Whether you're a visitor or a long-time resident, there are hundreds of places to see in the Black Hills. Review our A to Z list of things to see and places to visit during your time in western South °®¶¹app.
Artistic
Tucked between a rocky hillside and a meandering creek, Hill City is the unofficial arts capital of the Black Hills. With five art galleries amid its diminutive downtown, the small town also boasts the Black Hills Bronze Foundry and a historic railroad car and rail yard. One can really get in touch with their artistic side even while on a walk among sculptures made from farm machine parts and metal scraps.Ā
Balloon
While the Stratobowl only sees balloons once a year now, in the 1930s the first manned balloon flights were launched from here, marking the beginning of the space program. Now the area, located about a mile's walk off Highway 16, is home to easy hikes, beautiful views and abundant plant life. From the lip of the Stratobowl, hikers can view the glen where balloons were launched, which now holds a handful of homes and a giant peace sign.
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ColossalĢż“Ś“Ē²õ²õ¾±±ō²õĢż
Dinosaurs used to travel throughout the Black Hills and remnants of the existence of these cold-blooded creatures are apparent throughout the area, be it in a visit to see the Apatosaurus and his friends watching over Rapid City from their perch at Dinosaur Park, the fossils on display at the South °®¶¹app School of Mines & Technology's Museum of Geology or the watching paleontologists at work at the Journey Museum Learning Center.
Drive
Some of our favorites day drives include the Badlands Loop Road, offering an up-close view of the unique rocky and clay landscape that comprise the Badlands, the Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park which offers views of the Needles and various wildlife, including up-close views of buffalo, or Highway 385, which begins in Deadwood and offers pine trees galore, perhaps a stop to ride the Eli Wheel ā similar to a Ferris Wheel - at Boondocks, drop a line in at Trout Haven and, if you're lucky, a big horn sheep sighting.
Excursion
As beautiful as the Black Hills are, sometimes you need to trade the pine tree scenery for the red dirts of eastern Wyoming. About 110 miles from Rapid City is Devils Tower, where you can set your eyes on Americaās first national monument and explore a site held as sacred by many Plains Tribes. After spending the day at Devils Tower, travel 52 miles east to Beulah, Wyo., and escape the heat with a leisurely float down Sand Creek.
Fire away
By any measure, South °®¶¹app is a top gun state. From big-game hunting to stalking pheasants to shooting just for practice and pleasure, we donāt flinch at firearms. Anyone legal to shoot can fire away at will in the Black Hills National Forest, or visit one of many outdoor gun ranges. Firearm aficionados should also check out the Smoking Gun Range & Training Center in Rapid City, with its high-tech situation simulator, and drop in on H&B Firearms to visit with the āArmed Old Ladyā who runs the place.
Gold
The history of the Black Hills was forged in gold. The Gold Rush of 1876 is memorialized in many ways around the region, from the Days of ā76 Museum in Deadwood, to numerous Black Hills gold jewelry shops and factories, to hardware stores and specialty shops that sell gold-panning equipment. Some still try to top the Potato Creek Johnny Nugget, a 7.346 troy ounce giant nugget found in 1929.
Historic
Wind back through time with a trip to Spearfish where over 20,000 rainbow trout are stocked out of the 10-acre D.C. Booth National Fish Hatchery each year. The hatchery was established in 1896, making it one of the oldest operating hatcheries in the country. For another trip back in time, visit Deadwoodās Adams Museum & House, built in 1892, heralded as āthe grandest house west of the Mississippi.ā
In the shadow
Keystone is an easy place to skip over as folks eagerly hustle to Mount Rushmore, but this sleepy, historic town provides experiences not to miss. Whether it's old-fashioned pulled taffy, an old-time photo or a bit of history that calls you, this town offers a taste of what the Hills used to be. Not into the historic Old West? Visitors can view Mount Rushmore from the chairlift of the Alpine Slide, toss back a drink at the Red Garter Saloon or just meander down the boardwalk buying gifts for friends back home.
Jackalope
Wall Drug: it's the only place in the state youāll find a jackalope that you can climb on for a photo.Ā You've seen the signs that count down the hundreds of miles left to go until you can sink your teeth into one of those famous donuts or have a glass of that legendary ice water. Ā And donāt forget to look around while youāre filling up on a 5 cent coffee; there is more than $3 million in fine art hanging on the walls of the 82-year-old attraction.
