Fascinating highlight of Needles HIghway. If you're going through this Custer area, whether to…read morevisit Mt Rushmore, Custer SP, etc, it's an enthralling experience to traverse this fun tunnel (or funnel) once. Just make sure you're driving like a sedan/SUV to clear it, cuz boy it sure is narrow!

Had spent the morning in the southern area of Custer State Park, and the afternoon was going to be…read morethe Needles Highway, followed by Mount Rushmore. It was a little bit drizzly, but the sites were still amazing as we drove the ever winding path. The tunnels were pretty crazy, one in particular being extra narrow! We were in a big SUV, but we were following a big SUV, so I figured if the car in front of us made it, we would! This is a great drive to make if you're in the Rapid City area.

Rented some kayaks here and it was a great experience! Lots of kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes…read moreavailable to rent and the process was quick and easy

The food is on the pricey side, and is just pretty good. Don't miss out on the mini donuts though,…read moreso good! The store itself has some good stuff you will want to buy. It's also a bit pricey though. The bathrooms there were clean and had plenty of outdoor seating with great views of the lake to enjoy too.

The views at the top of Black Elk Peak are so beautiful! The trail leading up to the peak is a…read moresteady incline with one short stretch where it goes downhill. Due to the incline, I recommend wearing a water pack to make sure you stay hydrated. It's the highest point in South Dakota and you will want to spend some time at the top taking in the views! There are also plenty of photo opportunities along the way. Make sure to wear good hiking shoes and enjoy soaking in the views!

We're all doing our part to abide by social distancing, while trying to keep ourselves sane and…read morehealthy. Hiking the Black Elk Wilderness for 11hrs seemed like a good way to pull off "all of the above" & it was! First: Expect to spend +4hrs hiking just to the summit and back. Additional time for side trails & photography, if applicable. As a diehard shutterbug, it took me almost 5hrs to get to the top. It isn't a race, take in your surroundings. Pack accordingly. It may be warm at the bottom & you end up in snow falling at the top, not too mention the "breeze" whipping. Layers work best & I found myself changing in and out of them. WATER- bring plenty of water, as well as food & sanitary items needed. The only toilets are at the start/end so be prepared to rough it a bit. PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT. You will hit a Wilderness registration area and are required to register at that point, in order to continue. I would say it's a moderate trail. Along the way you can expect to encounter some wildlife- we had several deer encounters, nesting birds, chipmunks, squirrels, frogs and whatever else we didn't see! There are some magnificent views of the hills, rock formations & interesting vegetarian - fresh air & friendly faces. Easily among my favorites.

Worth it, ya'know! Sooo much top attractions here. The…read moremonumental Mt Rushmore, the friendly wilderness of the Custer State Park's wildlife loop, the awesome tranquility of Sylvan Lake, last but not least Crazy Horse's construction. And who could forget, the ominous night of Needles Hwy. I needed more than 1 day to soak it all in. Glad there are restrooms throughout this NF, along with some water bottle refill stations, cuz all this roadtrip sightseeing sure works up a thirst. Almost collided with a deer on my way out of Black Hills NF. We both swerved away each other simultaneously O_O My 5th animal crossing this trip! On your way to Black Hills, don't forget to pack fresh apples and carrots beforehand ;) Believe it!

Black Hills National Forest is so beautiful! We hiked the 7.1 mile hike to Black Elk Peak starting…read morefrom Sylvan Lake. The views are spectacular and we even got lucky and saw a mountain goat at the top. If you do this hike, I would recommend hiking shoes, a hat, and a water pack to stay hydrated.

It's not like standing on the edge of a cliff or up in a skyscraper or on a plane or leaning over a…read morebalcony. It's different than hang gliding or free jumping. Zip lining and parasailing do not capture the essence. Riding in a hot air balloon is truly remarkable and the best I can do is describe how I felt: joyous, inspired, and grateful. Everyone at Black Hills Balloons made this experience bucket list worthy. My husband and I felt safe and informed. Damien (co-owner and pilot) is a terrific storyteller! He regaled us with bad jokes and tales of old - doing so with an Irish brogue only increased his credibility. The chase crew - capable and professional - kept us entertained as they were really just a bunch of 30-year-old kids who love adventure, the outdoors, and each other. After we landed Keely (co-owner) ran point on providing special touches including mimosas, cheese with crackers, and fresh baked muffins. The shop was cozy and inviting and carries a wide variety of wicked merch. Charlie the resident dog provided a warm welcome - with a slightly superior air - to us visitors . We're planning a return trip with our adult children. Would highly recommend!!!

