Mount Rushmore Discovery Tour
Black Hills Day Trips:
Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore
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. This shorter tour offers 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 tour is designed to give you a relaxed and informative introduction to the Hills. It’s a chance to enjoy the scenery, learn about the land, and experience the character of this beautiful region in a shorter amount of time.
Depart:
Depart Rapid CIty
We depart from Rapid City, the second‑largest city in South Dakota on the eastern edge of the Black Hills.
First Stop:
Custer State Park Visitors Center
We’ll begin at the Custer State Park Visitor Center, where you can stretch your legs and watch a 20‑minute documentary about the park narrated by Kevin Costner before we head out to look for buffalo and other wildlife along the Wildlife Loop Road.
Second Stop:
Custer State Park
We then make our way into Custer State Park, a 72,000‑acre wildlife refuge known for its herd of 1,500 bison. The park also supports elk, pronghorn, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and other wildlife that move freely through its mix of grasslands, forests, and granite formations.
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.