Kayak
Motors are optional for water-lovers who want to paddle or splash their way through the Black Hills. Still ponds are everywhere for novices, as are calm and scenic reservoirs and lakes like Belle Fourche, Pactola and Sheridan. When streams are high, experienced kayakers can launch in Rapid Creek or other waterways like the Belle Fourche, Cheyenne or Little White rivers for a more spirited trek.
Lakota
The Lakota Sioux are the areaās dominant native tribe, and their historical and modern influences are nearly omnipresent in the Black Hills. Retailers like Prairie Edge and Sioux Pottery in Rapid City are a good starting point to learn more, but deeper tales are told at The Journey Museum Learning Center, Crazy Horse Memorial, and at Bear Butte State Park near Sturgis. Donāt miss a chance to see a moving pow-wow or a sun dance ceremony if possible.
Mustang
There is a land of the wild where humans are mere visitors on a range sculpted by thousands of the winding Cheyenne River. Hundreds of American, Spanish and Curly mustangs join Choctaw ponies to run free at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary near Hot Springs. The site is not only a place of healing for the horses, but for staff and visitors.
Noms
If youāve got a hankering for some good grub, or what we like to call noms, bring a big appetite with you to Sugar Shack on U.S. Hwy 385 and belly up to one of the best burger joints. If youāre looking for some fancier fare, dip down to Sage Creek Grille in Custer where youāll find a kitchen experimenting with wonderfully harmonious flavors like spinach and mushroom pork roulade or bison chili frybread.
Open spaces
The Black Hills is among the most varied landscapes in the country. Hills a mile high, Badlands formations that used to be an ocean floor. But donāt forget the wide-open prairies that surround Rapid City. The air is as fresh as the purple wildflowers that form an unforgettable carpet on the land. Mule deer and birds of many species dwell in the creek draws that cut through the Plains. Many roads throughout the prairie, especially those north of Rapid City, turn to gravel. But donāt worry, cars are as scarce as buildings way out there.
Past
While not always the most lively of places, Mount Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood offers a look at the graves of the famous - and not so famous - early residents of Deadwood. Historic figures like Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok and Potato Creek Johnny ā known for finding the largest gold nugget in the Hills ā are all buried here. Take up some charcoal and paper and make grave rubbings or just stroll through the tree-filled cemetery that overlooks historic Deadwood.
Quench your thirst
Beer and wine lovers flock to the Black Hills when they find out how many local brews and blends are being born in the Black Hills. Crow Peak Brewing Company in Spearfish brews the Canyon Cream Ale as a sudsy and delicious nod to Spearfish Canyon. Prairie Berry Wineryās newest addition to the 21-and-over crowd-pleasing venues is Miner Brewing Co., located next door to their Hill City winery ā another great spot for a palate-pleasing beverage.
Rainbows
Weāre talking trout, here folks. There are hundreds of miles of shoreline for you to toss a line in the water. Rapid Creek has some of the best brook and brown trout fishing in the Black Hills. And you donāt need boat in tow to enjoy the deep-water fishing at Sheridan Lake or Pactola Reservoir. Grab some gear and your fishing license for a day of hunting those lunkers and maybe catch yourself some dinner.
Spiritual
Visitors to the Black Hills can often have a spiritual experience. Whether itās visiting the renowned Stavkirke Chapel in the Hills in Rapid City, mellowing out among the spires in the Badlands, or just finding a grassy spot to meditate among the towering pines in the national forest, many connections can be made between man, mind and Mother Earth. Visits to any of the dozens of historic sites and markers throughout the region, including the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, can also conjure up a spiritual connection to those who have gone before.
Treasure hunt
Fairburn agates are one of the most sought-after geological finds. Fairburn agates are a sort of local Holy Grail, something found maybe only once in a lifetime. But these rare gemstones can be worth hundreds of dollars and are definitely worth the hunt. And whatās the downside to spending the day outside even if you donāt find one? Travel south from Rapid City on S.D. Highway 79 to Fairburn or explore the banks of Cheyenne River near S.D. Highway 40.Ā
Underground
Not everything you need to see in the area is on the surface, numerous caves in the area provide relief from warm temps as well as educational opportunities. Home to sparkling crystal formation caves, from Jewell Cave to Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns, Black Hills Caverns and more, offer a unique experience to view amazing underground rock formations.
