south dakota
Dances With Wolves was filmed entirely in the beautiful state of South Dakota between June and November 1989. The images shown below are from the South Dakota Film Office, and even though they're not the actual locations, the beauty and grandeur of the shots bring the movie to life once more. I can see and hear Wind In His Hair atop the cliff at the end of the movie (Spearfish Canyon), and I can walk with John Dunbar in the tall grass (Prairie).
According to the South Dakota Film Office, many of the locations used in the film are still there awaiting visitors. "A simple road sign marks the location of the movie's winter camp finale. This site can be found north of Roughlock Falls, in Spearfish Canyon in the Black Hills National Forest. It is located on Forest Road 222, about three miles upstream from the Spearfish Canyon Resort. The canyon's Highway 14A is designated as a National Scenic Byway."
Please stop by the site if you're planning a trip to South Dakota… there's lots of information and maps available to help you find your way.
It has been a dream of mine to visit South Dakota and the sites where my favorite movie was filmed… maybe one day that dream will come true.
All Photos by South Dakota Tourism.