I’ve got to be honest with you, South Dakota was never really one of those states that was on my radar. I associated the state with desolate boring prairie land. Boy, was I wrong! The Black Hills of South Dakota have so much to offer! From amazing national and state parks to caves and anti-gravity spots. There is even prairie land, which is anything but boring! The state really does have a little something for everyone. So, after 4 days I found myself saying words I never thought I would say, “I probably could have stayed a week.”
But if 4 days in Black Hills South Dakota is all you can spare this is how you should spend them.
- Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park
- Badlands National Park
- Cosmos Mystery Area and Crazy Horse Memorial
- Devil’s Tower (Yes, I know this is cheating as it’s in Wyoming!)
Day 1: Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park (Black Hills South Dakota’s Crown Jewel)
Now, since you are in the area, Mount Rushmore is a must see. Otherwise it would be kind of like going all the way to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Like any National Park, there are heavy crowds so you have to get there early. And, once you see the carving from the front, there is also a nice walk that takes you around the base to get a closer view.
These presidents were chosen for the foundation (Washington), expansion (Jefferson), preservation (Lincoln), and development (Roosevelt) of the United States. Though, to my disappointment, they didn’t go into the complicated legacies that these men left behind. Instead they focused on the tools and methods used to carve the mountain. Which, though interesting, doesn’t really complete the picture. Overall I would say that Mount Rushmore is maybe worth an hour of your time. And, if you can’t tell, I was not highly impressed.
Custer State Park
After Mount Rushmore, the rest of your day is better spent in Custer State Park. I consider Custer State Park to be the crown jewel of South Dakota’s Black Hills. There is everything from great hiking trails to awesome wildlife! In fact, the best Bison experience you can have is actually here, and not in Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Park. There is so much to do, that if you have the time I would highly recommend 2 days in this glorious park.
We spent our day hiking the Grace Coolidge Trail, 6 miles out and back, and driving the Needles Highway. The Needles Highway is this geological area where huge rock spires jut out of the land. It makes for some incredible scenery. We then drove the wildlife loop which let’s you see thousands of Bison in one area. On top of Bison you can see pronghorn deer, prairie dogs, and even feed wild burros! I can’t stress enough how much I loved this park!
Day 2: Badlands National Park
No trip to Black Hills South Dakota is complete without a day trip to Badlands National Park. Originally, I didn’t think we were going to have time to visit this park, but I am so glad we did! The Badlands are filled with some of the most unique landscapes and trails I have ever experienced. It is also a great park to see prairie dogs because they have a huge prairie dog town. We hiked the notch trail, which is a moderately tough trail due to slippery footing and a ladder you have to use both on the way up and down.
A word to the wise, be prepared when visiting this park. It’s very hot in summer! You need a lot of water. Further, prairie rattle snakes, apparently share holes with prairie dogs. Thank goodness we didn’t see any, but you need to always be on the look out for the rattle as you explore the prairie dog town or any of the trails. Again, I could have spent another day in this park. There were so many trails we left unexplored!
Day 3: Cosmos Mystery Area and Crazy Horse Memorial
So, Cosmos Mystery Area, is this weird spot where the laws of gravity are not occurring like they occur everywhere else on earth. It’s great fun for kids, as tour guides take you through the spot and let you partake in incredible feats. Water rolls uphill, you can stand on a wall at a 45 degree angle, and grow taller or shorter depending on where you stand. Though I don’t think they did a great job with limiting tour sizes (so remember your mask!) it was still a pretty fun way to spend an hour. I will also warn that those with easily upset stomachs may not want to participate, as the weird gravity will definitely throw it for a loop!
Crazy Horse Memorial
The other rock carving in the area is the Crazy Horse Memorial, which, when complete, is going to be much bigger than Mount Rushmore. Honestly, I wasn’t that impressed with this memorial either (maybe I’m just not into rock carvings). However, keep in mind that we traveled during a pandemic and due to the amount of people did not watch the informational video.
What was impressive was the Native American museum. There was a lot of information to read and take in. If you don’t know, the warrior Crazy Horse is famous for being able to stave off Custer in the Battle of Little Bighorn (aka Custer’s Last Stand). He was an influential figure in Native American history that we really don’t learn about in school. The museum, coupled with demonstrations of traditional Native American dancing makes this a worthy stop. Further, apparently they are going to make a lot of progress on the memorial in the next 10 years. So, I’ll have to make plans to come back!
Day 4: Devil’s Tower National Monument
Now, I know this is technically cheating since Devil’s Tower is actually in Wyoming, but since it’s so close we’re going to include it anyway! Devil’s Tower was America’s first National Monument. It is this incredible mountain that seems to instantly rise out of seemingly flat land. We knew we had to stop here because my husband has an obsession with Close Encounters of The Third Kind. As you get closer to the base, you start to see Native American prayer flags, where it does seem that the mountain holds some magic.
There are 3 ways to hike around the mountain, including a paved and very accessible hike around the base. We decided to hike from the lower parking lot, which starts you off in a prairie dog town. Devil’s Tower is one of the best places to see prairie dogs, as they seem more habituated and don’t scurry into their holes. Extend the experience by staying close to the mountain so you can view it in several lights and from several angles.
How To Add To Your Visit!
If you wanted to add to your time in South Dakota, you could visit the Minuteman Missile Site, Wind Cave National Park, and Jewel Cave National Park. I mean who even knew there was so much to do in this state? We unfortunately couldn’t see the caves due to hubby’s fear of tight spaces. So keep that in mind when planning!
Pretty amazing right? I told you that by the end of this post you would think that Black Hills South Dakota was worth your time! Is South Dakota now on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments!
While at Devil’s Tower we actually stayed in a Teepee! If you want to see more about the Teepee check out my stories on Instagram @TheGlobetrottingAccountant or follow along on pinterest!
