The Black Hills area of South Dakota is an outdoor playground for children and adults of all ages. You can visit historical monuments like Mount Rushmore that was built in the 1940s or underground limestone caves that were formed millions of years ago. Get some fresh air at a number of state and national parks in the area by taking hikes or rolling down the car window driving down one of the scenic byways.
Visiting Monuments
Mount Rushmore is a quintessential American icon tucked away in the Black Hills of South Dakota. You can take guided or audio tours to the base of the carved mountain that took 400 men and almost 20 years to complete. Check out the carved faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, each as tall as a 6-foot building.
Stop by Crazy Horse Memorial to see the carved face of legendary Native American Crazy Horse, started in 1947 and finally completed in 1998. As of 2010, Crazy Horse's body and his horse---an extension of the original carving---are a "monumental" work in process.
Hiking
With seven national parks, monuments, forests and grasslands, you have plenty of hiking options. Together, there are 450 miles of hiking trails and 75 established hikes that range from a few miles to more than 100. Weather permitting, you can challenge yourself with the popular Centennial Trail, which is the longest trail at 111 miles, by doing the whole hike or 10-mile sections. Alternatively, some shorter hikes can be done under an hour.
Camping
You can camp in the Black Hills in RVs, tents, under the stars and, for those riding horses, at horse camps. Campsites range from make-shift camps off long trails to campsites with showers, arcades and restaurants. Depending on which campsite you choose, you can see all kinds of wildlife, including wild turkeys, deer, bears and even buffalo. While most national parks in the area allow camping, it is not allowed at Mount Rushmore National Park.
Spelunking
Cave exploring is abundant in the Black Hills as the world's second largest cave system lies under the ground. Check out the unique formations of calcite caves like stalagmites, columns, cave popcorn and flow-stone. Some caverns, like Black Hills Caverns, have guided tours on paved trails. Wind Cave National Park has five guided tours---including one that requires crawling---along with 30 miles of hiking trails above ground. If you are more advanced, be sure to visit Jewel Cave, which is at least 150 miles long, as long as you have proper equipment and training.
Museums
Visiting museums in the Black Hills area is a great way to learn about history, geography, archeology, or even to escape the cold on a winter's day. Choose from dozens of museums with exhibits on mining, woodcarving, Native Americans, mining, dinosaur fossils, wax figures and antique cars. Museums are located in Black Hills cities like Keystone, Kadoka, Custer and Rapid City.
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