SOUTH DAKOTA TRAVEL GUIDE
Welcome to the Bigroads ultimate travel guide to South Dakota! Hopefully this page and its information helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to South Dakota.
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South Dakota instantly became one of my favorite states after my initial visit. I've been back a few times since, and I'm always happy to go back again. What really draws me to the state is the Black Hills region in the western side of the state. The scenery and wildlife is fantastic, and there's plenty of tourist attractions too. I think spending at least a full week in the Black Hills is something every American family should do at some point.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in South Dakota? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in South Dakota, in no particular order:
✮ Spend a week (or more) in the Black Hills region, an area absolutely packed with tourist attractions and outdoor activities
✮ Drive the park roads and wander the trails of Badlands National Park
✮ Visit Mt. Rushmore, either during the day or for the evening lighting ceremony, making sure to try Thomas Jefferson's vanilla ice cream while there
✮ Visit Falls Park in Sioux City and then ride some of the city's paved bike trails
✮ Cycle some (or all) of the 106-mile George S. Mickelson Rail Trail, an unpaved route that travels from Deadwood to Edgemont in the Black Hills
✮ See buffalo, pronghorn, and donkeys roaming wild in Custer State Park
✮ Go underground on a guided cave tour at Jewel Cave National Monument and/or Wind Cave National Park
✮ Drive the Needles Highway in Custer State Park and walk around Sylvan Lake (and maybe take a quick swim, too)
✮ Shop at the gigantic Wall Drug store in Wall near the western end of Badlands National Park
✮ Photograph the Corn Palace in Mitchell, one of the icons of roadside america attractions in the U.S.
If I could select only one place to visit in South Dakota, I would choose the Black Hills. If you've never been, I recommend staying for at least 5-7 days. You could easily stay for even 10 days. There's really that much to see and do there, especially for families. It's absolutely one of my favorite areas of the country, very comparable to the fun you can have in the White Mountains region of NH, Branson MO, or the Great Smoky Mountains area of TN/NC.
Interested in discovering great attractions in other U.S. states? My 10 Great Attractions in Each U.S. State guide covers the best attractions from coast-to-coast. And here is a guide to the best One-Week Vacations in the U.S..
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in South Dakota. I believe each of these attractions should be on your South Dakota bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Western South Dakota (including the Black Hills region and Rapid City)
✮ ATV/ORV-ing in the Black Hills - there are thousands of miles of off-road trails and many rental companies to choose from in the region
✮ Bear Country USA, Rapid City - an excellent (mostly drive-through) wildlife park featuring North American animals; don't miss the bear cubs
✮ Big Thunder Gold Mine, Keystone - one of several gold mine-themed attractions in the Black Hills; underground mine tours and gold panning
✮ Black Elk Peak, Custer - take a moderately challenging hike to reach the highpoint of South Dakota; great views from a stone tower
✮ Black Hills Balloons, Custer - hot air ballooning with spectacular views of the Black Hills
✮ Black Hills National Forest - 300-plus miles of hiking and backpacking trails; dozens of campgrounds; outstanding ATV/ORV trails
✮ Black Hills Helicopters, Keystone - helicopter rides with outstanding views of the Black Hills
✮ Black Hills Playhouse - a beloved summer theatre in the heart of the Black Hills
✮ Broken Boot Gold Mine, Deadwood - one of several attractions in the Black Hills that offers underground mine tours and gold panning
✮ Chapel In The Hills, Rapid City - a beautiful Norwegian stave church; currently free but donations encouraged
✮ Custer State Park - one of the top 10 state parks in the U.S.: outstanding wildlife viewing (e.g. bison); great hiking; Sylvan Lake is very pretty
✮ Dahl's Chainsaw Art, Keystone - impressive chainsaw art that provide a few fun photo opportunities
✮ Downtown Deadwood - historic district with casinos, shops, and restaurants that is best for adults (it's not family-friendly in my opinion)
✮ Downtown Rapid City - historic district with shops, restaurants, public parks, life-sized presidential statues, and more
✮ Fort Hays Old West Town & Dinner Show, Rapid City - famed music & comedy dinner show, similar to those in Branson or Pigeon Forge
✮ George S. Mickelson Trail - one of the best rail trails in the U.S. (and the best in SD); unpaved 108+ mile route from Deadwood to Edgemont
✮ Iron Mountain Road (US-16A), Custer - one of the best scenic drives in SD; extremely curvy with pigtail bridges and one-lane tunnels
✮ Jewel Cave National Monument, Custer - one of the longest caves in the world; guided tours available
✮ Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, Hot Springs - see amazing (and huge) mammoth fossils that have been left intact in the ground
✮ McDonald's Quarter Pounder Monument, Rapid City - a roadside attraction of a giant bronze Quarter Pounder
✮ Mount Rushmore National Memorial - a must-visit American memorial; don't miss the ranger talks or the night lighting ceremony
✮ Needles Highway (SD 87), Custer - one of the best scenic drives in the state (some would say its one of the best in the U.S.)
