Black Hills South Dakota Things to Do: Complete Guide 2026

The Black Hills region of South Dakota is one of America's most spectacular destinations, offering a remarkable blend of natural wonders, rich history, and endless outdoor recreation. Spanning nearly 6,000 square miles across western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming, this mountain range rises dramatically from the surrounding Great Plains, creating a landscape unlike anywhere else in the world.

Understanding the Layout of the Black Hills

The Black Hills cover a massive area, and understanding the geography will help you plan your trip efficiently. The region is roughly divided into three areas: Southern Black Hills (Custer, Hot Springs), Central Black Hills (Rapid City, Hill City, Keystone), and Northern Black Hills (Deadwood, Spearfish, Sturgis).

Top Attractions in Black Hills, South Dakota

The Black Hills are home to some of America's most iconic landmarks and natural wonders. These top attractions should be at the top of your Black Hills South Dakota things to do list.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

No visit to the Black Hills is complete without experiencing Mount Rushmore, the iconic sculpture featuring the 60-foot faces of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln carved into the granite mountainside. This American masterpiece, completed between 1927 and 1941 by sculptor Gutzon Borglum and his team, stands as a testament to American history and artistic achievement.

The memorial offers much more than just viewing the carved faces. The Avenue of Flags, featuring flags from all 50 states, creates a stunning approach to the monument. The Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center provides fascinating exhibits about the monument's creation, including original tools and models. The Presidential Trail is a half-mile boardwalk loop that brings you closer to the sculpture and offers breathtaking viewing angles from multiple perspectives.

Custer State Park

Covering 71,000 acres of pristine wilderness, Custer State Park is one of the largest state parks in America and arguably the crown jewel of the Black Hills. This spectacular park offers an incredible diversity of experiences, from wildlife viewing to scenic drives, hiking trails to historic lodges, making it one of the best things to do in Black Hills for nature lovers.

The park is home to one of the world's largest publicly owned bison herds, with approximately 1,300 animals roaming free across the grasslands. The 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road is the best place to observe these magnificent creatures, along with pronghorn antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and the famous begging burros.

Buffalo Safari Jeep Tours

For an unforgettable experience, book a Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour. Open-air jeeps take you off-road into areas where bison herds graze, giving you opportunities to get within feet of these massive animals. Knowledgeable guides share history about the bison and the park. Book at least a day in advance during peak season as tours fill up quickly.

Blue Bell Chuck Wagon Cookout

Experience authentic Western dining at the Blue Bell Chuck Wagon Cookout. A hayride takes you into the woods where cowboys serve a hearty meal of beef, beans, biscuits, and more cooked over an open fire. Live cowboy music and entertainment make this a memorable family experience. Reservations required and often book up weeks in advance.

Sylvan Lake

Often called the "crown jewel" of Custer State Park, Sylvan Lake is a stunning mountain lake surrounded by granite formations. Rent kayaks or paddleboats from the lodge, swim at the small beach area, or hike the easy 1-mile loop around the lake. Rock climbers flock to the surrounding granite spires, and the Sunday Gulch Trail offers a challenging but rewarding 3-mile loop through the boulder formations.

Deadwood

Step back in time to the Wild West in Deadwood, a National Historic Landmark that preserves the authentic atmosphere of an 1876 gold rush town. This legendary city was home to famous Wild West figures including Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Seth Bullock.

Main Street Shootout Reenactments

Watch actors recreate Wild West gunfights and the murder of Wild Bill Hickok right on Main Street. These free performances happen multiple times daily during summer months. Kids love them, and the actors stay in character for photos afterward.

Adams House

Tour this beautifully preserved Queen Anne Victorian mansion, home to two of Deadwood's founding families. The house remained sealed for 50 years, preserving original furnishings, photographs, and even clothing from the early 1900s. Guided tours reveal fascinating stories about Deadwood's wealthy elite.

Mount Moriah Cemetery

Pay respects at the graves of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Seth Bullock while enjoying panoramic views of Deadwood and the surrounding Black Hills. Self-guided tour maps are available at the entrance, or take a guided walking tour for the full history.

