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.

Firstly, Becky consulted over the phone with both my husband and I twice before we made a…read morereservation. She helped us make the selection that was best for the four of us, two adults two teenagers. When we arrived for our appointment, the Guide did an excellent job getting us acquainted with the trail maps and ensuring that we were able to have the kind of off-road experience we were looking forward to this is probably the HIGHLIGHT of our family vacation this year. We did see some beautiful scenery and the adventure of the off-road vehicle really made it special. (don't forget to wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty.)

We had a fantastic time the side by side was in great condition. We are planning to rent again in a…read moreweek or two

Entry will the state park cost $25 per vehicle and lasts a week. I wanted to go another time again…read moreto hike, but unfortunately we were not able to, especially with the rain. Just driving through the State Park is so beautiful, though. We were lucky enough to see a couple of bison, even if we were not able to see herds of them. I was so excited that we were even able to see a couple walking around. I was a little disappointed that we were not able to see any mountain goats or anything else, but I can understand that we just can't see them from everywhere. Going to the visitor center was also a plus. They have a great movie that you can watch, that shows history and they had lots of people that were asking questions to the rangers. This state park feels as though it's more like a national park, and it's definitely worth visiting.

Our visit to South Dakota was an unforgettable experience from beginning to end. Custer park was…read moreone of our top priorities to visit. Man was it worth it! Every turn along the scenic drives revealed something new and breathtaking--towering mountains, rolling hills, endless grassy plains, crystal-clear lakes and streams, beautiful log cabins, and wildlife roaming freely in their natural habitat. We drove arms reach from bison, and deer. We got out of our car to pet and feed burros, and marveled over other animals right alongside the roadway. The prairie dogs were adorable and funny too. It was an incredible reminder of how special this park truly is. Especially considering I love animals, history, and the artistry of nature. One of the highlights was driving through the famous narrow rock tunnels. The engineering is amazing, and the views framed through the tunnels are simply unforgettable. We also stopped at several cliffside overlooks where the panoramic views stretched as far as the eye could see. Standing there, looking out over the landscape, gave us a true appreciation for the beauty and scale of the Black Hills. Whether you're looking for incredible photography, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, or simply a peaceful escape into nature, Custer State Park delivers on every level. It's one of those places that makes you slow down, take a deep breath, and appreciate God's incredible creation. If you're visiting South Dakota, Custer State Park isn't just worth seeing--it's an experience you'll remember for a lifetime. We can't wait to return.

Fun park. Repeat customers. Concessions limited and won't do that part again. Fair priced gift shop!read more

We stopped at Dinosaur Park while visiting Rapid City, and overall it was an enjoyable stop with…read moresome impressive features. The walking paths are well maintained, the signage is informative, and the views overlooking the city are absolutely beautiful. The dinosaur statues themselves, however, were a bit of a surprise. They have a very vintage roadside attraction feel--more like classic 1950s dinosaur sculptures than modern museum-quality exhibits. While that nostalgic charm may appeal to some visitors, they felt noticeably dated compared to the rest of the park. It almost seemed as though most of the investment went into the trails, landscaping, and visitor experience, while the dinosaur statues have remained largely unchanged over the years. Despite that, it's still a worthwhile stop for the scenic overlook and a bit of local history, especially if you're already in the Rapid City area.

Chuck Lien family park is basically the same area of Rapid City that Hanson- Larson Memorial Park…read moreclaims- the memorial park is a set of trails all over the few hills there and Chuck Lien is a spot of land right in the middle of those trails, as well as one large trail that is easy access right up to M Hill, one of the most well known spots in Rapid City where the giant white M sits along the hill. It's really beautiful area any time of year, and such a pleasant hike around- it's not too difficult or strenuous but it can still get you breathing a little hard and sweating which is a perfect hike to me. Referencing my review on Hanson- Larson park if you plan to visit this area would probably be pretty helpful, I'm repeating a lot of what I said there but I don't want to completely drone on. Basically, have a picture of the trails or you may get lost, and taking the Chuck Lien trail path is the biggest path and super easy to make it up to the top of M Hill, and boy is the view worth it!

Wonderful trail, well maintained and has amazing scenery. Two suggestions , better signage on the…read moretrail so u know where you are. We used gps apps but the trail needs work. Just out side Deadwood maybe 3 miles up the trail splits. Signage needs to identify the difficulty of the 2 trails similar to ski areas. Stay RIGHT unless you want a very difficult steep trail.

Fantastic, well groomed gravel path. Nice and wide, great…read morescenery. There is a fee to use the trail. There are kiosks along the path.

While it is not a place that will take a while afternoon, it is well worth the stop. Lots of…read morebeautifully visual habitat displays. It's very relaxing to just sit and watch the fish in the tank. There are tons of learning opportunities for kids! There are some hands on learning items are available in each habitat setting. And each habitat display has so much depth! There are so many small details that help make up the whole thing! There is also a nook of books for reading. I wish we had something like this where I am from! We didn't get to explore more.of the grounds, as a pretty heavy storm was coming gin and we left just as it hit. We will definitely stop by again next time we visit!

Highly educational. Great for homeschooling and learning about the outdoors . I give it 5 stars.read more

I feel that this is an underused and underrated set of hiking trails in Rapid City. Anyone who's…read moresemi- local or has driven on the ever busy Omaha street knows about M Hill- where the large white letters "sMd" were created to give wave to the School of Mines in Rapid. What many don't know as well or maybe simply forget or don't think about is that you can pretty easily climb to the top of M Hill and see out over all of Rapid- it's pretty incredible at any time of year! Where we parked there was a map showing the dozens of trails that zig zag these sets of hills, and though it seems a little outdated taking a picture of it and referencing it really helped us to know where we were going and not get lost, so I'd obviously recommend doing that. There are also little stakes in the ground at intervals that tell you what trail you are on or what one is about to start, so if you actually pay attention to those and keep an eye on the map you shouldn't get lost easily. There are kind of two main ways to get to the top of M Hill- and easy way and a hard way. We took the harder way up, which is much more scenic, and the easier way down. The easier way you walk right towards the golf course and make a turn before you hit the bridge across the creek. This is such a great way to get outdoors and exercise, without being too crazy exhausting! With stopping and resting and enjoying the view, it took us about an hour and ten round trip to the top and back. Highly recommend!