Top Things to do in The Black Hills
Top Hotels in The Black Hills
- 1. Bavarian Inn, Black Hills
- 2. Best Western Plus Rapid City Rushmore
- 3. K Bar S Lodge
- 4. Deadwood Gulch Resort, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
- 5. Best Western Golden Spike Inn & Suites
- 6. Comfort Suites Conference Center Rapid City
- 7. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Rapid City, SD
- 8. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Rapid City
- 9. The Lodge at Deadwood
- 10. The Rushmore Hotel & Suites, BW Premier Collection
What to do and see in The Black Hills, The Black Hills: The Best National Parks
Discover the best top things to do in The Black Hills, United States including Black Hills National Forest, Badlands National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Wind Cave National Park.
Restaurants in The Black Hills
1. Black Hills National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 885 reviews
This empty expanse where Native Americans once roamed is now a national forest.
Reviewed By CrankingChick - Tucson, United States
The Black Hills Forest covers a vast area of western South Dakota - more than 1.25 million acres! It's an excellent vacation destination because of the wide variety of attractions and recreation opportunities. One could easily spend a week exploring this beautiful area; we were there for four days and did not do everything, we could have easily filled two more days. We explored the historic main street at Deadwood, visited the DC Booth Fish Hatchery at Spearfish, drove through Spearfish Canyon and were enchanted by three waterfalls, learned about mining at Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center, gawked at the enormous carved faces of four presidents on Mt. Rushmore, drove the scenic Needles Highway through imposing stone pinnacles, navigated the unique pigtail bridges and stone tunnels of Iron Mountain Road (Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway), took a peaceful morning hike around Sylvan Lake, spotted wildlife like deer, prairie dogs, bison and pronghorns at Custer State Park, marveled at the fossilized bones of extinct animals at The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, visited Wind Cave National Park, and took a ride on the vintage 1880 steam train between Hill City and Keystone. We didn't visit the Crazy Horse Memorial or Jewel Cave National Monument this trip. (The above attractions all have separate Tripadvisor pages.) The Black Hills Forest hosts numerous campgrounds and picnic areas, plus there are lakes and streams for fishing, swimming and kayaking. There are many hiking trails of various lengths and difficulties, and also the 109-mile George S. Mickelson Rail-Trail for walking or biking. For those who like a more thrilling adventure, there are zip-lines, water parks, horse stables, and helicopter rides available. Food and lodging are available at the towns of Deadwood, Lead, Keystone, Hill City, Custer and Hot Springs. There is no charge to enter the forest, but some of the above attractions charge a parking or admission fee. Some roads, services, and attractions may be closed in winter.
2. Badlands National Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 746 reviews
Reviewed By L2369IOjamesm
This park is amazing. The loop road they have let's you drive through the park and get great views of the scenery; there are lots of scenic overlooks where you can park and spend time enjoying the sights. We hiked a couple of the trails (the door and the notch) and they were also amazing.
3. Jewel Cave National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,367 reviews
Jewel Cave National Monument is home to one of the longest caves in the world. Offering an assortment of cave formations and recreational opportunities, many visitors are truly amazed by this underground wilderness. Most impressive is the fact that exploration and discovery continue to take place at this significant natural resource. Please be advised that during the off-season (2020-2021), the visitor center, Park Store, surface trails, and picnic areas are open Thursdays through Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MDT. However, cave tours are suspended, due to an elevator construction project. For those visiting the monument, a one-way flow path is set up inside the visitor center, with directional signage for visitor awareness. Park rangers are on-site to answer questions and to assist with the ever-popular Junior Ranger and Pee Wee Ranger Programs. For specific questions and/or assistance, do not hesitate to contact the monument by phone or email in advance.
Reviewed By northernneckinn - Tappahannock, United States
You can’t beat the setting! Absolutely unique! Travel down 300 ft in an elevator and spend 80 minutes hiking the underground trail through these caves - very safe but lots of steps - about 723 to be precise. Great tour leader National Parks ranger Kim made about six stops and explained the process of discovery, prepping the caves for visitors, and the precautions taken to preserve the delicate ecosystems in the cavern. We experienced less than one mile through the caves.... the full extent mapped so far exceeds 180 miles!
4. Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,337 reviews
Sculptor Gutzon Borglum created this famous mountainside carving of the visages of four great American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
Reviewed By tirana2015 - Miami, United States
Always near the top of my bucket list, it was truly an awe inspiring experience walking down the avenue of flags of the states and getting to view Mount Rushmore. A must see for any American or even any fan of history and art. The carved out heads are larger than life and truly spectacular. I highly recommend hiking the half mile presidential trail loop as it offers glimpses of the presidents from different angles and provides some information about the presidents as well.
5. Wind Cave National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 609 reviews
Reviewed By Hokie67 - Lexington, United States
Driving through the park to get to the cave is half the fun... as there are some spectacular vistas... and loads of wildlife like... a ton of prairie dogs, lots of mule deer, two big groups of wild turkeys and a few buffs in the distance. The other half of the fun is the cave itself. We arrived after lunch on a cool and rainy Friday... and got tickets for the 2:00 Natural Entrance tour. The guide makes all the difference in tours like this... and we had an excellent one... knowledgeable with plenty of personal insights into the cave's and park's history... plus a great sense of humor. The signature formation of the cave is its Box Work. The cave doesn't have any stalactites or stalagmites because of the way the ground water is absorbed by the limestone. Its popcorn formations are equally interesting There are some steep stairs going down, but you get to ride an elevator back up. There are also some low bridges to duck through. Unless you're a hard core chlosterphobe, you should be OK. Kind of interesting in that it was warmer in the cave than it was outside. The tour takes about an hour. I'd suggest having a time reservation during the season.