Broken Boot Gold Mine

Descend into an authentic 1870s gold mine and learn about the mining techniques that built Deadwood. After the underground tour, try your hand at gold panning. You keep whatever gold you find!

Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave National Park protects one of the world's longest and most complex cave systems, with over 154 miles of mapped passages making it the seventh-longest cave in the world. The cave contains 95% of the world's discovered boxwork formations, rare calcite structures that create honeycomb-like patterns on cave walls and ceilings.

The only way to experience the cave is through ranger-guided tours. The Natural Entrance Tour (1.25 hours, 300 stairs) and Garden of Eden Tour (1 hour, elevator access) are the most popular. The Candlelight Tour offers a unique experience touring by candlelight, while the Wild Cave Tour (4 hours) involves crawling through undeveloped passages.

Above ground, the park protects 33,970 acres of mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa pine forest with a 400-member bison herd. The Rankin Ridge Trail offers panoramic views, and the park has 30 miles of hiking trails through diverse ecosystems.

Crazy Horse Memorial

Just 17 miles from Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial is an ongoing mountain carving project honoring Lakota warrior Crazy Horse and all Native American tribes. When completed, this massive sculpture will stand 563 feet high and 641 feet long, making it the world's largest mountain carving.

The visitor complex includes the Indian Museum of North America, featuring one of the finest collections of Native American artifacts in the United States, and the Native American Cultural Center with traditional arts, crafts, and cultural demonstrations. For an extra fee, take a bus to the base of the mountain to see the carving up close.

Badlands National Park

Located about 50 miles east of the Black Hills, Badlands National Park offers a dramatic contrast to the forested mountains with its otherworldly landscape of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires. This 244,000-acre park protects one of the world's richest fossil beds and features some of the most striking geological formations in North America.

The 31-mile Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) provides spectacular views with numerous pullouts and overlooks. Popular viewpoints include Pinnacles Overlook, Big Badlands Overlook, and Yellow Mounds Overlook. The formations change color throughout the day, with sunrise and sunset offering the most dramatic lighting.

Mammoth Site

The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs is the world's largest mammoth research facility and fossil dig site. The sinkhole was discovered in 1974 during construction and has since yielded the remains of 61 mammoths and numerous other Pleistocene animals. The climate-controlled building covers the active dig where you can see actual bones still embedded in the soil.

Guided tours explain how the mammoths became trapped in the sinkhole 26,000 years ago. Kids can participate in the Junior Paleontologist Dig, where they excavate replica fossils from a simulated dig site.

1880 Train

Ride a vintage steam locomotive through the scenic Black Hills between Hill City and Keystone. The 1880 Train operates authentic 19th-century steam engines on tracks originally laid in the 1880s for gold mining. The 20-mile round trip takes you through pine forests and meadows with commentary about the area's history. Board at either Hill City or Keystone.

Reptile Gardens

Reptile Gardens holds the Guinness World Record for the largest reptile collection. See alligators, giant tortoises, snakes from around the world, and more. Live shows include alligator feeding, snake handling, and bird presentations. The gardens also feature beautiful botanical displays and a prairie dog colony. Located on Highway 16 between Rapid City and Mount Rushmore.

Bear Country USA

Drive through this 250-acre wildlife park where bears, wolves, elk, bison, and other animals roam freely around your vehicle. Unlike traditional zoos, the animals are in large natural habitats. At the end, Babyland features bear cubs, wolf pups, and other young animals you can see up close. Located on Highway 16 south of Rapid City.

Wall Drug

Wall Drug started as a small pharmacy in 1931 and grew into one of America's most famous roadside attractions. Today it covers 76,000 square feet with shops, restaurants, a chapel, and quirky attractions including a giant jackalope, animatronic T-Rex, and a shooting gallery. The famous free ice water and 5-cent coffee tradition continues. Located in Wall, right off I-90 at the edge of the Badlands.