✮ Reptile Gardens, Rapid City - perhaps the finest reptile-focused zoo in the world; don't miss the Alligator show or the giant turtles
✮ Rush Mountain Adventure Park, Keystone - cave tours, mountain coaster, aerial adventure park, zip-lining, and more family-friendly activities
✮ Rushmore Tramway Adventures, Keystone - alpine slide, aerial adventure park, zip-lining, and more family-friendly attractions
✮ Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center, Lead - mining history and views of the deepest gold mine in the northern hemisphere
✮ Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (US-14A) - one of the best scenic drives in the state; access to several good waterfalls and hiking trails
✮ Storybook Island, Rapid City - a great amusement park for young children
✮ Sturgis Motorcycle Rally - the most famous motorcycle rally in the U.S. (500,000+ people); typically held in early August
✮ Tatanka: Story of the Bison, Deadwood - bison and Native American exhibits, sculptures, and art
✮ Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway, Custer - a scenic drive that offers outstanding wildlife watching (bison sightings are almost guaranteed)
✮ Wind Cave National Park - great guided cave tours are offered daily in season; outstanding wildlife viewing (e.g. bison) and good hiking trails
You may notice that I have omitted Crazy Horse Memorial in my 5-star attractions list above. This is because very little noticeable progress has been made on the carving in the last few decades. Many folks feel that this attraction is just a giant money grab instead of an actual honor to Crazy Horse. That being said, some people do enjoy the experience of visiting. I last visited in 2024 and felt that they were starting to make a little progress versus a few years ago (finally).
Central South Dakota (including Wall and Badlands National Park)
✮ Badlands National Park - outstanding prairie & badlands scenery; fantastic day hikes and camping; backpacking in Sage Creek Wilderness
✮ Dignity of Earth and Sky, Chamberlain - giant sculpture of an Indigenous woman on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River
✮ Giant Prairie Dog, Philip - roadside attraction and a fun photo-op; there are many prairie dogs to watch on site
✮ Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, Philip - tour one of several Cold War-era ICBM missile system sites (reservations required for tours)
✮ Petrified Wood Park & Museum, Lemmon - a roadside attraction built of beautiful petrified wood; located close to the border of SD/ND
✮ Pioneer Auto Museum, Murdo - a large and impressive auto museum with more than 275 vehicles on display
✮ Wall Drug Store, Wall - many will call this giant gift shop a 'tourist trap', but it's still fun at least once; don't miss the photo-ops in the back
Eastern South Dakota (including Aberdeen and Sioux Falls)
✮ Catfish Bay Water Ski Park - Greatest Show on H2O, Sioux Falls - one of the best and most famous water skiing shows in the U.S.
