The Black Hills
After living in South Dakota for 8 years The Black Hills has become one of our favorite places to visit as a family. With beautiful scenery, amazing hiking, unique museums and endless activities it’s the perfect destination for any age! This guide will give you a great overview of all of the charming towns and activities in the Hills so you can pick out the perfect destination for your trip. Scroll all the way down to check out several sample itineraries.
(Destinations listed in alphabetical order)
1. Badlands National Park area
Badlands National Park Scenic Byway – 31 mile stretch has lots of overlooks, trails, visitor center. On the east side don’t miss the Big Badlands Overlook or Door, Window and Notch Trail. On the west side make sure to stop at the Pinnacles Overlook and the Yellow Mounds Overlook.
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site – nuclear missile silo and launch control facility during the Cold War. Small visitor center and two silos to view.
Wall Drug - huge tourist trap area with shopping, restaurants and activities. Could spend an entire afternoon here.
2. Belle Fourche
Center of the Nation Monument and Visitors Center - 21 Foot granite monument, historic cabin, disc golf course, river walk. Free.
Drive from Belle Fourche to Devils Tower – 52 miles along South Dakota State Hwy. 34/Wyoming State Hwy 24. See the stunning granite monolith of Devil's Tower at the end of your drive.
3. Custer
Jewel Cave National Monument - 3rd longest cave in the world. Scenic Tour is the most popular.
Restaurants that have been recommended to me:
Burger and Bun Co and Pizza Works Restaurant
Baker’s Bakery and Cafe for breakfast burritos and cinnamon rolls
Purple Pie Place for pie and ice cream and chicken pot pie
4. Custer State Park
Custer State Park - absolutely beautiful. This could be a National Park! Don’t miss the Wildlife Loop, Needles Highway and Sylvan Lake.
Custer State Park Resort - check out this website for all the info on lodging, hiking, activities, and dining in Custer State Park.
Wildlife Loop: plan for 1-2 hours
Sylvan Lake and Legion Lake have watercraft rentals available
Buffalo Safari Jeep Tours depart from the State Game Lodge.
Hayride and Chuck Wagon Cookout (we loved this!):
Departs from Blue Blue Lodge and includes a 45 minute ride with country music, a cowboy hat and bandana, and a chuck wagon feast in a mountain meadow canyon
Buffalo Safari and Cookout Combo
Black Hills Playhouse gives several performances each season.
Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway – (70 miles, give yourself a full day)
The Needles Highway (SD 87 - drive north to south), Iron Mountain Road (US 16A - drive south to north towards Mount Rushmore), Horse Thief Lake Road (SD 244) and Sylvan Lake Road (SD 89) make up the oval shaped route.
Includes picturesque lakes, towering granite formations, six picture-perfect tunnels, tight hairpin curves, spiral “pigtail” bridges, and the wildlife ranges of Norbeck Wildlife Preserve (36 miles of hiking), Black Elk National Wilderness Area and Custer State Park.
Mount Coolidge Lookout Tower – 3 miles south of US HWY 16A along SD HWY 87.
Explore Mount Rushmore, Harney Peak, Sylvan Lake and The Needle’s Eye and Cathedral Spires Rock formations on this drive.
General Custer Expedition Campsite – served as a base for the 1874 Custer Expedition that discovered gold.
Hiking | Custer State Park Resort - there are so many great options! Here are a few favorites with the insights I’ve gleaned.
Little Devils Tower (my favorite hike!) - 3 miles round trip, about 2 hours, 600 feet gain in elevation, trailhead one mile east of Sylvan Lake on Highway 87. Take Trail #4 for around 1/2 mile until a fork in the trail. The right fork takes you to Harney Peak, while the left takes you to Little Devils Tower (wood post with LDT carved in). Around a mile into the hike, the trail goes into a rather large granite crevasse. From here, the trail is marked with painted trail markers on the granite. The end of the trail is fairly difficult climbing up rocks, but a 360 view at the top makes it worth it.
Sylvan Lake - Take the trail around the lake. Don’t miss this! It’s one of the most beautiful and iconic hikes in the Hills.
BHNF #4 Cathedral Spires on the Needles Highway – 2.3 miles, difficult (out and back trail, beautiful). Small parking lot right after you round a tight corner.
Lovers Leap near State Game Lodge - go clockwise to get the steep part over first and get to the overlooks faster, or counterclockwise to get a more gradual incline. Good for families. Climb up on the rocks. Lots of wildlife on this trail. Near the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center.
