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NATIONAL PARK TRIP PLANNER

BadlandsBlack Hills

Getting ThereDiscover spec-tacular stops on a Chicago to South Dakota route.

Parks to SeeGet an overview of parks along the way and in-formation on how to get there.

Where to StayStay near hot springs, a train depot or a town where the Wild West reigns.

What to Expect Read our packing

list and learn

about entrance

fees and weather.

48 Hours in the ParksDiscover things to do in and around South Dakota’s parks.

Wildlife GuideLearn about South Dakota’s fantastic wildlife and where to spot the animals.

What Off Season?Explore the area’s incredible activities in fall and winter.

NATIONAL PARK TRIPS MEDIA

The Experts in National Park

Travel

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Getting ThereWho doesn’t love a good road trip? Head out to see the spectacular wildlife, parks, towns and monuments of western South Dakota.

BADLANDS BLACK HILLS

When you travel to the Badlands National Park and Black Hills area, you’ll find the monumental attractions are much like the bison roaming the wide-open prairies:

they’re clustered close together and each is as equally majestic as the previous one.

On the eastern side, there’s Minuteman Missile National Historic Site and Badlands National Park, home to curious-looking hills with magical colors. Just north lies the quirky attraction of Wall Drug in South Dakota, a popular rest stop known for its 5-cent coffee and Jackalope statue. Beyond lies Mount Rushmore in Keystone, S.D., hot springs in, well, Hot Springs, S.D., and two sites that give you a rare glimpse into the underbelly of the Earth: Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument.

Come up for air and head to Custer for Broadway-caliber performances and wildlife viewing at nearby Custer State Park. Then head to the Crazy Horse Memorial, the largest monument carving in the world. This sculpture of Oglala Lakota Chief Crazy Horse is still under construction. Head to Deadwood’s cobblestone-lined Main Street and Wild West reenactments. In Hill City or Keystone, board The 1880 Train. What follows are highlights from this epic area.

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MINUTEMAN MISSILE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITEFor 30 years, 1,000 nuclear missiles sat in the prairie of South Dakota ready to be launched at any moment. Why? During the Cold War from 1963-91, the threat of nuclear attack from the Russians was pal-pable. Ironically, building a nuclear arsenal in what became known as the “arms race” between the U.S. and Soviet Union proved critical to creating a deterrent to nuclear war. Start at the visitor center before touring Launch Facility Delta-09 or make advanced reservations to tour Launch Control Facility Delta-01. Learn more at nps/gov/mimi.

BADLANDS NATIONAL PARKWhile you won’t see saber-toothed cats or rhinoceroses roaming the Badlands like they once did, you may see their remains in this stun-ning national park with some of the world’s richest fossil deposits.

Located in Imlay Township in South Dakota, Badlands National Park has a Fossil Preparation Lab where you can watch paleontologists at work, literally uncovering the area’s ancient history. At the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, use a touchscreen to assemble a virtual skeleton, touch fossilized animal replicas and watch the film Land of Stone and Light in the center’s 95-seat air-conditioned theater.

Head out to see the wildlife that roams today. Spot bison, bighorn sheep, black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs as you drive the Badlands Hwy. 240 Loop Road. Then explore its many hiking trails on foot.

Learn more about Badlands National Park at nps.gov/badl.

MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIALHere’s a pop quiz. Name the U.S. presidents carved into the granite hillside of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

If the names didn’t come to you in five seconds, step on the gas and head to the memorial. Constructed from 1927-41, it features the faces of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Why did sculptor Gutzon Borglum choose these men? He felt they presided over the country during its most important moments.

The human effort required to create this monument matched the gargantuan size of it. More than 400 women and men worked a variety jobs from drillers to housekeepers during the 14 years it took to build it. Ninety percent of the mountain was carved using dynamite, but it was the people hanging off steel cables and chiseling at the rock amid freezing cold and sweltering heat who made Mount Rushmore what it is today. Before they started work, workers had to climb 700 steps to the top of the mountain. Imagine the shape you’d be in if you had to do that to get to your desk.