✮ Corn Palace, Mitchell - roadside attraction featuring a large, funky building with siding made of real corn; several good photo-ops
✮ Falls Park, Sioux Falls - beautiful urban park featuring impressive waterfalls
✮ Ingalls Homestead, De Smet - learn about the famous author and farm life
✮ National Music Museum, Vermillion - celebrates all things music & instruments
✮ Palisades State Park - features geological formations (e.g. quartzie cliffs), camping, hiking, and rock climbing
✮ Porter Sculpture Park, Montrose - 50+ art sculptures in an outdoor park; great photo-ops
✮ SculptureWalk & Arc of Dreams Monument, Sioux Falls - urban walk past numerous art sculptures
✮ Sioux Falls Bike Trails, Sioux Falls - nearly 30 miles of paved, multi-use pathways that link the city's many parks and green spaces
✮ St. Joseph Cathedral, Sioux Falls - very attractive Catholic cathedral and parish church
✮ Storybook Land, Aberdeen - Wizard & Oz and nursery rhyme themed-park for young children
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in South Dakota? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
Discover 5-star attractions in neighboring states using these state guides:
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WY
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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These towns and cities in South Dakota are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Deadwood - a small town known for its gambling parlors, historic buildings, Wild West history, and the great George S. Mickelson rail trail
✮ Hill City - a very small town that serves as a western gateway to the Black Hills region; has several gift shops and tourist attractions
✮ Keystone - a very small town that serves as an eastern gateway to the Black Hills region; has several gift shops and tourist attractions
✮ Rapid City - a medium-sized city near the famed Black Hills region; the city has a lively historic downtown area and several good museums
✮ Sioux Falls - a large city in eastern South Dakota that is famous for its urban waterfall park and 30-plus miles of paved bike trails
My favorite city in South Dakota is Rapid City - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 3-4 nights there to explore the city and the surrounding area; you should also consider a day trip to Devil's Tower National Monument in Wyoming if you stay here
My favorite small town in South Dakota is Hill City or Keystone - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 5-7 nights there to explore all that the Black Hills region has to offer. This is one of my very favorite areas in the country.
If you like cycling, visit Deadwood or Sioux Falls.
If you like gambling, visit Deadwood.
If you like hiking, visit Hill City or Keystone.
If you like ATV/ORV-ing, visit Custer, Deadwood, Keystone, or Spearfish.
If you like family-friendly tourist attractions, visit Hill City, Keystone, or Wall.
If you want to tour a gold mine, visit Deadwood or Keystone.
If you want to visit Mt. Rushmore, stay in Hill City or Keystone.
Hill City and Keystone are both very touristy but both are very close to many of the best attractions in the Black Hills. I don't think either is particularly better than the other. They are pretty similar.
Deadwood is best for adults as the focus there is mostly gambling and historical museums. I would only bring kids there during the day. The legendary (unpaved) George S. Mickelson Trail rail trail also stems from there.
Read my Favorite Places in the U.S. Guide to find new and interesting towns and cities across the country.
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WHAT IS SOUTH DAKOTA FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that South Dakota is famous or well known for:
✮ ATV/ORV-ing
✮ badlands
✮ bison / buffalo
✮ caves / cave tours
✮ corn
✮ family-friendly tourist attractions
✮ fossil beds
✮ gambling
✮ geological formations (e.g. granite cliffs and rock spires)
✮ gold mines
✮ motorcycling (e.g. Sturgis Rally)
✮ Native American reservations, history, and culture
✮ prairies
✮ prairie dogs
✮ rockhounding / rock shops
✮ scenic drives
Visit my What is Each U.S. State Famous For? guide to explore the unique characteristics of other states.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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There are two national parks and several other federally-managed parks and properties in South Dakota:
National Parks
✮ Badlands National Park - outstanding prairie & badlands scenery; fantastic day hikes and camping; backpacking in Sage Creek Wilderness
✮ Wind Cave National Park - great guided cave tours are offered daily in season; outstanding wildlife viewing (e.g. bison) and good hiking trails
National Monuments
✮ Jewel Cave National Monument, Custer - one of the longest caves in the world; guided tours available
National Forests
✮ Black Hills National Forest
✮ Custer-Gallatin National Forest
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks
✮ Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
✮ Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
✮ Missouri National Recreational River
✮ Mount Rushmore National Memorial
I recommend 1-2 days for exploring Badlands National Park. There are a good number of trails that are worth hiking there. You are likely to see wildlife there, including bison. Make sure to visit Robert's Prairie Dog Town.
