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Rock Formations in South Dakota

11 rock formations in South Dakota with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Butte County has the most (2). The darkest skies are at Thunder Butte (Bortle 1).

Top rock formations

Bear ButteRock Formation
Bear ButteMeade County
Thunder ButteRock Formation
Thunder ButteZiebach County
Castle Rock ButteRock Formation
Castle Rock ButteButte County
Cedar ButteRock Formation
Cedar ButteOglala Lakota County
Rock Formation
Grindstone ButteHaakon County
Rock Formation
Turtle ButteTripp County
Rock Formation
Black Horse ButteCorson County
Rock Formation
Deers Ears ButteButte County
Rock Formation
Hump ButteCorson County
Rock Formation
White ButtePerkins County
Rock Formation
Snake ButteJackson County

Map

How to photograph rock formations

Rock towers and buttes glow red and orange in the first and last half-hour of sun; midday light flattens their shape.

  • Find a spot where the formation sits against open sky to emphasize its silhouette.
  • At night, a formation under the Milky Way or star trails makes a strong anchor.
  • Use the sunrise and sunset azimuths below to know which face will be lit.
  • Stay on trails; desert soils and lichens take decades to recover from footprints.

Season: Spring and autumn are best in desert regions; winter snow on red rock is rare but spectacular.