Learn more at nps.gov/moru.

CRAZY HORSE MEMORIALWhen the first blast took place to begin work on Crazy Horse Memo-rial, five survivors of the Battle of the Little Bighorn watched.

It was June 3, 1948, and sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski had been hired by Henry Standing Bear, an Oglala Lakota chief, to build a memorial

Which Parks to SeeHere are the top seven parks, monuments and memorials to visit during your vacation.

MOUNT RUSHMORE

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to honor all Native Americans. The image being carved is of Oglala Chief Crazy Horse who fought to preserve his people’s way of life and led his warriors to victory at Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876.

Seventy years after the first blast, watch crews carving and blasting the memorial. Four of Ziolkowski’s children and some of his 23 grand-children work on the sculpture, which is the world’s largest monu-ment carving. Seventeen miles from Mount Rushmore, it’s financed by admission fees and donations. No federal or state funds are accepted.

Sample Native American food at Laughing Water Restaurant and stop in the museum and gift shop that feature local artists.

Learn more at crazyhorsememorial.org.

WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK While you may never have heard of it, Wind Cave National Park was the seventh national park to be created. President Theodore Roos-evelt, who fell in love with the Dakotas, designated it in 1903. With slightly more than 140 miles of passageways, it’s the sixth longest cave on Earth. Four new miles of cave are discovered every year.

There’s also wildlife to be seen, including 400-500 bison roaming more than 20 acres of this national park. Their history is fascinating. After the massive slaughter of bison in the 1800s, bison had virtually been wiped out in the Black Hills area. In 1914, park reserve managers decided to reintroduce bison to the area and found their future bison in one of the most unlikely places. Home to some of the last genetically wild bison in the nation, the New York City Zoo boarded 14 bison, including one named “Sandy” on an express train to the Black Hills. When Sandy died of old age in 1936, newspapers across the country re-ported she was the first bison to be born in a zoo and die on the range.

Learn more at nps.gov/wica.

JEWEL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENTSee something called “cave bacon” when you take the popular Scenic Tour in the depths of Jewel Cave National Monument located 13 miles from Custer, S.D.

As the world’s third-longest cave, Jewel boasts 182 miles of mapped passages. Rock climbers Herb and Jan Conn, who stopped at Jewel in 1959, mapped more than 60 miles of the cave from 1959-81. Prior to the Conns, the cave was thought to be small. Short in stature and big on adventure, the Conns spent more than five decades living in a stone house with no electricity or running water near Custer, rock climbing in the Needles and crawling through Jewel. Herb Conn, who died in

2012, had a favorite caving T-shirt that read, “No end in sight.”Fortunately, for the rest of us, there are guided tours on estab-

lished trails for us to explore. On the Scenic Tour, you’ll spend an hour and 20 minutes on a half-mile paved loop with electric lighting and 723 steps. Dress in closed-toe shoes and warm layers. The cave is 49 F. Tickets for this tour are first-come, first-served, can only be bought at the cave and often sell out before noon. Others have age limits and reservation requirements. Park entrance is free, but cave tours have fees.

Learn more at nps.gov/jeca.

CUSTER STATE PARK With more than 1,300 bison, along with a fleet of pronghorn ante-lope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, deer, elk and more, it would be easy to call South Dakota’s Custer State Park the Yellowstone of the Midwest.

Drive the Wildlife Loop Road to maximize your wildlife-viewing on the park’s open prairies and hillsides. Along the way, stop by the Wildlife Station Visitor Center to see exhibits and learn more. The drive generally takes about 45 minutes, but be prepared for traffic jams when bison loiter on the road.

Three other scenic byways in the park include the Needles Highway, Iron Mountain and Mount Coolidge Lookout. Beyond the road, explore the park’s five lakes. Rent kayaks at Sylvan Lake or hike Black Elk Peak, formerly Harney Peak, the state’s highest natural point. Legion Lake offers camping campsites as well as a restaurant and swimming. 

