The Black Hills region is certainly one of the most fascinating areas of South Dakota, as well as one of the most interesting attractions of that large territory also known as Great American West. With huge national parks where hundreds of bison graze, scenic roads that run alongside natural wonders, monuments that symbolize American and Indian patriotism, and western towns, you will surely find something to suit your needs when organizing an itinerary in this area. Let’s discover the best things to do in the Black Hills region.
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Where are the Black Hills located
Normally, when we talk about Black Hills, we refer to the mountain range of South Dakota with the same name, which actually extends into Wyoming, up to the Devils Tower area. On closer inspection, however, the term Black Hills means a real region, which includes a number of remarkable tourist attractions and areas of natural beauty.
This territory is usually visited during a tour of Real America, therefore combined with the visit of Yellowstone and the surrounding areas. The nearest international airport is Denver, about 6 hours by car from the Black Hills, but you can also reach them directly with a domestic flight to Rapid City, the most important urban center of the area. Let’s find out all the best things to see and do in the Black Hills.
Custer State Park
This is one of the largest State Parks, not only in South Dakota but in the entire United States. Those of you who want to have the opportunity to observe animals in the wild should absolutely include it in an itinerary – you will not be disappointed. This is truly the kingdom of bison (there are more than 1500 specimens) that roam the prairies, heedless of cars and visitors.
The park is open all year round and the cost to access is $20 per vehicle. There are many visitor centers, but the most important one is the Custer State Park Visitor Center, located near the intersection of the Wildlife Loop and Iron Mountain Road. Inside, in addition to being able to ask for more information about the area, you can also watch a 20-minute video about the park’s beauty and history.
Scenic Roads
Driving through the Wildlife Loop is definitely the best and easiest way to see bison, antelope, prairie dogs, and the park’s views up close and personal.
There are almost 18 miles to cover, but plan on taking 1 -1.5 hours. However, the time may vary depending on the number of visitors and the traffic that can form when some bison decide to cross the road, taking all the time they want (if this happens, don’t rush them). The best time of day to watch the animals roam the prairies without a lot of crowds is early in the morning.
Inside the park, there are also two other very famous scenic roads that are a part of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, which we will discover later. So, let’s get a more in-depth understanding of what they can offer.
Needles Highway
It is also called the Impossible Highway because of the difficulties encountered when constructing it due to the particular conformation of the territory. It is a little more than 13.5 miles of road that spread out in bends and tunnels set between rocks and forests. It owes its name to the rock formations, similar to needles, that can be seen when driving along this road. It will take you 45 to 60 minutes to drive along the entire road.
The tunnels carved into the bare rock do not detract from the scenery as they are small in size compared to the mountains that surround them. However, they can, for this very reason, scare some people (they are one-way so you have to alternate with those coming from the opposite direction). Even though there are only two of them, they are still one of the main reasons why it is worth taking this route. Their names are Iron Creek Tunnel and Needles Eye Tunnel.
The latter is certainly the most spectacular as it is close to a rock formation that resembles the eye of a needle. In order to fully appreciate it, you can stop off in a small parking lot.
Be careful, however: this road is closed to traffic in winter, when the first snow begins to fall, and does not usually reopen until April.
Iron Mountain Road
This is a road of just over 16.5 miles that connects Mount Rushmore National Monument directly to Custer State Park. For this reason, the initial part of the road with its tunnels is not really part of the park, as it is in the Black Hills National Forest, but I thought I would describe it here for convenience.
It is practically a must-see if you are planning an itinerary of the area, and it will give you some incredible views, thanks to three very scenic tunnels that incredibly manage to fit perfectly around the portrait of the four American presidents carved into the mountain.
These are, from north to south:
- Doane Robinson Tunnel
- C.C. Gideon Tunnel
- Scovel Johnson Tunnel
This road is also famous for its so-called spiral bridges that allow you to climb (or descend) quickly and safely, as well as being visually appealing. If you intend to drive along this road in its entirety, or you do not plan to do enter the park itself, you will not have to pay the entrance fee to Custer State Park.
Sylvan Lake
Sylvan Lake is one of the most beautiful and popular destinations within the park. If you visit at the height of the summer season, finding parking can be challenging. It is a lake set in enchanting scenery where you can also take a dip, if you want.