Unless you want to hike some of the park's trails, a few hours is usually enough time to visit Wind Cave National Park. Reserve a guided cave tour online and well in advance as they often sell out.
Take note that Devil's Tower National Monument in Wyoming isn't far from the western South Dakota border. I absolutely recommend taking a day trip from the Black Hills into Wyoming to visit that monument. Or even better, stay near Devil's Tower for 1-2 nights. Most people have seen photographs of this magnificent rock formation before.
For more information on South Dakota's national parks, visit the South Dakota page of the National Park Service.
For an overview of all of America's national parks, explore my U.S. National Parks Guide.
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STATE PARKS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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South Dakota has more than a dozen state parks, plus many other state-managed areas. Many would agree that these represent South Dakota's finest state parks:
Flagship / Premier State Parks:
✮ Custer State Park - geological formations; scenic drives; hiking trails; excellent wildlife viewing (bison & wild donkeys); camping; biking
Other Notable State Parks:
✮ Bear Butte State Park - hike up Bear Butte to score scenic views; camping; at the northernmost point of the 111-mile Centennial Trail
✮ Palisades State Park - features geological formations (e.g. quartzie cliffs), camping, hiking, and rock climbing
My favorite state park in South Dakota is, by far, Custer State Park. Custer is undeniably one of the finest state parks in the U.S.. It has awesome hiking, scenic driving, and near-guaranteed wildlife viewing (e.g. bison, pronghorn, and wild donkeys). The state park is also close to tons of other outdoor activities and attractions in the Black Hills. If you haven't been to the Black Hills, I would plan a trip to spend 7-10 days there and explore all that it has to offer.
Find the best state parks across the country using my Top 100 State Parks in the U.S. guide.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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South Dakota only has a few natural waterfalls. Here are some of the best waterfalls in South Dakota:
✮ Bridal Veil Falls - 60-foot falls visible from the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (US-14A) in the Black Hills National Forest
✮ Cascade Falls - a small set of falls with good swimming; requires a short walk from a trailhead on SD-71 about 11 miles SW of Hot Springs
✮ Devil's Bathtub - access via a 1.5 mile round-trip hike from the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (US-14A) in the Black Hills National Forest
✮ Roughlock Falls - access via Roughlock Falls Road off the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (US-14A) in the Black Hills National Forest
✮ Sioux Falls - the highlight of beautiful Falls Park which is just north of the downtown area of Sioux Falls
✮ Spearfish Falls - access via Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (US-14A) in the Black Hills National Forest
Thunderhead Underground Falls is another noteworthy waterfall in South Dakota, but it is located on private property. It was formerly open as a tourist attraction, but the property is closed to the public as of 2022.
For a listing of all known waterfalls in South Dakota, visit the World Waterfall Database website.
Chase more waterfalls across the country with my Best Waterfalls in the U.S. guide.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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South Dakota has several outstanding scenic drives. The best scenic drives in South Dakota include:
✮ Badlands Loop Road (SD-240) - a 39-mile paved loop in Badlands National Park
✮ Iron Mountain Road (US-16A) - a 17-mile paved route in the heart of the Black Hills in western SD
✮ Needles Highway (SD-87) - a 14-mile paved route in the heart of the Black Hills in western SD
✮ Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway - a 70-mile paved route in the heart of the Black Hills in western SD
✮ Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (US-14A) - a 19-mile paved drive in the northwestern corner of the Black Hills in western SD
✮ Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway - a 18-mile scenic drive in Custer State Park, which is in the heart of the Black Hills in western SD; outside of Yellowstone and Alaska, this might just be the best wildlife scenic drive in the country
It's tough to choose a favorite scenic drive in South Dakota because they are quite different. Some have mountain views, some have canyon views, and some have prairie/badlands views. All six I've mentioned above are highly recommended. If I absolutely had to choose one, it would be the Badlands Loop Road.