Badger Clark's Home and Trail - A quick stop with some neat history. Near the State Game Lodge
Grace Coolidge Trail - paved path that basically follows a stream and the road. Named after President Coolidge’s wife after they stayed there. Easy walking.
Harney Peak (now Black Elk Peak) 3-4 hours round trip.
Poet’s Table
Starts at the Little Devil's Towers trailhead just east of Sylvan Lake. Follow the main trail from the parking lot about 300 yards then there will be a beaten path off to the left to see the green table, set of chairs, and a cupboard full of notebooks and knick knacks.
Spring Creek Loop Trail - 3 miles, easy
5. Deadwood
Deadwood Attractions
Mickelson Trail – from Deadwood to Edgemont. 14 trailheads with parking. 10 foot wide crushed limestone path.
Saloon #10 – walk in to see a 2 headed cow, where Wild Bill was killed, and other memorabilia.
Daily Shootouts (Monday – Saturday)
Calamity Jane Show, music show and card games, medicine show, shooting of Wild Bill, shootout downtown, trial of Jack McCall.
See the cemetery where Wild Bill, Calamity Jane, Preacher Smith, Potato Creek Johnny and Seth Bullock are buried
The Adams Museum gives info on the legends and outlaws of the areas and chronicles the city’s progress and notorious businesses. Play in a virtual reality sandbox.
The Adams House is a Queen Anne-style mansion built in 1892 that has been restored and filled with original artifacts chronicling Deadwood’s transition from a raucous mining camp into a prosperous city. The home recounts the tragedies and triumphs of two of Deadwood’s founding families.
Days of 76 Museum - Pioneer, cowboy and American Indian artifacts.
The Brothel - tour an historic house of prostitution.
Built in 1919 to commemorate a friendship with Teddy Roosevelt and Deadwood’s first sheriff, beautiful views, picnic sites, and a short hiking trail.
Tatanka – outside of town, amazing views, buffalo statues
Open Memorial Day through Labor Day for tours.
Restaurant Recommendations:
Sugar Shack
Lodging
We stayed in the camping cabins at Hidden Valley Campground. It’s a beautiful setting.
6. Hill City
1880 Train - 20 mile journey on steam train between Hill City and Keystone. Special events throughout the year (Old West Shootouts etc)
Museum at The Black Hills Institute - see Stan the T-Rex
Candyland - get ice cream, coffee, candy and play a round of mini golf.
South Dakota State Railroad Museum - get a discount on your ticket if you also ride the 1880 train.
Restaurants
The Alpine Inn is a highly recommended steakhouse. Long wait times.
Hiking
Saint Elmo Peak Trail. 1.8 miles out and back. Rock summit. Good views of Little Devils Tower and Harney Peak.
Lodging
We’ve enjoyed staying in the camping cabins at HorseThief Campground outside of Hill City.
Comfort Inn and Suites with a free hot breakfast is a good central location if you don’t want to camp.
7. Hot Springs
Angostura State Recreation Area
Cascade Falls - recommended by friends. Great for swimming and picnicking. 9 miles south of Hot Springs.
Trout Haven - camping and fishing
The Mammoth Site - the world’s largest mammoth research facility built around the excavation site of over 60 mammoths and 87 other Late Ice Age animals.
Wind Cave National Park – 142.75 miles of passages, 7th longest cave in the US. The park also has a lot of wildlife and some hiking. The Natural Entrance Tour is most popular with families. We did the Garden of Eden tour because that was the only one available and we enjoyed it. Tickets are only available on a first come first serve basis with no reservations available. Tickets often sell out several hours in advance.
Evans Plunge - pool that is fed by warm mineral springs with waterslides
Lodging
Glamping on a cliff side with a hot tub at EvansCliff. Here’s the VRBO listing.
8. Keystone
Mount Rushmore - take the Presidential Trail – 0.50 mile easy loop walking trail.
Rushmore Cave - you can take a 45 minute tour.
Big Thunder Gold Mine - see the museum and tour the mine.
Horsethief Lake (a more daring option for cliff jumping) and Sheridan Lake
Hippie Hole Hike - to a waterfall and swimming hole.
Rushmore Tramway Adventures - Alpine slide, chairlift, ziplining, aerial adventure park.
Helicopter Tours of Mount Rushmore
Restaurant Recommendations
Ruby House for a 1900s style elegant dining room with great steaks and prime rib.
9. Lead
Homestake Gold Mine - the largest and deepest gold mine in America. The hour-long tour does not actually go into the mine. It’s mostly a trolley tour through town and a look at the above ground features of the mine. The boys still enjoyed it.