There are several trails from here, the most famous being the one that leads up to Black Elk Peak (also known as Harney Peak), which is the highest point in South Dakota and formally located in the Black Hills National Forest. The Black Elk Peak Trail is not one to be taken lightly because it is 6 miles long with an elevation gain of almost 1650 feet, but if you are fit enough, and you have time to spare, you will find an old restored fire observation tower waiting for you, that dominates the entire surrounding area.
If you don’t want to do this walk, I suggest you opt for the Sylvan Lake Shore route that allows you to circumnavigate the entire lake in just under 1.25 miles. If you want, this is an ideal place to stay thanks to Sylvan Lake Lodge, which you can also consider for lunch or dinner if you are just passing through.
Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway
This is the scenic route that intersects some of the most beautiful views on offer in this part of South Dakota. Another positive factor is that it allows you to visit the most important attractions in the state. It is named after Peter Norbeck who, among other things, was a United States Senator as well as the governor of South Dakota.
It is basically a loop that connects four different highways, two of which are the scenic roads in Custer State Park that I described above:
- SD 87 also known as Needles Highway
- SD 89
- SD 244
- US Route 16A also known as Iron Mountain Road
The most important attractions along this route are:
- Custer State Park
- Mount Rushmore National Monument
- Norbeck Wildlife Preserve
If you want to fully enjoy the panoramas that you come across here at the right pace, then consider at least three hours for a complete tour, not counting the stops in the various areas that you will encounter along the way. I would suggest an itinerary starting from Keystone, stop at Mount Rushmore, drive along the Iron Mountain Road and the Needles Highway and then return to the starting point.
This basic itinerary can be comfortably completed in one day, but if you want to add some trails in Custer State Park or explore the area in more detail, you’ll have to count at least two days to avoid ruining your visit by rushing to see everything in too little time.
Mount Rushmore
One of the most famous and representative attractions of the United States is located in this region. We are talking about Mount Rushmore, with its profiles of the four American presidents carved along the back of the mountain.
If you want more information on how to get there and the things to see, you can read our in-depth article dedicated to how to visit Mount Rushmore.
Crazy Horse Memorial
The Native Indians’ answer to Mount Rushmore is this imposing memorial dedicated to Crazy Horse, who was triumphant at the Battle of Little Big Horn. The project, begun in 1948, is still a work in progress. In small steps, it is on its way to becoming the largest rock-carved monument in the world.
To find out everything that awaits you on visiting this place of great symbolic value, you can read our article on the Crazy Horse Memorial.
Jewel Cave National Monument
If you are fascinated by the underground world, you cannot miss this wonder. This National Monument is home to the third-largest cave in the world with more than 200 miles of mapped trails.
It is located about 13 miles west of the city of Custer and it is only possible to enter the cave by taking part in a tour and buying a ticket, which has a variable cost depending on the type you choose.
Tour tickets can only be purchased on-site the same day and, since they cannot be booked, they are sold on a first come first served basis. During the weekends in the high season, it is therefore advisable to arrive early if you are interested in visiting the caves, otherwise the waiting time could easily be 3-4 hours.
Here are some examples of tours:
- Scenic Tour ($12): this is a walk of about an hour and a half during which you will climb and descend over 700 steps along a route of about 0.6 miles. This is the only tour that you can also book online in advance.
- Historic Lantern Tour ($12): this tour is even more challenging than the previous one, both in terms of duration (one hour and 45 minutes) and in terms of the path (longer and more difficult), and is therefore recommended only for people in good physical condition. The particular nature of this experience is that it allows you to relive in person the mode in which the underground was explored in the 1940s, armed only with a lantern. It only takes place during the summer months.
- Wild Caving Tour ($31): the degree of difficulty here is even higher. The tour lasts almost 4 hours, during which you will have to tackle some sections of the route that require climbing a rock, or crawling along very narrow passages. It is practically only recommended for experienced cavers who also have the appropriate clothing for this type of excursion with them.
Are these tours too challenging for you? Or are you traveling with children? Then consider joining the Discovery Talks ($4), which consist of an introduction to the history of the place and a visit to a large, easily accessible cave. The tour is only 20 minutes long, which makes it suitable for those with limited time.
Inside the caves, the average temperature is about 9-10 degrees all year round, so bring suitable clothing. The times at which you can take part in the tours vary depending on the time of year and, for a complete overview, please take a look at the park’s official page.
Wind Cave National Park
Compared to the previous one, this national park is much larger and offers the possibility of exploring it not only underground but also outdoors, thanks to the numerous trails that run through prairies and pine forests.
