Black Hills, South Dakota: Mt. Rushmore & More

[HorseshoeHiker]

Spent a week exploring the Black Hills and still feel like I only scratched the surface. Everyone comes for Mt. Rushmore (and yes, it's impressive), but Custer State Park was my surprise highlight—wild buffalo herds, jaw-dropping drives, and Needles Highway's epic tunnels. Ate fry bread in Keystone, caught a wild west show in Deadwood, and nearly froze on a sunrise hike to Black Elk Peak. Don't miss the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs for prehistoric vibes, and if you have kids (or a sense of humor), Reptile Gardens is a riot. Anyone else have Black Hills stories or must-sees? Share 'em!

[Route66Rider]

Totally agree about Custer State Park! Got stuck in a “buffalo jam” for half an hour, which is basically the best traffic you can get. If you haven’t done Iron Mountain Road, put it on your list—views, switchbacks, and tunnels that frame Mt. Rushmore perfectly. Deadwood's history is wild, but watch your wallet at the slot machines!

[QuiltTrailQuester]

Quilt shops in Hill City are legendary—grabbed fabric for my travel quilt, and the locals shared a dozen hidden picnic spots. Loved the old gold mine tour in Lead—bring a jacket, it's colder than you'd think. Next trip, I want to hike Spearfish Canyon in the fall.

[DeltaDigger]

Drove the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway on a whim—absolutely gorgeous, and barely any crowds. Best burger of my life at a tiny diner in Hot Springs (still dreaming about it). Anyone camped at Sylvan Lake? Thinking about it for next summer.