Black Hills travel Guide
Tucked away in the southwestern corner of South Dakota, the Black Hills are a rugged, mysterious, and wildly beautiful escape that seem to rise out of nowhere. Towering pine-covered peaks, winding scenic byways, and hidden caves make this region a playground for adventurers AND history lovers. Whether you’re here for the hiking, the heritage, or just the serenity of the forest, the Black Hills offer so many different things that will create lasting memories.
where to stay
There are a ton of places to stay in or around the Black Hills. If you’re looking for a city vibe, then stay in Rapid City or Custer. There is plenty of wild camping as well as paid campgrounds scattered throughout the Black Hills. I stayed at a wild camping spot off of the Needles Highway and it was the perfect central spot!
If you’re doing a joint Badlands / Black Hills trip, then I would recommend camping at the Badlands Boondocking area. It has fantastic views, amazing sunrises and sunsets, and it’s FREE (which means no facilities). Or you could stay in Wall, SD, but these options are a bit limited since Wall is a smaller city. From Wall or the Badlands Boondocking area, it’s anywhere from 1 hour to 2 hours into the Black Hills depending on where you are going in the Black Hills. (Picture is from the Badlands Boondocking area)
Know ahead of time
Cost
You can drive through a lot of the Black Hills without paying a fee but once you get into the Custer State Park area it will cost you $25 per vehicle for a 1-7 day pass, $20 for motorcycles, or buy the annual pass for $60. Find out more info here.
There are views of Mount Rushmore in different areas of the Black Hills but if you want to get up close and personal, you have to pay a $10 entrance fee per vehicle. I opted out of paying the fee and just caught some glimpses from the road! Find more info here.
The Crazy Horse Memorial is another place you’ll be charged a fee. The fees range from $10 – $35. Find out more info here. I went when it was still under construction so I also opted out of getting up close for this one.
How Many Days To Spend in the Black Hills
This really depends on what you desire to do. I would say anywhere from 2-3days is plenty! It doesn’t take long to see things like Mount Rushmore or drive the famous curving highways. Add in a hike or two and 2-3 days will be plenty!
Time of year to Visit
Fall or Spring will be the best if you want to avoid the crowds. I visited in late March and barely saw anyone at viewpoints or pullovers. The hiking lots were empty until about 11am which is a rarity if you are a hiker. Unless you’re a motorcyclist, I would avoid going when the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is going on which typically happens the first couple weeks of August. As far as winter goes, a lot of highways get closed down during this time like the Needles Highway, so just be warned that you might not be able to do as much if you go in winter!
what to Do
#1 – Drive Needles Highway
The Black Hills is known for all of it’s famous highways, the Needles Highway being my favorite! As you drive along the 14 miles you will see needle-like spires, pass through tunnels, the Needles Eye Tunnel being one of the most famous, and plenty of pullovers for great views! If you’re visiting during tourist season (Summer), be prepared to experience crowds and traffic. I had the highway almost all to myself when I went in March!
*If you are driving an RV, be aware of the size of your RV, it might not fit through some of the tunnels
#2 – Drive Iron Mountain Road
Another famous highway is the Iron Mountain Road, which also shows up as US-16A on maps. This road is 17 miles that contains switchbacks, tunnels, tons of curves, and some great views of Mount Rushmore! You will get views of Mount Rushmore through the Scovel Johnson Tunnel & the Doane Robinson Tunnel! The Doane Robinson view is better in my opinion!
*If you are driving an RV, be aware of the size of your RV, it might not fit through some of the tunnels
#3 – Norbeck Overlook
If you need a break from the winding roads of US-16A, stop at Norbeck Overlook. You’ll have views of the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore!
#4 – Mount Rushmore
You can’t go to the Black Hills without visiting Mount Rushmore, or at least pulling over for some quick photo ops. You have to pay a $10 entrance fee per vehicle to get up close and read all about the history but as someone that didn’t love History class, I just took in the views from the roads right in front of it and all the scenic highways that also offer glimpses of it.
#5 – Crazy Horse Memorial
The last time I visited the Black Hills was in March of 2025 and the Crazy Horse Memorial was still under construction. It will depict the Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse, riding a horse and pointing to his tribal land. You are able to go visit it even as it’s under construction but have to pay an entrance fee. Find out more info here.
#6 – Spend time at a Lake
There are give big lakes located in Custer State Park that you could boat, swim, paddle board, and more at! I spent some time at Sylvan Lake, the most popular, but there is also Center Lake, Legion Lake, Stockage Lake, and Game Lodge Pond.