There is no charge for entering the park with your own car and taking one of the many trails. As with the previous park, however, if you want to access the caves, you’ll have to take one of the tours available for a fee.
The types of tour vary greatly depending on the difficulty of the route to be completed and the time it will take. The most popular ones are the Garden of Eden Cave Tour ($10), which is the easiest and most immediate experience to discover the cave and is suitable for everyone, and the Natural Entrance Cave Tour ($12), recommended for those who want to go deeper into the cave without putting too much strain on their physical endurance.
You can find the details of all the other tours and more information about schedules in our article dedicated to the best things to do at Wind Cave National Park, and on the official page.
Badlands National Park
The Badlands National Park is one of those places that seem to be almost part of another planet. Over time, weathering has lent the mountain ranges curious and peculiar shapes, with added charm thanks to the different layers of colors of the rocks.
The park is divided into two zones and, to better understand how best to visit it and how to organize an excursion on the many paths present, I would suggest you read our article dedicated to what to see in Badlands National Park.
Black Hills National Forest
It is a very large area that covers almost all the western side of South Dakota, so that it is difficult to delimit it with precise boundaries since in some cases it overlaps with other areas, towns and scenic roads that can also be classified differently.
As for the latter, in addition to the already mentioned Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, the other scenic route to take into account is the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, located in the north near the town of Spearfish. Some of the most photographed natural attractions along this route are definitely the scenic waterfalls. The most significant and popular are the Bridal Veil Falls (not to be confused with the Yosemite Falls of the same name) and Roughlock Falls.
The most important viewpoints in the National Forest are the aforementioned Black Elk Peak, the Norbeck Overlook, which is located along the Iron Mountain Road and from where you can see the four presidents carved in the rock in the distance, and Breezy Point on Highway 244, just a few minutes drive from Mount Rushmore.
Some of the most visited constructions in this area are the old fire towers, some of which are very particular and which, over time, have become real historical places, as well as perfect locations for admiring the surrounding landscape from above. Some of the most relevant ones are:
- Cement Ridge Historic Fire Lookout
- Custer Peak Lookout Tower
- Warren Peak Fire Lookout
A fun fact: not far from the town of Deadwood, there is a particular tower called Mount Roosevelt Friendship Tower, created in 1919 by the first sheriff of the town, Seth Bullock, as a perennial testimony of his close friendship with President Theodore Roosevelt, to whom a national park in North Dakota is also dedicated: Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The purpose was to not only create a memorial just for the sake of it, but to help people enjoy the views offered by the lands the two friends had loved so much.
George S. Mickelson Trail
Can a trail be one of the main attractions of a region and not just of a single park? In this case, yes, because the George S. Mickelson Trail spans more than 108 miles, crossing much of the Black Hills National Forest region and other areas too.
The trail connects the towns of Deadwood (which I’ll talk about later) and Edgemont. You can either walk it (perhaps choosing a shorter section depending on your itinerary) or bike it, among other things crossing dozens of bridges once part of the railroad, and four picturesque rock tunnels that we learned about thanks to the scenic roads described above. The trail follows the route of the former Burlington Northern line that, until 1983, connected Edgemont to the gold mines near Deadwood.
The most important towns in the area
There are many cities that can be found in the Black Hills area. Here is a selection of the most characteristic.
Rapid City
This is one of the most important cities not only in the Black Hills area, but also in the whole state of South Dakota. The city is famous for hosting a sort of Walk of Fame of American politics: along the main streets of its Downtown, in fact, there are statues of all the U.S. presidents. You will also find some more amusing attractions there (such as the Dinosaur Park) as well as some curious ones (such as the Chapel In The Hills).
To learn all the secrets of this city and tips on where to stay, you can read our article entirely dedicated to what to see in Rapid City.
Historic Deadwood
If you are fascinated by western towns and the gold rush myth, Historic Deadwood is a stop you cannot leave out of your Black Hills tour. Here you can witness street shootings, the trial of hero James Butler Hickok’s killer, visit Calamity Jane’s grave and other historic homes. For more details, read our guide at Deadwood.
Belle Fourche
It’s considered the gateway to the northern Black Hills, but more importantly, it’s known for being nothing less than the geographic center of the United States. The city had to wait until 1959, when Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands officially became part of the USA, to obtain this recognition that, as you can imagine, is proudly flaunted by all the inhabitants.