Badlands Loop Road (highway SD-240) passes through the heart of Badlands National Park, which I consider to be one of the U.S.'s most beautiful parks. The western end of this loop is about 85 miles (or 1.5 hours) east of Mt. Rushmore. Plan on spending a full day driving and exploring the areas off this road. While in this area, consider also visiting the famous Wall Drug Store in downtown Wall.
Iron Mountain Road (highway US-16A) is a portion of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway. This paved road in the Black Hills connects Custer State Park with Mt. Rushmore. Highlights include 314 curves, 14 switchbacks, 3 pigtails, 3 tunnels and simply stunning forest and rugged rock scenery. Vehicles must be able to squeeze through a tunnel that is only 11' 6" wide by 10' 9" high. This road generally stays open in winter, unless there are dangerous conditions present.
Needles Highway (highway SD-87) is also a portion of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway. This paved road in the Black Hills cuts through Custer State Park and passes the famous "Needles Eye" formation. Vehicles must be able to fit through a tunnel that is 8' 9" wide by 10’10” high. This road is closed in winter
Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway combines highways US-385, SD-244, SD-87, US-16A into two extraordinarily scenic and rewarding driving loops. This byway includes the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road scenic drives that are mentioned above, so if you drive all of this byway you've essentially done those as well. Vehicles must be able to fit through tunnels that are as small 8' 9" wide and 10’9” high. Portions of this road (e.g. Needles Highway) are closed in winter.
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (highway US-14A) is a bit further away from the primary attractions of the Black Hills. The northern end of the route is 65 miles northwest of Mt. Rushmore.
If you are driving south along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (US-14A) from the town of Spearfish, visit these highlights
in this order: Bridal Veil Falls (visible from road), Devil's Bathtub (1.6 mile round-trip hike), Spearfish Falls (0.8 mile round-trip hike), and Roughlock Falls (2.1 mile round-trip hike). This road is open in winter.
Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway loops through Custer State Park in the Black Hills. Wildlife viewing is almost guaranteed, especially buffalo. You may also see deer, elk, prairie dogs, and/or burros.
Discover great scenic drives across the country with my Best Scenic Drives in the U.S. guide.
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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Here is a list of some of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in South Dakota:
Western South Dakota
✮ George S. Mickelson Trail - this 109-mile long unpaved rail trail from Deadwood to Edgemont in the Black Hills region of western SD is widely considered one of the very best rail trails in the U.S.
Eastern South Dakota
✮ Sioux Falls Bike Trails / Sioux Falls River Greenway - huge paved bike trail system that travels in and around Sioux Falls
For detailed information on all known rail trails in South Dakota, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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South Dakota has a few notable amusement parks. The best amusement parks in South Dakota include:
✮ Rush Mountain Adventure Park, Keystone - cave tours, mountain coaster, aerial adventure park, zip-lining, and more attractions
✮ Rushmore Tramway Adventures, Keystone - alpine slide, aerial adventure park, zip-lining, and more family-friendly attractions
✮ Storybook Island, Rapid City - very good child-friendly amusement park
✮ Storybook Land, Aberdeen - Wizard & Oz and nursery rhyme themed-park for kids
✮ Wild Water West, Sioux Falls - medium-sized water park with other family-friendly attractions (e.g. go-karts)
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BEST MUSEUMS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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South Dakota has several notable museums. The best museums in South Dakota include:
Western South Dakota
✮ Adams House, Deadwood
✮ Adams Museum, Deadwood
✮ Days of '76 Museum, Deadwood
✮ Journey Museum and Learning Center, Rapid City
✮ Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, Hot Springs
✮ Museum of Geology, Rapid City
✮ South Dakota Air and Space Museum, Rapid City - take note that the indoor portion of this museum is closed as of 2022
✮ Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame, Sturgis
