September 2019

We were so blown away by the vast landscape and incredibly scenery of South Dakota. We also lucked out going during the off-season so crowds were low but the weather was still pleasant for hiking and being outdoors. Five days seemed to be the perfect amount of time for our road trip through the Black Hills area of South Dakota.

Accommodations: We rented a cabin at Whispering Winds Cottages and Campsites outside Hill City, South Dakota for the entirety of our stay. You really can’t beat the rates of this place for the location. It’s located right outside of Custer State Park/Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and about an hour and a half drive to the Badlands. They have all of the campground essentials and even recently opened their own tap room. We stayed in one of the smaller cabins and I would highly recommend staying here for anyone traveling to the area and interested in more of a glamping feel.

Tours and Activities: Our first stop after we landed in Gillette, Wyoming was at Devils Tower.
The one mile Tower Trail was a great way to stretch our legs and get up close views of the massive formation. Before heading to our cabin, we made a stop in Deadwood, South Dakota. The whole town is themed after its history with Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. It’s pretty silly and touristy but a fun place to walk around, hit up some casinos, and get a drink at a saloon.

On day two, we made a quick stop at Mount Rushmore to take some photos and hike the Presidential Trail, a series of steps and platforms that take you right up to the monument. We then headed to Badlands National Park for the rest of the day. This was definitely one of the main highlights of our trip. The landscape is naturally eroding so you are allowed to hike and climb off the beaten path. We really enjoyed the Notch Trail which includes a log ladder climb, and going off on our own at various pull-offs throughout the park.

Custer State Park was the other major highlight of our trip. We got up early to drive the Wildlife Loop where we saw hundreds of bison, donkeys that try to poke their head in your car window, and countless prairie dogs. We drove the winding roads of Needles Highway and did a short hike at the Cathedral Spires. Sylvan Lake was a great end of the day in Custer with stunning views and a nice stroll around the lake. We capped off the evening visiting several of the breweries and wineries in Hill City – some better than others.

On our last full day we drove down to the Crazy House Memorial, which I think has made progress since I visited with my family in the 90s. We then swung through Pactola Reservoir on our way to Rapid City for some putt-putt and an escape room.