Views
While the view atop Harney Peak, the highest spot in the Black Hills at 7,244 feet, may take top spot, numerous views will captivate visitors to the region. Wonderful views of Mount Rushmore National Monument are available from the trails below the monument but also along the winding Iron Mountain Road. Drivers who tool down Spearfish Canyon Scenic Highway, the lovely Nemo Road, and even Highway 44 west from Rapid City will also capture views that will linger for a long time.
Wacky
The wacky world of science comes alive at the Cosmos Mystery Area outside Rapid City, where water flows uphill, people lean almost horizontally while still standing up, and other odd and intriguing demonstrations can be found. Other wacky moments in the Hills include seeing a mule or buffalo walk up to your car window at Custer State Park, or seeing old missile silos at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.Ā
X marks the spot
Surprise, surprise: The geographical center of the nation is located at Belle Fourche. And boy has this town embraced that designation. A 12-foot-wide granite monument designates the spot with a federally-issued marker. Next to it, is the Center of the Nation Visitor Center and the Tri-State Museum which offer a look back at South °®¶¹app and the regionās pioneers and cowboys, as well as a look into the sheep industry which remains key in the area's economy.
Yeehaw!
Generations of cowboys have worked the land and livestock in and around the Black Hills, making it the edge of the American West. The High Plains Western Heritage Center in Spearfish offers a great selection of literature and artwork honoring this rugged and iconic figure. If you want a more action-packed look into the lives of our modern cowboys, make sure to catch one of the dozens of rodeos happening around the Hills all summer long.
Zzz
Vacations (or day trips) can really wear one out. When looking for a place to get away from it all, a small tree-lined spot just off the main trail at Roughlock Falls is the perfect place to lay out a blanket, enjoy a picnic, then curl up to the sounds from the waterfall and take a quick nap.
Locals love it
°®¶¹app Point
Located a short hike off Sheridan Lake Road, this popular cliff-jumping spot provides a lovely spot to relax and soak up the sun. The views of the lake from this vantage are spectacular and the trees lining the area let just the perfect amount of sun dapple your face.
Iron Creek Lake
Not as well known as make area lakes, Iron Creek Lake was created as a WPA project in the 1930s. Located just off Spearfish Canyon, the lake offers fishing and swimming and has both tent and cabin camping.
Outdoor Campus-West
Itās free, itās fun and you get to see giant fish up close. The Outdoor Campus-West in Rapid City, a hub and playground of sorts for outdoors folks, is a mix of government agency and tourist attraction. The office houses local officials with the Game, Fish & Parks Department, but also has a giant fish tank, a taxidermy display of state animals, and a trail system. Instructional programs and brochures are there for the taking. The campus is a unique place that provides a break from any touristy kitsch you may find elsewhere in the Hills.
Hippie HoleĀ
This magical spot is hidden and worth the hunt. Hippie Hole, aka Big Falls, is a short hike off S.D. Highway 40, between Keystone and Hermosa. This is a tough hike and not for the faint of heart, as you'll be navigating downed trees and crossing the creek to get to where you want to be. In addition to the beautiful pool of water waiting to cool you off, you're likely to see a lot of wildlife in the area, including birds of prey. Make sure not to ruin this beautiful spot for the next hikers or swimmers - pack out whatever you pack in.Ā
Weekly street festivals
Summer fun doesn't have to cost much, and in some cases it's entirely free. Make sure to hit downtown Rapid City and Main Street Square every Thursday for Summer Nights and the Summer Concert Series. On Monday nights, check out Movies Under the Stars in Main Street Square to catch a flick the whole family will enjoy. If you're in the Northern Hills, head to Belle Fourche's Hometown Thursdays for some great live music. And if Thursday's aren't enough, top off the week with another free festival in Spearfish at Downtown Friday Nights.Ā And new this June through August, check out the farmer's market every Saturday in Sturgis at the Second Street Plaza.
Storybook IslandĀ
Storybook Island has been a favorite of many of the areaās children since it was established in 1959. The park, funded by Rapid Cityās Rotary clubs, is free all summer. The colorful park houses life-sized storybook characters ā everyone from the three little pigs and the Little Mermaid to Jack and Jill (who fell down the hill) and the folks who traveled to Oz. The park also features a theater and an area for the smaller tots. For a small fee, visitors can watch a magic show or take a ride through the park in a train.Ā
