  As the hiker moves closer to the tree cover, there are trails that also lead off to the right (east) through Sioux quartzite outcroppings.

One pathway leads back into the woods to a large ruined quartzite stone structure.  The structure is intact and includes a large fireplace.  It seems as though it must have served as some sort of lodge in the distant past.

Beyond the turn-off to the structure, there is another pathway that leads off to the right to a water-filled quarry that looks like a smaller version of the quarry lagoons at Arrowhead Park.  It seems obvious that this was a quartzite mining quarry long ago that filled with water from rain and melting snow.  It is easy to follow a pathway up to the rim of the quarry.

Of course, if you enter at the north end, the directions would be reversed, but I advise driving on the extra couple of miles to the south gate.

The trail through Gitchie Manitou is level and an easy hike.  There is lots of bird life, especially in the trees that extend back to the river bank.

There are occasional excellent views of the Big Sioux River as it makes its way south along the border between South Dakota and Iowa. 

Gitchie Manitou is in close proximity to Blood Run and shares a long history of use by Native American people. The landscape includes native prairie grasses, Sioux quartzite rock formations, the Big Sioux River, woodlands, and a great variety of plant life.  We also saw many species of birds flitting in the trees of the woodlands and soaring in the skies above.

We spent about two hours doing a leisurely hike through the preserve, beginning at the rougher north end, exploring the quarry lagoons and the quartzite structure, and walking to the south entrance before returning to our starting point. Our little seven-pound, 14 year old miniature poodle kept up with us just fine.  We felt that perhaps we had neglected this hiking option so close to Sioux Falls and plan on returning a couple more times this fall.  It is a public hunting area, though, so I would be careful during pheasant season!

We did not see anyone else in the preserve during our two hours.  This is really a prime hiking site within our area!

The North Entrance - the less preferred entrance

There is a darker side to Gitchie Manitou.  In November of 1973, this was the site of a mass murder, one of the worst in Iowa history.  Five teenagers from Sioux Falls were camping in the preserve and were attacked by three brothers, strangers to the victims, also from South Dakota.  Four of the teenagers were murdered and the fourth assaulted.  The three brothers were all convicted and sentenced to life in an Iowa prison without possibility of parole.   

For those interested in viewing the complete set of photos from this hike, please access my Flickr account at the following URL:http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayheath/sets/72157631100013776/detail/