Central South Dakota
✮ Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, Philip
✮ Pioneer Auto Museum, Murdo
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BEST DAY HIKES IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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South Dakota offers many great hiking trails, with the best hiking found in or near the Black Hills region in the western portion of the state. Here are some of the best day hikes in South Dakota:
Black Hills Region
✮ Black Elk Peak, Black Elk Wilderness - the highpoint of South Dakota; has a large stone firetower on top; an outstanding day hike
✮ Cathedral Spires Trail, Custer State Park - beautiful geology (including some of the largest rock spires in the Black Hills)
✮ Crow Peak Trail, Black Hills National Forest - challenging hike to scenic views
✮ Devil's Bathtub, Black Hills National Forest - pools and waterfalls; access via Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (US-14A)
✮ Little Devil's Tower, Custer State Park - some of the most interesting geology in South Dakota; trailhead on SD-87
✮ Presidential Trail, Mount Rushmore National Memorial - this trail will get you much closer to the presidential heads than the normal views
✮ Roughlock Falls, Black Hills National Forest - easy hike to small but attractive and photogenic waterfalls
✮ Sunday Gulch Trail, Custer State Park - fun hike that includes hiking up boulders with attached handrails and stairs; starts at Sylvan Lake
✮ Sylvan Lake Shore Trail, Custer State Park - a great (relatively) easy day hike around what is arguably South Dakota's prettiest lake; you can swim here as well
All Other Areas of South Dakota
✮ Castle Trail, Badlands National Park - longest official trail in Badlands National Park; can be combined with the Medicine Root Trail
✮ Door Trail, Badlands National Park - short hike to great views of badlands; you can explore off-trail here (and many people do)
✮ King and Queen Trail, Palisades State Park - short hike in the most famous section of the state park
✮ Notch Trail, Badlands National Park - 1.5 mile round-trip hike to dramatic views of badlands; requires climbing a tall log ladder (which can be fun or scary, depending upon who you ask)
✮ Summit Trail, Bear Butte State Park - hike 3.75 miles round-trip to this fine summit; this is the northern end of the 111-mile Centennial Trail
The highpoint of South Dakota is Black Elk Peak (7,244'), and it's a fun and challenging day hike that starts within Custer State Park. There's a stone firetower on top that is very unique. Views are awesome and you might see some mountain goats en route. I consider this hike a top 100 day hike in the U.S. Stay in one of the small towns in the Black Hills if you'd like to hike this mountain.
To find more hikes in South Dakota or to learn more about the hikes I've listed above, I recommend purchasing hiking guidebooks on Amazon (or from your local retailer). Another option is using AllTrails, but you have to be very careful when using that website as its information is sometimes wrong or incomplete. Published hiking guidebooks will likely always be significantly better than the information you find online.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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South Dakota offers several good backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in South Dakota include:
✮ Black Hills National Forest - many different options exist
✮ Centennial Trail - 123-mile backpacking route from Wind Cave National Park to Bear Butte State Park; trail conditions are variable
✮ Indian Creek in Buffalo Gap National Grassland
✮ Sage Creek Wilderness Area in Badlands National Park
The premier backpacking trip in South Dakota is the Centennial Trail. This 123-mile route leads from Wind Cave National Park north to the open summit of Bear Butte in Bear Butte State Park. Most people hike the trail in 7-10 days. The trail quality is mostly good, but the ability to perform brief route-finding is required. You'll also share portions of the trail with ATV/ORV riders, which some consider less than ideal. The biggest challenge of this trail is probably the unpredictable weather (storms, excessive heat) and somewhat limited water resupply points.
You can pretty much go backpacking anywhere in Badlands National Park, so long as you hike far enough away from the road and you camp where you are not visible from the road. Check in with the NPS staff at the visitor center to learn more.
Visit the Backpacking Routes website for information on many great backpacking routes in the U.S., including South Dakota's Centennial Trail.
