Highs, Lows of South Dakota

Like much of the plains states, South Dakota has a generally slopping elevation. Falling from high points in the west, near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, down to lows in the east as the land falls into the Mississippi River basin.

The highest point in the state is also the highest point east of the Rockies. Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak) in the Black Hills rises 7242 feet above sea-level (a mile is 5280 feet). The Peak is near Custer in Pennington on the western end of the state.

At the other end of the of things is Big Stone Lake. Located on South Dakota's eastern boarder with Minnesota, Big Stone Lake is the lowest point in South Dakota at 966 feet above sea-level.

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