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South Dakota
Whitney Preserve
Why You Should Visit
Whitney Preserve is adjacent to beautiful Cascade Springs, the largest perennial spring and one of only two warm springs found in the Black Hills. The preserve, named for Nathaniel and Mary Whitney, conservation pioneers in South Dakota, includes three miles of Cascade Creek just below its source, Cascade Springs. During daylight hours, visitors also can walk along a nature trail that is one of the best places in the Black Hills to see birds.
Location
The Whitney Preserve is located in the southern Black Hills southwest of Hot Springs, South Dakota.
Map (.jpg, 392 KB)
Plan Your Visit
For more information on visiting this and other Minnesota preserves, check out our Preserve Visitation Guidelines.
Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
The Whitney Preserve is located on the eastern edge of a large, undeveloped landscape where elements of sage lands, pine forest and mixed grasslands come together. The convergence of these habitat types make this area important for conservation.
Things To Do
What to See: Plants
The spring supports a unique warm riverine system that includes four rare plant species — tulip gentian, beaked spike-rush, southern maidenhair fern, and stream orchid — that are found nowhere else in the Black Hills or the surrounding Great Plains. Download a rare plant fact sheet (.pdf, 106 KB).
What to See: Animals
Whitney Preserve and the surrounding landscape contain important habitat for turkey, deer, elk, bobcat and mountain lions. The constant flow of Cascade Creek and Cool Creek support deciduous trees that provide important habitat for birds. The nature trail at the Whitney Preserve is one of the best places in the Black Hills for bird-watchers.
Plan Your Visit
For information on how to visit, please contact Bob Paulson at (605) 342-4040 or email him at bpaulson@tnc.org.
Directions
Directions (.pdf, 584 KB)
Discussion
Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.
Add Your Comments
Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!
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