#7 – Wildlife
I didn’t see any wildlife but if you drive along the Wildlife Loop Road, you’ll most likely see some bison, pronghorn, mule deer, elk, coyote, and prairie dogs. Best chance to see them is in the morning or evening.
Depending on the season there are also small herds of burros that might come up to your car. I hear they aren’t shy and might put their heads through your window heads up!
#8 – Hiking
There are so many hiking trails throughout the Black Hills. My favorite being the Cathedral Spires – Devil’s Tower – Black Elk Peak Trail. Scroll down for more info on this hike and other’s I want to try in the future!
#9 – Visit Rapid City
I drove around Rapid City, grabbed coffee at Pure Bean, and checked out the life-sized statues of US presidents that line the corners of downtown. If you are looking for a variety of food options, Rapid City will be the best for it around the Black Hills.
#10 – Visit Keystone
Near Mount Rushmore is the city of Keystone that’s a very typical tourist city. During the summer it’ll be packed with people due to it’s offering of zip lines, adventure parks, and more. If you don’t mind crowds or go during the off season, I’d recommend checking out the shops, grabbing coffee at Holy Terror Coffee, and exploring a bit!
#11 – Visit the Badlands
If you have a day to spare, make sure you check out Badlands National Park! You can do everything in a day there. Check out my full Badlands Travel Guide!
Hikes
I did a combination of 3 hikes, Cathedral Spires to Little Devil’s Tower, to Black Elk Peak and I break down each part below. Here’ s a map of all 3:
Cathedral Spires Trail
The trail starts at the Cathedral Spires trailhead and parking lot on The Needles Highway. The parking is very limited so plan on getting there early to guarantee a spot. There’s no where down the road you can park so just be aware that if you don’t get one of the spots, you most likely can’t do this trail. The best part of this trail is the view of the Spires! But heads up, it is somewhat steep and rocky and you will have to hike over boulders and tree roots!
The best views of Cathedral Spires are right when you enter the canyon about, .7 miles into the hike. I read there isn’t much of a view at the end so I just spent time admiring the spires from the canyon area. You can turn around at this point or continue on to Little Devil’s Tower and/or Black Elk Peak!
Distance: 1.7 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 501 ft
Level: Moderate
More info here
Little Devil’s Tower
There are multiple trails that will take you to Little Devil’s Tower, the fastest starting at the Cathedral Spires Trailhead, which is what I did. Another popular option is to start it from Sylvan Lake. I did this hike in March when there was still snow on the ground so as I approached the top, I should have had crampons but made it in just regular hiking boots (would not recommend if there’s snow). To get to the top, you have to do some rock scrambling. It gets a bit confusing if you aren’t following a GPS, so just make sure to look out for the blue-painted arrows and diamonds that are on the rocks and that will lead you to the best route to the peak!
Once you get to the top, be careful because it is SUPER windy! I attempted to take some pictures with a phone stand but it kept blowing over so I gave up and just did some selfies. I loved the views from the top because you get to see the Cathedral Spires, Custer State Park, the Harney Peak Fire Lookout on top of Black Elk Peak and more!
From the Cathedral Spires Trailhead:
Distance: About 3 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 632 feet
Level: Moderate
This is the only link that AllTrails has for Little Devil’s Tower that makes it longer because you are starting at Sylvan Lake instead of the Cathedral Spires Trailhead.
Black Elk Peak via Cathedral Spires
Black Elk Peak is the tallest peak and the highest point east of the Rockies. After doing Cathedral Spires & Little Devil’s Tower, I backtracked and headed up to Black Elk Peak. This trail also has different starting points but I’m happy I started at Cathedral Spires so that I could see the spires, Little Devil’s Tower, and Black Elk Peak all in one. You can also start this trail at Sylvan Lake and do a loop trail or a rountrip trail that takes you out and back.
The views on the way up aren’t as rewarding as other parts of the hike, but the peak is worth it! On a clear day you’ll see Cathedral Spires, Little Devils Tower, Wind Cave National Park, and the Badlands. You can also hang out in the Harney Peak Fire Lookout. It is also VERY windy at the top and the lookout provides some relief from the elements.
From the Cathedral Spires Trailhead, including Little Devil’s Tower:
Distance: About 7 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1683 feet
Level: Hard
More info here
More Hikes
I plan on doing these hikes the next time I make it back to the Black Hills!
Devil’s Bathtub
Distance: 1.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 187 ft
Level: Moderate
More info here
Buzzards Roost
Distance: 2.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 469 ft
Level: Easy
More info here
Spring Creek and Flume Trail Loop
Distance: 4.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 426 ft
Level: Moderate
More info here
