Sica Hollow State Park, Nature reserve in Heipa District, South Dakota, US
Sica Hollow State Park is a nature reserve covering about 900 acres of forest marked by red-tinted springs and deep ravines. Eight miles of marked trails guide visitors through the varied landscapes of the site.
The site gained National Natural Landmark status in 1967, and the Trail of the Spirits received National Recreation Trail designation in 1971. These recognitions highlighted the area's importance as a natural and cultural resource.
The Dakota Sioux named this place Sica, meaning bad or evil, interpreting the red springs as signs of ancestral presence. This traditional understanding still shapes how visitors experience and think about the landscape.
The park is open year-round for both day visits and overnight stays on the grounds. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear, as trails wind through forest and ravine terrain that can be uneven.
Iron deposits in the springs and bogs give the water its red tint, and at night visitors can observe visible swamp gas rising from decomposing organic material. These rare natural phenomena make the park an unusual destination for watching natural processes unfold.
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