Black Hills National Forest Travel Guide

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Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota
Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota (courtesy, South Dakota Tourism)

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Black Hills National Forest Travel Travel Tips

  • Most of the forest's campgrounds are at an optimal 4,500 to 6,400 feet in elevation. You'll enjoy warm temperatures during the day and cool nights for sleeping.
  • The popular, 109-mile Mickelson Trail is open to horseback riders, who share the crushed-rock former railroad with hikers and quite a few bikers. Some commercial campgrounds and lodging along the way have corrals, but the forest's official horse camps (Sundance, Iron Creek, and Willow Creek) are all rather distant.
  • The 20-mile Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway south of Spearfish along Highway 14A takes you through the narrow, wooded canyon. About seven miles into the canyon, pull over the see Spearfish Creek tumble 40 feet at the elegant Bridal Veil Falls.
  • The Norbeck Wildlife Preserve is home to a variety of wildlife, including elk, deer, and mountain goat. It also contains rugged granite formations, small lakes, and lively grasslands with about 36 miles of hiking trails winding through it all.
  • Take your time along Highway 87 between Sylvan and Center Lakes, an area known as the Needles Highway. The winding road leads through a forest of hoodoo-like granite formations popular with both rock climbers and sightseers.

Black Hills National Forest Overview

Chiseled in granite high on a pine-clad cliff in South Dakota's fabled Black Hills are the portraits of four of America's greatest leaders. Since 1941, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt have gazed quietly across the Great Plains and a land they did so much to mold. Read More

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Hotels

from: $47

Super 8 Motel - Spearfish

440 Heritage Dr
Spearfish, SD 57783 Map

Distance: 0.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 2 class stars

Traveler Rating
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5.0 out of 5
3 reviews
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2.0
2.0

Coyote Blues Village B&B

23165 Horseman's Ranch Rd.
Rapid City, SD 57702

Distance: 0.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0

Elk Ridge Bed and Breakfast

12741 Matthew Ct.
Keystone, SD 57751

Distance: 0.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Expert Rated & Recommended
3.0
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Attractions

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

expert favorite attraction Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
southwestern South Dakota, 100 miles from Badlands National Park
Keystone, South Dakota 57751 Map

Distance: 0.0 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Four presidential faces carved from a mountain, considered one of the wonders of the world -- go for the nightly lighting ceremony.... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Crazy Horse Memorial

expert favorite attraction Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Black Hills of South Dakota on U.S. Highway 16/385 just 17 miles southwest of Mount Rushmore.
12151 Avenue of the Chiefs
Crazy Horse, South Dakota 57730 Map

Distance: 0.0 mi. (from destination center)

Description: In 1948, Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski began carving Crazy Horse Memorial, when Lakota Chief Henry... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0

Bear Country USA

Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
13820 S. Hwy. 16
Rapid City, South Dakota 57702 Map

Distance: 0.0 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Spy black bear, elk, cougars, and buffalo from the comfort of your car. A three-mile drive in Bear... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
2_0
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Airports

Major Airports near Black Hills National Forest

Distance (mi.)
Denver International Airport 286.8 map Flight Deals to DEN

Other Smaller Airports near Black Hills National Forest

Distance (mi.)
Rapid City Regional Airport 31.7 map
Gillette Campbell County Airport 97.4 map
Scottsbluff Scotts Bluff County Airport 141.8 map

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