Learn more about Custer, S.D., at visitcuster.com. 

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Where to Stay The western corner of South Dakota is filled with a string of quaint, charming towns that light up during the summer with

live theater performances, lively restaurant scenes and Wild West re-enactments. Here are five to base out of for your Badlands and Black Hills adventures.

1. Hot SpringsIf it weren’t for the “wiwila kata,” this valley tucked in the south-western corner of South Dakota would have just been another dusty clearing at the gateway to the Black Hills. Instead, what the Lakota referred to as the “warm waters” gave rise to a mecca of health and hospitality unrivaled in the Midwest.

The sacred healing waters of the Native Americans were discovered by settlers in the late 1800s, and the 87-degree waters flowing from a series of springs quickly became a sought after cure-all. In 1890, Fred Evans built his namesake Plunge over a collection of springs, turning Hot Springs into a destination, and the largest resort until you reach California. Today, Evans Plunge is still a mecca for rejuvenation and recreation featuring a collection of pools (refreshed with 5,000 gallons of fresh spring water every minute) and a number of water slides.

Tens of thousands of years ago, woolly mammoths took advantage of the fresh ponds in the area. More than 61 beasts were trapped and buried only to be unearthed as fossils in 1974. Check out the Mam-moth Site to see the sinkhole still riddled with mammoth bones, as well as a museum with a full-sized mammoth.

2. CusterJust up the road from main entrance of the spectacular Custer State Park lies the town of Custer, a hub for the outdoor attractions sur-rounding it, including Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Me-morial. The historic downtown is a hive of restaurants, shopping and museums, including the 1881 Courthouse Museum housed in an original Dakota Territory Courthouse.

At the museum, you’ll discover the history of Custer, which was il-legally settled by gold prospectors in 1874. At the time, the Black Hills were closed to white settlement under the Treaty of Fort Laramie, an agreement between the U.S. government and the Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho. Conflict between the prospectors and Native Americans led the U. S. government to seize the Black Hills, opening it up to white settlers and leading to the near-overnight growth of Custer to a town of 10,000 settlers. Today, a little more than 2,000 people live in vibrant Custer year round.

Sample homemade pies, enjoy chuckwagon suppers and sip coffee at a cafe. In the evening, head to Black Hills Playhouse in Custer State Park for a Broadway-caliber performance. The professional ac-tors put on everything from musicals and comedy to dramas.

3. KeystoneTake a break from the oversized sculptures of presidents at Mount Rushmore to see the evolution of the nation’s democracy through life-sized wax figures of all 44 presidents at the National Presiden-tial Wax Museum.

Just three miles from Mount Rushmore, the closest town in the Black Hills to the iconic sculptures, Keystone is a former gold-mining town that offers a ton of activities and 32 restaurants. If you are looking for thrilling adventures, check out Rushmore Tramway Adventures, home to a 800-foot zipline and a chairlift. Or put your putting skills to the test at Holy Terror Mini Golf where a 50-foot steep hillside offers an “elevated” experience.

When you are ready for a new perspective on the area, board The 1880 Train or get a birds-eye view of the area with Rushmore

Helicopters, offering aerial tours of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial and more.

4. Hill CitySurrounded by towering peaks and lofty pine forests, Hill City is a charming small town with a distinct style.

Find locally owned bed and breakfasts, brand-name hotels, tim-ber lodges, secluded cabins and some of the area’s largest camp-ground resorts. Main Street offers an eclectic blend of restaurants, stylish stores, outdoor outfitters, boutique shops and fine art gal-leries and museums. You’ll also find South Dakota wineries and homegrown breweries with unique tasting rooms.