If you want to feel a part of this local exceptional feature, you must visit the Center of the Nation Monument where a large granite compass rose makes a fine show surrounded by the flags of all the American states. Definitely the perfect place if you are looking for a special souvenir photo. A short distance from the monument you will find the Tri-State Museum, where it is interesting to discover more about the city’s history and buy some souvenirs.
If you are particularly interested in these fun facts, then you should know that the geographic center of the Continental United States (therefore without Alaska and islands) is located near Lebanon in Kansas.
Where to stay in Belle Fourche
There are not many accommodations in the town but these two options can definitely be considered:
- Ace Motel A classic American motel, ideal for those who do not have great expectations and want to save money, without foregoing good service.
- AmericInn by Wyndham Belle Fourche Those who prefer to rely on the guarantee of a large hotel chain can opt for this structure with a large indoor pool, spacious rooms and a not-overly high price.
Search for lodgings in Belle Fourche
Sturgis
This small town in the Black Hills has quite a national reputation as it hosts a popular motorcycle rally. Every year in August, it becomes the Motorcycle City of America and hundreds of thousands of Harley Davidson enthusiasts line the town’s streets.
The gift stores and restaurants are practically all two-wheeled themed, as are the main attractions of Sturgis. Most notably, if you’re interested, I recommend checking out the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame, where you can see a small but fascinating collection of vintage motorcycles.
On the outskirts of town, we find the site of the historic Fort Meade, which was active from 1878 until 1944, and was originally created to provide protection for miners in the area who were being attacked by Sioux Indians. This place is most famous for being the first place where the notes of the Star Spangled Banner were played during official ceremonies. Only later did it become the American anthem. Today you can visit the museum of the same name that traces the history of the fort and the area.
Near the city is Bear Butte State Park (ticket costs $6 per vehicle), the perfect destination if you want to stretch your legs. Here, in fact, you can walk on a path of about 2.7 miles (round trip) that will take you to the top of the “sacred” mountain of Bear Butte, from which you will dominate the entire valley below. If you wish, you can also take a relaxing walk along the path that surrounds the nearby Bear Butte Lake.
Where to stay in Sturgis
If you want to play safe in this city, I recommend the Baymont Inn & Suites by Wyndham hotel, but before booking any hotel check when the big motorcycle rally is held, because as you can imagine, the prices of the various structures are affected.
Keystone
Like many other small towns in the area, Keystone began as a mining outpost during the gold rush years. Of course, given its proximity to Mount Rushmore, most of the attractions are dedicated to this historic monument with a few curious and fun exceptions.
One of the recommended stops for finding out more about the history of this area’s most famous monument is at the Rushmore Borglum Story. This is a large museum entirely dedicated to the life and work of the sculptor who designed and created the faces of the presidents on the mountain. Here you can find models of the various trials that later led to the final design, as well as a collection of Borglum’s major works.
If you want to play the role of the legendary gold diggers who populated this area in search of fortune, visit the Big Thunder Gold Mine, a real mine where, among other things, you’ll be able to test your skills in finding precious nuggets.
Want to take a walk to stretch your legs? Then consider taking the fascinating Historic Walking Tour in the Old Town, where you can learn more about the city’s most important buildings grouped together in a few blocks. Here you can find a guidebook with the main points to visit. 
The Rushmore Tramway is the perfect combination of fun and nature. On the ride up, a chairlift will take you to Mount Rushmore from afar, as well as offering beautiful views of the forests and mountains of the Black Hills. The whole area is designed to relax you thanks to paths that lie amidst flowers and scenic waterfalls. There is also a restaurant here where you can eat surrounded by this beautiful natural setting.
To return to the valley you can use the chairlift or try the thrill of using the Alpine Slide: a long slide to use with special sleds. You can choose between two parallel routes that differ only in the speed at which you descend. Definitely something to stop and enjoy if you are traveling with children.
If you love historical trains and want to continue to experience the region’s past, don’t miss the opportunity to ride the 1880 Train. This is a historic railroad that connects the cities of Keystone and Hill City, traversing the Black Hills region and enjoying landscapes ranging from prairies to forests. The duration of the trip is one hour each way, if you want to make a round trip, in most cases, you will have to add on another 15 minutes for the necessary operations at the station. However, please check the official website for all the latest information on schedules.
Finally, if you’re looking for a place to buy some souvenirs, I suggest you don’t miss Holy Terror Antiques and the Keystone Mall where you will surely find a gift for all needs.
Where to stay in Keystone
For some advice on where to stay in Keystone, I refer you to the hotels we mentioned in the article dedicated to Mount Rushmore.
