DAKOTA DEPARTMENT
South Dakota’s Black Hills are
home to this popular pilgrimage
destination for many Native
American tribe members, who view
Bear Butte Mountain as a sacred
and holy place. Used for tribal
ceremonies for thousands of years,
Bear Butte is now part of a state
park, although the government
reserves part of the mountain for
ceremonial use only.
Groups can learn more about the
mountain, the native tribes and their
rituals related to Bear Butte at Bear
Butte Lodge. This educational and
cultural center, located at the base
of the mountain, is operated by the
Rosebud Sioux Tribe, including the
Lakota tribe, who hope to teach the
world about what their version of a
pilgrimage is all about.
Visitors can hike to the top of
the mountain but are asked to not
touch the many ceremonial cloth
ribbons and tobacco bundles tied
to tree branches along the way.
Visitors can also camp or stay
overnight in the on-site lodge.
Bear Butte (Sturgis, South Dakota)
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