South Dakota is quite an amazing state. I was surprised by how much I fell in love with the area. It was not what I expected. I now believe it’s one of the United States’ hidden gems. If you know it, you love it. If you don’t know it, you need to discover it.

In Western South Dakota, the landscape starts giving away to what will become the Rocky Mountains. The abundant pine forest and rocky hills make up the Black Hills of South Dakota. Much of the area is encompassed by the Black Hills National Forest.

South Dakota

Visit Custer State Park

Your first stop in visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota is visiting Custer State Park. Located in the town of Custer, it’s South Dakota’s largest state park.

Custer State Park is perhaps one of the best places for wildlife viewing. Here we saw bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, mule deer, mountain goats, whitetail deer, and elk. Their claim to fame, however, is the bison herd.

Nearly 1500 buffalo roam the park. While there, we saw the bison every day. If you drive the 28-mile wildlife loop road, you’ll likely come across the herds in the prairie section of the park. But don’t be surprised to find them grazing near the campground or lodges as well. To learn more about the herd and safety precautions, your first stop should be at the Custer State Park Visitor Center. Additionally, ask the park rangers for the most recent sightings.

You can choose to camp at Custer State Park, stay in one of the lodges, or purchase a day pass to drive or hike.

If you visit in late September, you could watch the buffalo roundup where they gather the bison herd for a health and wellness checkup.

Hiking Trails

Custer State Park and the surrounding Black Hills offer incredible hiking trails.

Our favorite was the Cathedral Spires Trail where the rock formations appear as tall spokes of a cathedral. We did this trail in about 90 minutes and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. The trail is made up of towering granite peaks, with some rocky terrain. I wouldn’t call it a strenuous hike, but come prepared with the proper hiking footwear. This trail connects to longer hiking trails, such as the black elk peak trail, so you could hike longer if desired. Be sure to arrive early as parking is extremely limited.

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Scenic Drives

If you’re not into hiking, or even if you are, don’t miss out on the incredible scenic routes.

Iron Mountain Road and Needles Highway both wind in and out of Custer State Park. You’ll not only experience scenic views, but you’ll also wind through narrow tunnels, drive by mountain lakes. If it’s your first time on these roads, come prepared. It feels close to the edge so take your time.

Wildlife Loop Road, as mentioned above, is a great place to find abundant wildlife.

If you don’t want to drive, consider a buffalo safari jeep tour inside of the park. Everyone gets a chance to see the wildlife while someone else drives and it’s a fantastic way to learn and ask questions about the animals.

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Mount Rushmore National Monument

The famous Mt Rushmore is also in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Here you’ll see the larger-than-life heads of Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington.

It is free to visit, and I highly recommend doing the loop trail that brings you closer to the monument. Stop along the way and read the various facts about each president and why they were chosen to adorn the mountainside.

Crazy Horse Memorial

Crazy Horse Memorial is nearby Mount Rushmore. This is a work-in-progress memorial that includes an extensive Native American museum as well as a tribute to Crazy Horse. Currently, you can view the head and outstretched arm, but a mock-up of the finished piece is on site.

These are just a few of the exciting and fun things we did in the Black Hills of South Dakota. If you want a different, yet enjoyable US vacation, check out South Dakota.

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About the Author

Tonya Denmark is a well-established travel writer based in Central Florida. Tonya focuses on hidden gems, National Parks, history, and good food while traveling.