Discover The 1880 Train, a 2-hour, 20-mile ride aboard a historic train that runs between Hill City and Keystone, S.D. Narrated for all ages, the train is popular, so book early. In addition, don’t miss the beauty of the 109-mile George S. Mickelson Trail and the stun-ning scenery along the 12-mile drive to Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

5. DeadwoodRoulette is one of the many games you’ll find in historic Deadwood — a Wild West town famous for taking chances. In 1876, fortune seekers took their chance when they came looking for gold and settled in the rough and tumble camp of Deadwood. For many, just walking down the street was taking a chance.

Today, visitors to this national historic landmark will find plenty of the Wild West without the danger. Walk the cobblestone-lined Main Street where you’ll meet Old West re-enactors who bring history to life. Visit Mount Moriah Cemetery to learn how western legends met their end. It’s the resting place of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.  

There’s always something new in this Old West town. You’ll find plenty of 24/7 casinos, unique shops and award-winning restaurants.

DOWNTOWN DEADWOOD

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WHAT TO PACKHere’s what to put in your suitcase for Badlands/Black Hills vacations spring through fall.

Refillable water bottle/hydration systemReduce your park footprint by bringing your own water bottle to refill.

BinocularsSpot wildlife up-close with these.

Clothing layersIt may seem ridiculous to pack warm layers, but area tempera-tures can fluctuate 30 degrees in one day, depending on if you are in the consistently

cool depths of Wind Cave National Park or in the Badlands where the scorching sun can reach well over a 100 degrees.

Rain gearEven on the sunniest morning, there is a chance of afternoon rainstorms. Don’t get caught outdoors unprepared.

Sturdy hiking bootsPack a pair of sup-portive and breathable hiking boots.

DaypackBe prepared on your hike with snacks, clothing layers and extra water.

A sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreenThese are a must to protect yourself from the strong sun.

Sturdy water shoesIf you plan on paddling or boating, bring a pair of water shoes like Tevas or Keens. Flip-flops are not

recommended as they get stuck in the mud in rivers and lake shores and fall off easily.

HeadlampCarry this when going to evening ranger talks or on hikes in case you get lost or are out later than expected.

Bug spraySpend more time en-joying the scenery and less time swatting insects.

Weather in this corner of South Dakota is highly variable, even park to park. On any given day, you could experience con-sistent temperatures of 53F in the caves of Wind Cave National Park and up to 116° F in Badlands National Park. Badlands weather is unpredictable with temperature extremes ranging from 116F to -40F. Sum-mers are hot and dry with occasional vio-

lent thunderstorms.The southern Black Hills and Wind Cave

National Park tend to be warmer and drier than the northern hills. But note that in June and July, severe thunderstorms are common and can produce large hail and se-vere lightning and even flash flooding. Be cautious when camping near a creek bed even if it is dry.

What to ExpectFrom what to pack to entrance fees and weather, here’s the scoop.

FEES BY THE NUMBERS

$80PRICE OF THE INTERAGENCY ANNUAL PASS FOR ALL NATIONAL PARK SITES ( $10 FOR U.S. CITIZENS 62 AND OLDER; FREE FOR ACTIVE MILITARY AND PERMANENTLY DISABLED)

$28COST PER CAR TO ENTER CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL ($22 IF ONLY TWO PEOPLE IN CAR)

$20 ENTRANCE FEE PER VEHICLE FOR BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK SEVEN-DAY PASS

$20COST FOR SEVEN-DAY PASS TO CUSTER STATE PARK

$10 FEE PER CAR TO PARK AT MOUNT RUSHMORE (FREE TO ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY). PARK ENTRANCE IS FREE.

$0FREE TO ENTER WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK AND JEWEL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT. ADDITIONAL COST FOR CAVE TOURS.

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WEATHER: EXPECT VARIABLE CONDITIONS

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48 Hours in the Parks Hit the best of the Badlands and Black Hills with these top spots.

SEE CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL See the world’s largest monument carving that tells a very different history than Mount Rushmore. Take time to watch the video and roam the museum to learn the history of Ogalala chief Crazy Horse and the construction of the monument.