We had the privilege and pleasure of taking a balloon ride over the Black Hills. This was even…read morebetter than the one I took over the African safaris this past Feb. We met at their office in the cute town of Custer and I HAD to buy one of their "upcycled" flannel shirts (the owner sews a logo patch on each one of these "previously loved" shirts and proceeds go towards the local Pine Ridge Reservation). Their crew seemed like such a tight-knit family and all hard-working and loving what they do! There was a fun spirited competition between pilots. Our pilot, Damien was comical and VERY experienced. I loved how he wrapped up our trip with a champagne toast and shared the history of how ballooning began and why there is always a champagne toast (look it up - fun story). We hope to be back one day and do it again!

We rented a slingshot from the Hill City location for four days. It was an awesome time, no…read moreproblems whatsoever. What's really impressive is how informative and proactive that are. Every single employee was super knowledgable from the girl assigning our vehicle to the guy showing us the ropes of operation. They include a little "go pack" with an emergency beacon and even have earplugs. They literally think of everything!

Wow!! 5 stars for sure. Arrived early and they were ready for us with a smile. They went over all…read morethe rules had us watch a quick video. Then spent time mapping out our day and places that we wanted to go to. Then handed us a bag with a beacon, ear plugs and phone charger adapter. We rented a sling shot for six hours which was plenty of time. Lucky it was a beautiful day to ride the Needles Highway. Highly recommend this company!

Our first trip to South Dakota wouldn't be complete without a ride on horse back through the Black…read moreHills. Randy and Peggy were awesome at making that happen for us. Although my husband and I are more of the City Slicker crew than the Bonanza Crew, we felt well prepared for our ride after a quick orientation by Randy. We took the 2 hour tour and it was well worth it with beautiful vistas and a true connection with nature. We even got to see a deer in our travels. Thank you Peggy and Randy for creating an experience we will forever cherish. Thank you, Your City Slickers, Donna & Domenic

Highly recommend this place. I took my 13-year-old granddaughter and 11 year old grandson for a two…read morehour ride with James. Perfect! James was great, Peggy was great and the ladies (I don't remember their names) working with the horses and the riders were awesome. Their care for the horses, pairing and instructions to riders was spot on and the animals condition are first rate, very impressive. Will be back! Thank you everyone. Grandpa

I wish I would have paid more attention to history growing up. It's so fascinating, and now seeing…read moreCrazy Horse makes me want to learn all about it! Before heading to Mt. Rushmore last week, we stopped by Crazy Horse. My buddy had been here before, so it was nice having someone with me who knew a little about the history! Native American history is so intriguing, and I just want to learn more. Well, this is definitely a sight to see! Workers have been chiseling away at the mountain since 2020. I also posted a picture of what the finished sculpture is supposed to look like on the mountainside! Great spot to check out if you're in the area. There's a museum and information center where you can learn more about the land and its history, a restaurant on site, and some awesome views! Can't wait to come back someday when the sculpture is complete!

Visiting the Crazy Horse Memorial was one of the highlights of our trip to South Dakota. While the…read moremountain itself is absolutely impressive, what made this experience truly special was learning the incredible history and vision behind it. We stopped to watch the documentary before exploring, and I'm so glad we did. It not only explained the history of the memorial and why it was created, but also introduced us to the Ziolkowski family and the multiple generations who have dedicated their lives to carrying this dream forward. Their commitment, sacrifice, and passion are inspiring and gave us an entirely new appreciation for everything we were seeing. There is so much to experience beyond the monument itself. The grounds feature several souvenir shops, museums, a spacious restaurant/café, and a convenient grab-and-go snack area, making it easy to spend several hours exploring. One of my favorite parts was watching the Native American cultural performance. Native women and girls performed beautiful traditional dances representing different tribes and ceremonies while explaining the meaning, history, and purpose behind each dance. It added a rich cultural dimension to the visit and made the experience even more meaningful. Walking through the sculptor's original home and studio was fascinating. It truly felt like stepping back in time. Standing in the very rooms where the family once lived and worked gave us a genuine appreciation for the dedication and humble beginnings behind this monumental project. The Native American artwork and exhibits throughout the visitor center were also beautiful and well worth taking your time to enjoy. Watching the mountain being carved while learning about the engineering, the progress made over the decades, and the enormous commitment required to complete such an ambitious project was remarkable. It really makes you appreciate the scale of what they're accomplishing. If I had one small suggestion, it would be that I wish the visitor facilities were located closer to the mountain itself. The main lodge and museum are set back quite a distance, so if you want a close-up view, you'll either need to take the bus tour or use the viewing binoculars. That said, it certainly didn't take away from the experience. This was a destination I had been looking forward to visiting for a long time, and it absolutely lived up to my expectations. If you appreciate history, Native American culture, art, engineering, or simply witnessing an extraordinary vision being carried on through generations, the Crazy Horse Memorial is a place you shouldn't miss.

Beautiful park that's well maintained and there's also access to the hike area . Playground picnic…read morearea etc and there's an old train