Garretson, South Dakota: Devil's Gulch: Jesse James Jumped Here
RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report
- Address:
- Devil's Gulch Park, Garretson, SD
- Directions:
- I-90 exit 410. Turn north onto Hwy 105 for seven miles. Turn left onto Dows St/Hwy 122 for a half-mile, then right onto Main Ave. through town. Turn right onto 5th St., then a quick left through the gate into Devil's Gulch Park. Drive down the dirt road; the bridge across the Gulch is on the left side of the parking lot.
- Hours:
- Gates open daily 8-8 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 605-594-6721
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
Results 1 to 4 of 4...
A footbridge now crosses the mini-canyon where Jesse reportedly jumped on horseback to evade capture. Not very busy, and right outside of town.
Roadsideamerica.com Report...Visitor Tips and News About Devil's Gulch: Jesse James Jumped Here
Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.
Beautiful place to hike. Make sure you stop by Split Rock Park to see the falls. Both have a nice picnic area. Split Rock is great for camping.
[Anne, 07/26/2023]
My husband and I visited Devil's Gulch because we had been to Devil's Lake, Devil's Tower, Devil's Punchbowl, etc. There was a small building with souvenirs and a very nice fellow who insisted that Jessie James did indeed jump the Gulch. It had rained that morning and the rocks were slippery, so we skipped the hike.
Garretson also has Split Rock Park, with a very pretty dam.
[Deb K, 08/09/2016]In 1876, Jesse James robbed the bank in Northfield, Minnesota. Jesse and his brother headed west toward Dakota Territory. They then went separate ways, trying to shake the posse. The lawmen were literally right on the heels of Jesse, as he and his horse stood on the precipice of a dizzyingly high bluff; this was Devil's Gulch. A fifteen foot gash in the rocks separated him from the other side and freedom. Supposedly he spurred on his horse and actually leapt across the canyon, evading the posse and eventually linking up with brother Frank. There is now a foot bridge at Devil's Gulch, spanning the chasm that Jesse James jumped over during a pursuit. Fact or Fable? Either way, Devil's Gulch is an amazing geological curiosity in southeastern South Dakota.
[Brenda Bennett, 06/25/2005]Nearby Offbeat Places
Outdoor Collection of Windmills, Jasper, MN - 12 mi.
Stand on Three States: Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Valley Springs, SD - 16 mi.
Tiny Church, Luverne, MN - 14 mi.Latest Tips Across Roadside America
Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.
Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!
Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.