Restaurants Recommendations
Cheyenne Crossing store café is often recommended for their cinnamon rolls and Indian Tacos.
10. Rapid City
Reptile Gardens - reptiles and botanical gardens. Interact with the giant tortoises and see. Everyone loved it.
Bear Country USA - Takes about 1.5 hours to go on the driving tour and see the exhibits. Go in the morning before it gets too hot, and to see when they are being fed.
Old McDonalds Farm - over 100 animals to interact with. Pony and train rides.
Caputa Alpacas - free to visit the family run alpaca farm.
Storybook Island - interactive park with all of the fairy tales. Free.
South Dakota School of Mines Museum - free admission, see a lot of geology exhibits and dinosaurs.
South Dakota Air and Space Museum - located outside of the main gate at Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Journey Museum - Exhibits on the past of South Dakota (Indians, dinosaurs, settlers etc)
Cosmos Mystery Area - 40 minute cabin tour where everything is topsy turvy and nothing follows the laws of nature. If you get dizzy easily, don’t go. I couldn’t stay in the room. The kids loved it.
Rushmore Candy Co.
Black Hills Caverns - tour the cave
Parks
Founders Park. Has the bike trailhead that goes along the river.
Canyon Lake Park for a picnic
Outdoor Campus - free to visit. It has 1.5 miles of hiking trails, picnic tables, a nature play area and a pond. Inside the building (open 9-5) there is a 4600 gallon aquarium and wildlife exhibits.
Dinosaur Park - free admission. Walk through, and climb on huge dinosaur statues and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city.
Hiking Near Rapid
Stratobowl Hike - The trail ends up at some cliffs overlooking the Stratobowl where they launch hot air balloons. The overlook is gorgeous, and you can see for miles.
Petrified Forest - between Rapid and Sturgis
Restaurants:
Firehouse Brewing Co. (unique atmosphere, on Main Street)
Que Pasa Cantina (outdoor seating, on Main Street)
Colonial House Restaurant
MacKenzie River Pizza (Mike and Marnie recommended, Montana based)
Murphy’s Pub & Grill for historic atmosphere and unique dishes
Fort Hays Chuckwagon Dinner (we went and loved it)
They also have a 99 cent all-you can eat pancake breakfast every day, May through October.
Also see the Dances with Wolves film set located at the fort and look at all of the old workshops.
Sickies Garage for burgers
The Gyro Hub
Storming Crab for Cajun seafood (family style)
Old Chicago for Italian
Kol for pizza
Everest Cuisine for Indian food
Delmonico Grill for Steak
Botticelli Ristorante Italiano
Jerrys Cakes and Donuts, open 5 am- noon, gets great reviews
11. Silver City
Dalton Lake - smaller, and about 20 minutes from the Silver City area. Good fishing.
Jenney Gulch area is the local favorite spot for swimming and cliff jumping in the summer. There are 3 “levels” for jumping, so even younger kids will enjoy it. Continue the trail to the left and over the hill for a “beachy” area for good swimming.
12. Spearfish
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway – Beautiful 19 mile gorge between Spearfish and Lead with 3 waterfalls. Spearfish Creek lines the canyon floor while canyon waterfalls make for popular roadside attractions. Bridal Veil Falls and Roughlock Falls are must-sees along the route. Stop at the Spearfish Canyon Lodge.
Eat at the Latchstring Restaurant at the Spearfish Canyon
Hiking
Spearfish Community Caves - ½ mile steep hike to a unique cave system.
Devil's Bathtub - natural waterslides with the right water levels. Some creek crossings, but easy hiking (50 minute round trip). Reviewers recommend water shoes.
Spearfish Falls - The trail starts in front of the restaurant. 1.5 miles round trip to get to the bottom of the falls. Can’t see the falls that well from the upper viewing deck.
Bridal Veil Falls (can stop and see it from the road. Can hike down to it if desired).
Crow Peak Trailhead (7 miles roundtrip. Strenuous up, easy down. Beautiful views)
Roughlock Falls (2 miles roundtrip)
Lookout Mountain - good for mountain biking or hiking
DC Booth Historic National Fishery - free, can spend 1-2 hours there. Museum, historic home, fish ponds and underwater viewing. We really enjoyed our visit.
13. Sturgis
Bear Butte State Park – from the summit you can see 4 states. 6 miles northeast of Sturgis.