VISIT BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK Drive the Badlands Loop Road from the Ben Reifel Visitor Center to the West Entrance, a 22-mile stretch that includes amazing wildlife and dramatic overlooks.

STOP AT MINUTEMAN MISSILE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Discover how weapons of mass destruction sat in the prairie ready to launch during the Cold War. Visit the visitor center before touring Launch Facility (Missile Silo) Delta-09 or make advanced reservations to tour Launch Control Facility Delta-01.

STOP AT WALL DRUGLocated close to the west entrance of Badlands Nation-al Park sits the legendary Wall Drug. Stop for burgers, a photo of its famed Jackalope statue and free ice water.

7 BADLANDS/BLACK HILLS TRIP PLANNER 2018

TAKE A DIP OR RIDE THE RAILSSoak in the hot springs or slip down the water slides at Evans Plunge in Hot Springs. If the only steam you want to experience is via train, con-sider riding The 1880 Train that runs between Hill City and Keystone.

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GO DOWN UNDERHead to Wind Cave National Park or Jewel Cave National Monu-ment for a rare glimpse deep into the Earth. On your tour, you’ll see incredible mineral formations and learn interesting cave trivia.

WILD WEST REENACTMENT IN DEADWOODExplore the namesake for the TV series Deadwood when you visit this historic town. Don’t miss the Main Street Shootout that happens three times a day (2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.) Monday through Satur-day during the summer season.

WILDLIFE SHOW AT

CUSTER STATE PARK

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can watch a performance.

SUNSET AT MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIALGet a unique view of Mount Rushmore during the memorial’s evening program in the outdoor amphitheater. Listen to a park ranger speak before watching the film Freedom: America’s Lasting Legacy. Then turn your eyes upward to see the lighting of the memorial.

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R)Mountain

GoatsMountain goats are covered with two layers of wool that enable them to withstand temperatures that dip to -50F. They have large hooves and rough pads to scale steep, rugged slopes. Both fe-males and males have black horns and long faces with fur hanging off their chins. Females, called “nannies,” live with children and fe-males. Males live apart in groups of 2-3. They can jump nearly 12 feet. WHERE TO SEE THEM: Not na-tive to the Mount Rushmore area, the 200 mountain goats that live in the area are descendants of six goats gifted from Canada to Custer State Park in 1924.

Blacktail Prairie Dogs Stewards of grasslands but viewed as an annoyance by some, prairie dogs are highly social animals with a specialized form of communication with complex sounds. Prairie dog towns can stretch from one acre to several hundred. They eat grass and hide in a networks of underground tunnels. They inhabit grasslands, perching on mounds to look for predators WHERE TO SEE THEM: In Wind Cave, one prairie dog town is

located 1.2 miles north of the visitor center at the junction of hwys. 385 and 87. In Badlands, see them at the Roberts Prairie Dog Town.

Yellow-Bellied MarmotsThese curious creatures live in colonies of about 10-20 marmots where they spend the middle of the day and nights in a network of high-elevation burrows located in rocky areas or meadows. They eat in the mornings and evenings, munching on flowers, grass, insects and even bird eggs. When they are feeding in the open, one stands guard, whistling when danger appears. Marmots hibernate for quite some

time, usually from late October until late April. WHERE TO SEE THEM: At Mount Rushmore, look for them on the Presidential Trail during the summer, eating grass, plants and seeds.

Pronghorn AntelopePronghorn, often called antelope, are the second fastest land mammal, running up to 60 miles per hour. They are only three feet tall at their shoulders and are reddish brown with white stomachs and wide, white stripes on their throats. Females and males have forward facing horns that curve slightly backward at their tips. They eat grass and sagebrush and chew their partially digested food. WHERE TO SEE THEM: In

Badlands National Park, they can sometimes be seen from the Badlands Loop Road. In Wind Cave National Park, look for them in the open prairie near the south entrance to the park headquarters and along NPS Road 5.