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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South Dakota offers many excellent adventures, including these classics:
✮ ATV/ORV-ing in/near Custer, Deadwood, Hill City, Keystone, or Rapid City
✮ Backpacking Black Hills National Forest
✮ Backpacking Indian Creek
✮ Backpacking the Centennial Trail
✮ Backpacking the Sage Creek Wilderness Area in Badlands National Park
✮ Caving in Wind Cave National Park
✮ Caving in Jewel Cave National Monument
✮ Cycling the 30+ mile paved Sioux Falls Bike Trails network
✮ Cycling the 109 mile George S. Mickelson Trail from Edgemont to Deadwood - one of the best unpaved rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Day hiking Black Elk Peak
✮ Day hiking Custer State Park
✮ Driving the Needles Highway - many curves and some tight spaces (e.g. Needles Eye Tunnel)
✮ Fly fishing in Spearfish Canyon
✮ Helicopter rides in Keystone
✮ Horseback riding in Hill City
✮ Hot air ballooning in Custer
✮ Ice climbing in Spearfish Canyon
✮ Ice fishing on one of many frozen lakes and ponds
✮ Mountain biking near Spearfish
✮ Paddle the Missouri River
✮ Rock climbing and bouldering in the Black Hills
✮ Rock climbing in Palisades State Park
✮ Snowmobiling on some of more than 1,500 miles of trails
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SKI RESORTS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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There is only one notable ski/snowboard resort in South Dakota, and that is Terry Peak. This ski resort is found in the Black Hills and it has 30 trails with a 1,100ft vertical drop from a 7,100ft summit.
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For offbeat and unique South Dakota attractions, visit one or both of these amazing websites: Atlas Obscura and Roadside America
If you are visiting the Black Hills region, you should also consider taking a day trip into Wyoming to visit Devil's Tower National Monument. It's one of the best national monuments in the U.S. and the giant rock should look very familiar to you.
If I had a full week to spend in the Black Hills region, I would try to do all of the following:
✮ Drive the Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway in Custer State Park
✮ Drive all 66-miles of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway in the heart of the Black Hills
✮ Take a hike or two in Custer State Park (e.g. Black Elk Peak, Little Devil's Tower, etc.)
✮ Visit Mt. Rushmore during the day and/or evening
✮ Wake up early and take a day trip east to visit Badlands National Park and the Wall Drug Store in Wall
✮ Visit one or two of the many tourist attractions in the Black Hills region (e.g. adventure parks, zoos, museums, etc.)
✮ Take a guided cave tour at Wind Cave National Park or Jewel Cave National Monument
✮ Spend a day exploring either Deadwood or Rapid City.
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN SOUTH DAKOTA
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in South Dakota:
✮ chislic
✮ lefse
✮ kuchen
For outstanding local food and mom & pop-style restaurants in South Dakota (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in South Dakota (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each U.S. state, explore my Road Trip Food guide.
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OTHER KEY SOUTH DAKOTA INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about South Dakota:
State Capital:
Pierre
Major Airports:
Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) and Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD), although both are only medium-sized regional airports; you can also fly into Denver, CO or Minneapolis, MN and then drive into South Dakota
Largest Cities:
Sioux Falls (200,243), Rapid City (76,053), Aberdeen (28,975), Brookings (23,641), Watertown (22,889)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-29, I-90
State Highpoint:
Black Elk Peak (7,244') in Custer State Park in southwestern South Dakota; a challenging day hike is required to reach the top; this is one of my very favorite state high points since I love the scenery and the stone tower on top
Professional Sports Teams:
None
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Sac City, Spearfish, and Tea
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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Boxwork in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
Buffalo near Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
Corn Palace, Mitchell, South Dakota
Yellow Mounds Overlook, Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Mt. Rushmore National Memorial at night, South Dakota
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Wall Drug Store in Wall, South Dakota
Iron Mountain Road (Highway SD 16A) in the Black Hills, South Dakota
MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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