City of Presidents Walking Tour

Downtown Rapid City features life-size bronze statues of every U.S. president on street corners throughout the downtown area. Pick up a free map at the visitor center and walk through downtown, finding each president and learning about their contributions. Kids love the scavenger hunt aspect, and it's a great way to stretch your legs and explore downtown shops and restaurants.

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

Learn about the Cold War at this unique park preserving a Minuteman II missile silo and launch control facility. For 30 years, 150 nuclear missiles were scattered across the plains, ready to launch at a moment's notice. The visitor center has excellent exhibits, and the ranger-guided tour of the Delta-01 launch control facility takes you underground to where Air Force personnel lived and worked.

Best Scenic Drives in Black Hills

The Black Hills offer some of America's most spectacular scenic drives, winding through granite spires, dense forests, and open meadows with stunning mountain vistas at every turn.

Needles Highway

The Needles Highway (Highway 87) is a 14-mile engineering marvel that winds through Custer State Park's most dramatic scenery. Named for the needle-like granite formations that tower above the road, this spectacular drive features sharp hairpin turns and narrow tunnels barely wide enough for vehicles.

The highway passes through three tunnels carved through solid granite, each framing spectacular views of the surrounding spires. The route connects to Sylvan Lake, offering opportunities for swimming, paddle boarding, and rock climbing.

Iron Mountain Road

Iron Mountain Road (Highway 16A) is famous for its unique pigtail bridges, spiraling wooden bridges that allow the road to gain elevation through loops rather than steep grades. This 17-mile route connects Mount Rushmore with Custer State Park.

The road features three tunnels specifically designed and positioned to frame Mount Rushmore as you approach. Each tunnel offers a different perspective of the monument, with the presidential faces appearing larger as you get closer.

Spearfish Canyon

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (Highway 14A) is a 19-mile drive through one of the Black Hills' most beautiful canyons. Towering limestone cliffs rise 1,000 feet above Spearfish Creek, and the canyon is home to several stunning waterfalls including Bridal Veil Falls and Roughlock Falls.

Stop at Roughlock Falls for an easy 0.5-mile walk to a picturesque waterfall (it was featured in the movie "Dances with Wolves"). For a more adventurous stop, hike to Devil's Bathtub, a natural swimming hole formed by waterfalls cascading into a granite bowl.

Wildlife Loop Road

The 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park is one of the best places in America to observe wildlife in their natural habitat. Drive slowly and watch for bison, pronghorn antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, wild burros, prairie dogs, and numerous bird species.

Early morning and evening provide the best viewing opportunities when animals are most active. During the fall rut (September through October), you might witness dramatic elk bugling and competing for mates.

Outdoor Activities and Adventures

Hiking

The Black Hills feature over 600 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy nature walks to challenging summit climbs. Here are the top hikes:

Mountain Biking: George S. Mickelson Trail

The George S. Mickelson Trail is a 109-mile converted railroad trail running from Deadwood to Edgemont through the heart of the Black Hills. This crushed limestone trail offers gentle grades perfect for cyclists of all abilities, with over 100 converted railroad bridges and four rock tunnels. Trailheads every 10 to 15 miles make it easy to plan rides of any length.

Bike rentals and shuttle services are available in Hill City, Deadwood, and several other towns along the route. Popular sections include Hill City to Mystic (10 miles) and Dumont to Deadwood (15 miles with stunning canyon scenery).

Hot Springs

The town of Hot Springs is named for the naturally warm mineral springs that flow through the area. Evans Plunge has been operating since 1890, with an indoor/outdoor pool fed by natural 87-degree mineral water. Water slides, a lazy river, and hot tubs make it a great family destination. For a more rustic experience, soak in the free-flowing mineral springs at various spots along Fall River.

Things to Do by Season

Summer (June through August)

Summer is peak season in the Black Hills, offering warm weather, long days, and all attractions fully operational. This is the best time for hiking, mountain biking, camping, and water activities at the region's lakes. All cave tours operate on full schedules, and the Mount Rushmore evening lighting ceremony creates unforgettable memories.