Bighorn SheepTraveling in groups, bighorn sheep are built for spending long winters at high elevation. Born with rough split hooves, they climb up steep, rocky terrain to escape predators. Males, also known as “rams,” have larger horns that can weigh up to 30 pounds. Females, referred to as “ewes,” have horns that never form more than half a curl. Bighorn sheep eat grasses and shrubs. In fall rams compete for ewes by butting each other for up to 24 hours at a time. WHERE TO SEE THEM: In Badlands National Park, bighorn sheep are often seen in the Pinnacles area or near Cedar Pass.

BisonMillions of bison once roamed the Great Plains before hunting and sport killing decimated the popula-tion. Today, in Custer State Park, there are 1,300 bison, one of the largest publicly owned herds in the world. Bison can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. While they may seem docile, they are unpredict-able and have injured approach-ing visitors. They can run up to speeds of 35 miles per hour. WHERE TO SEE THEM: They often stop traffic along the 18-mile Wild-

life Loop Road in Custer State Park. In Badlands, see bison in the western portion of the northern edge of the park from Sage Creek Rim Road. At Wind Cave, look for them in grasslands, near prairie dog towns and on the edge of forests.

Wildlife GuideThere’s more than monuments in this incredible corner of South Dakota. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife.

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What Off-Season?Here are the top eight ways to enjoy the Black Hills area long after the summer season

ends and the crowds have left.

1. CUSTER STATE PARK BUFFALO ROUNDUP & ARTS FESTIVAL

WHEN: Sept. 28-Oct. 30, 2017WHY GO: Watch wranglers round up the park’s 1,300 bison on Sept. 29 and spend the rest of the time perusing the booths of about 150 artisans at the arts festival.

2. BLACK HILLS POWWOW IN RAPID CITYWHEN: Oct. 6-8,

2017WHY GO: One of the top Native American events in the nation, this powwow features hundreds of singers, dancers and artisans perform. Check out a fine arts show and watch tournaments for archery, softball and hand games.

3. BLACK HILLS SNOWMOBILE TRAIL SYSTEM

WHEN: Mid-December through end of March, weather permittingWHY GO: Beginners to advanced snowmobile enthusiasts love following the orange-colored diamond-shaped signs that mark 350 miles of groomed, well-mapped snowmobile-only trails.

WILDLIFE LOOP IN CUSTER STATE PARK WHEN: Winter

seasonWHY GO: While Custer State Park’s roads that snake through the higher elevations are not maintained in winter, the Wildlife Loop in the southern part of the park is quiet this time of year, making it a great place to spot bison, bighorn sheep, deer and elk.

5. SNOW JAM AND 28 BELOW FAT RACESWHEN: December

through March (check online for 2018 dates)WHY GO: Strap on your cross-country skis, hop on your fat bike or put on your snowshoes and join the fun as you race other snow enthusiasts on South Dakota’s fun winter trails.

6. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING WHEN: Early December to

mid-to-late March, depending on snowpackWHY GO: Experience solitude while cross-country skiing in any

of four areas in the Black Hills National Forest (Central Hills in Rapid City, Northern Hills in Spearfish, Northwestern Hills in Sundance and Southern Hills in Custer) and two state parks: Custer and Bear Butte.

7. DOWNHILL SKIING AT TERRY PEAK SKI AREA OR DEER MOUNTAIN

SKI RESORTWHEN: Usually mid-December through end of March or early

April, depending on snowpackWHY GO: Enjoy glitz-free downhill skiing and snowboarding (and tubing at Deer Mountain) at affordable prices.

8. SNOWSHOEING IN CUSTER STATE PARK OR ALONG THE GEORGE S.

MICKELSON TRAILWHEN: Winter season WHY GO: Custer State Park lends out youth and adult snowshoes for free. Stop in the visitor center to borrow them for a day or a weekend.

CUSTER STATE PARK BUFFALO ROUNDUP

SNOWMOBILING IN THE BLACK HILLS

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