Boulder Canyon – the high-walled valley road (US Hwy 14A) between legendary Sturgis and historic Deadwood provides a short, yet sweet, 12-mile drive
Check out this Black Hills website for lots of great info on the Badlands and Black Hills.
Check out this amazing website with the hikes listed for each area with a brief description.
Black Hills Campgrounds - this website gives you the camping options in each area of the Black Hills. Super helpful!
Custer State Park Campgrounds - check out this website for a list of all of the campgrounds in Custer State Park. Then use this website or call 1-800-710-2267 to complete your reservation.
You can visit the Black Hills many times before you would see all of the highlights!
Sample Itinerary #1:
Day 1:
Arrive in the Badlands for a picnic lunch, see the visitor’s center, take a short hike, and enjoy the scenic drive.
See Wall Drug
Arrive at Sylvan Lake Campground by 6 pm
Set up camp, make dinner etc.
Day 2:
Crazy Horse - morning
Sylvan Lake hike and a picnic lunch
Needles Highway (drive North to South) & Wildlife Loop - afternoon and early evening
Day 3:
Drive Iron Mountain Road to see Mount Rushmore
Dinosaur Park in Rapid City
South Dakota School of Mines Museum
Stay at Hidden Valley Campground
Day 4:
Visit Deadwood
Eat at Cheyenne Crossing Cafe
Drive the Spearfish Canyon and see the waterfalls
Stop at the fish hatchery in Spearfish
Sample Itinerary #2:
Day 1:
Arrive in Rapid City in the afternoon. Check into a hotel.
Drive up to Dinosaur Park and take in the view.
Dinner at Firehouse Brewing Company and walk around downtown to see the President Statues.
Pool in the evening.
Day 2:
Drive to see the Badlands, Wall Drug and the MinuteMan Missile Site
Dinner - Fort Hays Chuckwagon Show (give yourself time to explore the Fort and the Dances with Wolves Set before dinner)
Day 3:
Pack up the hotel room
See Reptile Gardens
Drive to lunch in Keystone at Ruby House
See Mt. Rushmore in the afternoon
Check into a Hill City area hotel or campground. (We’ve enjoyed the camping cabins at Horsethief Campground).
Evening drive through the Wildlife Loop (takes about an hour to drive it). Make sure you know when the sun will set! Enjoy a picnic dinner on your drive.
Day 4:
Drive to Sylvan Lake and hike around the lake.
Enjoy a picnic lunch after you explore.
Drive north to south down the Needles Highway (takes about an hour)
Choose a hike to take during the drive.
Dinner at camp or at The Alpine Inn in Hill City
Day 5:
Drive to Deadwood and see the shootouts and stop in Saloon #10 to see the 2 headed cow.
Enjoy lunch at the Spearfish Canyon Lodge Latchstring Restaurant
Drive through Spearfish Canyon and enjoy a hike. Depending on the weather check out Devil’s Bathtub or Roughlock Falls.
Visit the DC Booth Fish Hatchery
Drive home in the late afternoon.
Sample Itinerary #3:
Day 1:
Arrive in Rapid City in the afternoon to check into your hotel.
Explore the Outdoor Campus.
Enjoy a picnic dinner or head downtown Rapid City to the Firehouse Brewing Company for dinner and to see the President’s Statues. Drive up to Dinosaur Park if time allows.
Day 2:
Breakfast at Fort Hays for 99 cent all you can eat pancakes.
Drive to Wind Cave to take a tour.
Drive to Hot Springs for a picnic lunch and to see the Mammoth Site
Enjoy Evan’s Plunge in the afternoon before driving back to Rapid City.
Dinner at Que Pasa Cantina or MacKenzie River Grill.
Check out Scheels or hang out in the hotel pool in the evening.
Day 3:
Pack up the hotel room
Check out Reptile Gardens or Bear Country in the morning
Drive the Wildlife Loop in Custer.
Head to Blue Bell Lodge for the Hayride and Chuck Wagon Cookout.
Check into your cabin or campsite in Custer State Park or in nearby Hill City.
Day 4:
Hiking and Exploring in Custer State Park
Drive the Needles Highway (takes about an hour) and see Sylvan Lake. Take a hike around the lake.
Enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the lake.
Take a hike! Enjoy the Little Devil’s Tower hike, Lost Trail Loop around Center Lake, or Poet’s Table.
Late afternoon/evening: explore Hill City and enjoy dinner.
Day 5:
Take the 1880 Train and check out the Railroad Museum
Stop at Candyland to stock up on sweets
Check out Cosmos for a 40 minute tour if time allows
Head home
