Fairburn agate Fields
South Dakota ’ s gemstone , the Fairburn agate , is one of the loveliest of banded specimens known to mankind and is highly sought after . The stones range in value from $ 20 to thousands of dollars
The Fairburn agate is named for the agate beds about 10 miles east of Fairburn . They may be taken on a designated portion of the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands northeast of the town of Fairburn . Look for the signs .
Begging Burros
If you drive along Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park , chances are you will run into a herd of friendly burros looking for a handout . They generally will eat whatever is proffered and they are quite insistent on finding something to eat in your vehicle . They are the descendants of the burros that carried tourists up to Black Elk Peak before roads were built to it .
Petroglyphs
There are carvings in stone in the Black Hills which are estimated to be approximately 8,000 years old . These early carvings are located in canyons near Edgemont and include both petroglyphs ( scratchings or engravings in stone ) and pictographs ( paintings on the surface of stone with charcoal or other available natural materials ). Not only may these carvings be the oldest found anywhere , but there are carvings here which have been found no place else .
Craven Canyon , which contains ancient rock art , is on Forest Service land off Elbow Canyon Road , six miles north of Edgemont . Maps showing Craven Canyon are available from the Forest Service . No motorized traffic is allowed and Forest personnel remind anyone who views the site that it is a sensitive site and is very easily damaged .
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