Summer brings popular events including the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (early August), Days of '76 Rodeo in Deadwood (late July), and numerous music festivals and cultural celebrations. Expect larger crowds and higher prices, especially during the Sturgis Rally when the regional population swells dramatically.

Fall (September through October)

Fall is arguably the best time to visit the Black Hills, offering pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and spectacular autumn colors. The aspens turn golden in late September and early October, creating stunning contrasts against the dark ponderosa pines and granite formations.

The Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup in late September is a must-see event, where cowboys and cowgirls on horseback round up the park's bison herd. This authentic Western spectacle attracts thousands of visitors and offers a unique glimpse into ranching traditions.

Winter (November through March)

Winter transforms the Black Hills into a snow-covered wonderland. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular on the Mickelson Trail and throughout the Black Hills National Forest. Terry Peak Ski Area near Lead offers downhill skiing and snowboarding. Snowmobiling is a major winter activity with over 350 miles of groomed trails.

Some attractions have reduced hours or close entirely in winter, so check ahead. The caves maintain a constant temperature and are a great winter activity. The holiday season brings special events in Deadwood and other communities, including Christmas parades and light displays.

Spring (April through May)

Spring brings the Black Hills back to life as snow melts, wildflowers bloom, and wildlife becomes active after winter. This is an excellent time to visit for those seeking fewer crowds and lower prices while still enjoying pleasant weather. Baby animals are born in spring, making it a great time for wildlife viewing.

Spring weather can be variable with occasional snow possible through May. Waterfalls run full with snowmelt, and the streams offer excellent fishing opportunities. Some higher elevation areas may remain closed until late May.

Where to Eat in the Black Hills

The Black Hills have a surprisingly good food scene, from upscale dining to classic roadside stops. Here are our top recommendations by area.

Hill City

Deadwood

Rapid City

Custer and Keystone

Where to Stay in the Black Hills

Choosing where to stay depends on your priorities: proximity to specific attractions, atmosphere, or amenities. Here are our recommendations by area.

Best for Central Location: Hill City

Best for Mount Rushmore Access: Keystone

Best for Wildlife and Nature: Custer

Best for Nightlife and History: Deadwood

Best for City Amenities: Rapid City

Planning Your Black Hills Visit

How Many Days Do You Need?

We recommend 4 to 7 days to fully experience the top Black Hills South Dakota things to do without feeling rushed. Here's a suggested breakdown:

Getting Around

A personal vehicle is essential for exploring the Black Hills, as public transportation is limited. The region's attractions are spread across a wide area, and scenic drives are a major part of the Black Hills experience. Rent a car if flying into Rapid City Regional Airport. RVs and larger vehicles should note that some scenic roads (particularly Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road) have narrow tunnels with height and width restrictions.

Money-Saving Tips

Purchase an America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80) if visiting multiple national parks and monuments. It provides access to Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Badlands, and Devils Tower. The pass pays for itself if you visit three or more of these sites. For Custer State Park, the 7-day pass ($30) is a better value than daily passes if staying multiple days.

Visit during shoulder seasons (May, June, September) for lower accommodation prices and fewer crowds while still enjoying excellent weather. Many attractions offer free or low-cost experiences including hiking trails, scenic drives, and wildlife viewing. Pack picnic lunches to save on dining costs while enjoying meals in spectacular outdoor settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The Black Hills of South Dakota offer an incredible diversity of experiences that few destinations can match. From the monumental grandeur of Mount Rushmore to the wild beauty of Custer State Park, from the underground wonders of Wind Cave to the colorful badlands formations, this remarkable region provides unforgettable adventures for every type of traveler.

Whether you're seeking outdoor adventure, cultural experiences, scenic beauty, or simply a chance to reconnect with nature, the things to do in Black Hills South Dakota will exceed your expectations. The combination of world-class attractions, diverse recreational opportunities, and stunning natural beauty makes the Black Hills one of America's premier destinations.

Start planning your Black Hills adventure today. Explore our guides to Black Hills hotels and accommodations, guided tours and activities, and national parks to create the perfect itinerary for your visit. The Black Hills are waiting to share their beauty, history, and adventure with you.