Bear Butte State Park

Mato Paha or "Bear Mountain" is the Lakota name given to this site. Separated from the rest of the Black Hills by more than a mile, Bear Butte, a 1,200-foot tall geological formation, offers an expansive view of its surroundings. An easy hike takes you around Bear Butte Lake. A more challenging hike takes you to the summit on a 1.8 mile-long trail. Today, the ancient ceremonies of the past still take place at the mountain. The mountain is a sacred place to the Lakota, Cheyenne and all the indigenous tribes of the Northern Plains, which still use Bear Butte as a place of worship.