Experience scenic savings in South Dakota’s Black Hills

 ICONIC: Mount Rushmore offers a scenic stop to visitors of South Dakota’s Black Hills.

By Myscha Theriault

The Black Hills of South Dakota in the US may be famous for being the home of Mount Rushmore, but those in the know make an annual trek for the rock climbing, wildlife, national park access and scenic driving options. In fact, it’s particularly popular with the motorcycle crowd. The winding mountain roads with picturesque overlooks and prevalent picnic spots make the area a road tripper’s dream. The abundance of federal and state recreation lands make it more than affordable for the average traveller. Following are just a few of the reasons you may want to consider a Black Hills getaway for yourself this year.

Activities

Whether you’re into history, adventure or simply enjoying the sights, you’ll find plenty to do in this part of South Dakota. Wild West fans will want to make the trek to Deadwood for a visit to Mount Moriah Cemetery. A number of historical figures are buried there, including Wild Bill Hickok and the infamous Calamity Jane. Entrance is a buck, and comes with an informational map of the graves.

Visitors who enjoy a little sipping with their sightseeing should make their way to Prairie Berry Winery in Hill City, where you can try some of their fruity local concoctions and perhaps pick up a bottle to take back to your camping vehicle. The Red Ass Rhubarb is particularly fun and makes a tart pairing with dessert or a fun sangria ingredient.

Those travelling with their horse can enjoy trail riding to their heart’s content, and hikers will find lots to love with the cooler mountain temperatures and intriguing boulders. The giant formations also provide adventure for rock-climbing enthusiasts, which you will see hanging off the cliff faces as you drive through some of the more narrow scenic roads.

Sights

One of the most impressive of those roads is Needles Highway in Custer State Park. Boasting spectacular scenery with pointed granite formations puncturing the skyline, surrounded by pine, birch, aspen and spruce, this is by far one of the most picturesque drives in the entire United States. You’ll wind through turns, tunnels and twists past vistas and up-close adventure folk dangling from the rock needles that gave this stretch of road its name in the first place.

Photo pull-offs are prevalent, and there’s more than enough wow factor to keep the kids entertained. Custer State Park also offers swimming stops, picnic spots and the popular Wildlife Loop, which routes you near buffalo, elk and more. Vehicle passes good for up to seven days can be purchased for $15, allowing you to enter as many times as you want for day excursions.

The Black Hills National Forest takes up a large part of this section of South Dakota, offering the chance to explore a variety of canyons, gulches, lakes and streams as well as a leisurely scenic drive. This is definitely one of America’s more impressive national forests, so taking the time to thoroughly enjoy it is recommended.

While in the area, make time for Jewel Cave National Monument, which offers $12 tours of the more than 170 miles of mapped passageways this underground wonder has to offer. Early morning visits are recommended to avoid traffic and extended construction delays. The nearby Wind Cave National Park features comparably priced cave access as well, in addition to a scenic wildlife loop of its own. Driving and hiking in Wind Cave National Park is free.

The iconic Mount Rushmore is one of the biggest draws in the Black Hills, and can be accessed via concession parking at the base of the park. Ride sharing will help you make the most of the $11 vehicle fee. Be advised that travelling with dogs to Mount Rushmore is not recommended. Pet areas are difficult to access or non-existent depending on which garage level you use to park, and those travelling solo won’t have anyone to swap out canine supervision duties with while they enjoy the memorial.

The Crazy Horse Memorial on the other hand is more than welcoming to travellers with canines, offering shaded areas for people to rest with their pets while travelling companions take turns doggie sitting. While still in development, the memorial has a museum area, viewing platform and tours to the base of mountain. Entrance fees are $11, with a 100 percent discount for veterans and military members. Motorcycle enthusiasts can access the memorial for $5 per rider.

While not in the hills themselves, no visit to this part of South Dakota would be complete without a visit to Badlands National Park. An easy drive out of Rapid City, the park offers unique rock formations, rich fossil beds and stunning dark-sky viewing opportunities for astronomy fans. A $15 fee will let you enter by vehicle for up to a week. As holders of the annual America the Beautiful Pass we were able to access this park for free, along with an impressive number of other parks and monuments throughout the country.

Accommodations

If you’re going to camp anywhere in America, this is the place to do it. The Black Hills region of South Dakota is one of the most beautiful natural areas in the country. There’s no better way to make the most of that beauty than to pitch a tent or small camper in the woods and immerse yourself in Mother Nature. Federal and state camp sites are available at Wind Cave and Badlands National Parks, the Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park.

At Elk Mountain Campground at Wind Cave National Park for example, campsites are $18 per night when water and toilet facilities are available. If you’re willing to brave it during the off season when these amenities aren’t available however, the price drops to $9.

Senior pass holders are able to score camping sites at an impressive 50 percent discount. Campers in the Black Hills National Forest have access to 30 campgrounds, including three separate horse camps for equestrian visitors. Daily camping fees range from $6 to $23, depending on amenities.

If you’d like a few more comforts and access to shopping as you explore the Black Hills, consider basing your family in Rapid City where most of the retail options are available. Those with pets can enjoy a room with a view at Big Sky Lodge, which is a log cabin motel overlooking the city. Travellers with an AAA membership can score a breakfast-included room for $99 and a one-time pet fee of $10, regardless of the duration of your stay.

While many in Middle America may have made the pilgrimage, those living towards the coasts may be unaware of the beauty that awaits them in South Dakota’s Black Hills. In addition to iconic imagery, the area offers up-close wildlife viewing, sweeping vistas, intriguing rock formations and a strong connection to our nation’s Native American history.  If you’ve got a tent or camping vehicle and the time to explore, it’s easy and affordable to spend several weeks exploring this part of The Mount Rushmore State. -MCT

* Myscha Theriault is a best-selling author and avid traveller. She is currently travelling through North America with her husband and Labrador retriever. Readers can follow their adventures on trekhound.com and on Twitter at @MyschaTheriault.