15 Best Things to Do in the Black Hills

It’s the icon of the region and truly breathtaking in person. Seeing the 60-foot faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln carved into the granite is a bucket-list moment. Walk the Presidential Trail to get up close to the base of the sculpture (beware of the 422 stairs!) and visit the Sculptor's Studio to see the original scale model.

For many visitors, Custer State Park ends up being their favorite part of the trip. It spans 71,000 acres of granite peaks and rolling plains. Drive the Wildlife Loop Road to see the famous "begging burros," pronghorn, elk, and one of the nation’s largest free-roaming bison herds.

Don't miss Sylvan Lake, often called the crown jewel of the park, perfect for a picnic or a swim.

Step back into 1876. Deadwood is a National Historic Landmark that feels like a movie set. Walk the cobblestone Main Street where Wild Bill Hickok was shot, visit Mount Moriah Cemetery to see the graves of Calamity Jane and Seth Bullock, and try your luck at the modern casinos that fill the historic buildings.

Just an hour east of the Black Hills, the world transforms into an alien landscape of colorful spires and eroded buttes. Badlands National Park is hauntingly beautiful. Drive the Loop Road and stop at overlooks like Pinnacles and Yellow Mounds.

It’s the world’s largest mountain carving in progress. While Mount Rushmore celebrates US Presidents, Crazy Horse honors Native American culture. The campus includes an expansive museum of Native American artifacts and culture that is arguably as impressive as the carving itself.

Read our full Crazy Horse Memorial guide →

One of the longest and most complex caves in the world. Wind Cave is famous for its rare "boxwork" formations, honeycomb-like structures that cover the ceilings. According to the National Park Service, "perhaps in no other cave in the world is boxwork so well-formed and abundant as in Wind Cave." Above ground, the park offers 30,000 acres of prairie and forest teeming with bison and elk.

If you love caves, do both. If you only have time for one, choose based on what you want to see: Wind Cave for boxwork, Jewel Cave for sparkling calcite crystals and vast, open chambers. It is currently the third-longest cave in the world and offers adventurous tours for spelunking enthusiasts.

Technically in Wyoming, but an essential day trip from the Northern Black Hills. This geological wonder rises 867 feet out of the prairie like a stone stump. It’s sacred to Northern Plains Indian tribes and famous from the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The paved 1.3-mile Tower Trail at the base is a must-do walk.

Board a vintage steam locomotive for a scenic ride between Hill City and Keystone. It’s the oldest continuously operating tour railroad in the nation. It’s relaxing, historic, and offers views of the Black Hills forest you can’t get from the highway.

A nature lover's paradise. Drive the 19-mile scenic byway (Hwy 14A) through towering 1,000-foot limestone cliffs. Stop at Bridal Veil Falls, Roughlock Falls, and Spearfish Falls, all easily accessible from the road.

Read our full Spearfish Canyon guide →

This 109-mile rail-trail spans the entire length of the Black Hills. You don't have to ride the whole thing, rent a bike in Hill City or Rochford and ride a section. The trail is crushed limestone and relatively flat (max 4% grade), making it perfect for families. You'll ride over converted railroad trestles and through rock tunnels.

A fascinating look at Cold War history. See the Delta-09 missile silo (it still has a missile inside!) and tour the Delta-01 Launch Control Facility. It’s a sobering and educational stop right near the Badlands.

If you can time your trip for late September, this is a world-class event. Cowboys and cowgirls round up 1,300 bison in Custer State Park to check their health and brand calves. Feeling the ground shake as a stampede of bison runs past you is an unforgettable thrill.

You'll spot the massive wooden carvings from the road in Keystone. The Dahl brothers transform giant logs into intricate sculptures of bears, eagles, and more. It's a quick, fun stop, and you might catch them in action, carving with impressive skill and speed.

For families with kids, these two are staples. Reptile Gardens holds the Guinness World Record for the largest reptile collection, don't miss the alligator show. Bear Country USA is a drive-through wildlife park where you are likely to see more black bears in 20 minutes than you would in a lifetime of hiking.