Half-Day Tours in the Black Hills
Black Hills Day Trips:
Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore
Scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays
The Black Hills National Forest is one of the most remarkable landscapes in South Dakota, stretching across 1.25 million acres of mountains, forests, and open terrain. Our half-day tour offers a shorter experience that still gives you a meaningful look at the southern Hills and the places that make this region so special.
We spend about two hours of driving time between the sites we visit, taking in rugged rock formations, canyons, gulches, open grasslands, and mountain lakes. Along the way, we share stories about the rich history of the area, including Custer’s 1874 expedition, and highlight the unique features that define the Black Hills.
This half-day tour is designed to give you a relaxed and informative introduction to the Hills. It is a chance to enjoy the scenery, learn about the land, and experience the character of this beautiful region in a shorter amount of time.
First Stop:
Custer State Park
Our first destination is Custer State Park, a 72,000 acre state park and wildlife refuge. The park is home to a herd of 1,500 bison and a variety of other wildlife, including elk, antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mountain lions all which roam free over the varied terrain from rolling prairie grasslands to rugged mountains.
Second Stop:
Custer State Park Visitors Center
We will stop here for a short break to stretch our legs, watch a 20 minute documentary film about Custer State Park and narrated by Kevin Kostner, then head out to find the buffalo and other wildlife on the Wildlife Loop Road.
Third Stop:
Heddy Draw Overlook
We make a quick stop at the pullout by the Heddy Draw Overlook near the summit of Mount Coolidge to take in some breathtaking views of the Black Hills. At an elevation of approximately 5,500 feet above sea level, this has one of the most beautiful views in Custer State Park. From this pullout, we can also see the Mount Coolidge Lookout Tower, built by Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s, and still is manned today.
Fourth Stop (Lunch):
Legion Lake, Custer State Park
We stop for about an hour at the Legion Lake Restaurant for lunch. There is a sit down restaurant, a snack bar, and a coffee shop. Eat inside or by the lake and enjoy a short stroll.
Fifth Stop:
Iron Mountain Road
Next we get on the Iron Mountain Road, a stunning 17-mile scenic drive through the Peter Norbeck Wilderness Area. We traverse over 300 curves, go through 3 tunnels through granite outcroppings, and drive on the beautiful Pig Tail Bridges.
Final Stop:
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Our last stop of the day is at Mount Rushmore National Memorial for 1 hour 15 minutes where the rich history of the United States is told through the lives of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, enshrined on Mount Rushmore. Through their lives we learn about the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country. The memorial is surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills.
Return to Rapid:
Keystone
Upon leaving Mount Rushmore, we drive through the little historic town of Keystone at the base of Mount Rushmore, before the beautiful drive back to Rapid City.