The Black Hills (Wind Cave, Custer State Park, Jewel Cave, and more!)

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Podcast Episode Overview

Have you ever visited South Dakota? 

In this episode of Exploring the National Parks, we are exploring one of our favorite places to visit in this state – the Black Hills! We could honestly spend so much time here because we just can’t get enough. 

You will never run out of areas to explore in the Black Hills, and today, we’re talking all about our favorite places to go and things to do if you’re visiting this area of South Dakota.

In this episode, we cover: 

• The understated beauty of Wind Cave National Park
• What we love about Jewel Cave
• Things to do in Custer
• Wildlife sightings and scenic drives in Custer State Park
• Why the Crazy Horse Memorial is a must-see
• Other cities nearby that you can visit
• Our favorite town in the Black Hills
• The Old West experience in Deadwood
• Why we love Devils Tower in Wyoming 

If you need help planning your trip, we’re here for you! You can find everything you need to make your trip a reality in our South Dakota itinerary.

The Black Hills Overview

One of my absolute favorite places to visit in the American West is the Black Hills of South Dakota. This region is like a giant playground for outdoor lovers, history buffs, and road trippers. There is so much to see and do here. You’ve got caves, hiking trails, Wild West towns, iconic monuments, and even a brush with aliens! It’s the kind of place where no one in the family gets bored, and we find ourselves coming back again and again.

Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave is one of the most underrated national parks in the United States. It might not dazzle with giant stalactites and stalagmites like some of the bigger showstopper caves, but it’s home to a geological formation so rare you almost never see it anywhere else. 

Boxwork formations are fragile, honeycomb-like structures that form when cracks in the cave walls are filled in with minerals over millions of years, then exposed when the surrounding rock erodes away. They look like crystallized cardboard, and Wind Cave is absolutely full of them.

If you’ve been to caves like Carlsbad or Mammoth and are expecting something similar, you might be underwhelmed at first. But if you go in knowing what you’re seeing is rare and special, it’s amazing.

Wind Cave was also the very first cave in the world to become a national park. It was designated in 1903 by Theodore Roosevelt and is over 150 miles long, making it one of the world’s longest caves.

Tours are ranger-guided and often sell out, so be sure to grab your tickets on Recreation.gov before your visit.

Above ground, the park’s mixed-grass prairie is full of native wildlife like buffalo, elk, prairie dogs, and pronghorn. The Rankin Ridge Trail is a mile-long loop with sweeping views and sometimes a bison in your path. We also love driving the NPS 5 and NPS 6 roads to see even more wild animals in quieter corners of the park.

Just south of Wind Cave is the town of Hot Springs, home to the Mammoth Site. This active dig site has uncovered more than 60 mammoths and is fascinating to see in action. It’s one of our favorite stops in the Black Hills!

Jewel Cave and Pie in Custer

From Wind Cave, head north to the town of Custer. This is the perfect home base for exploring the southern Black Hills, especially if you’re visiting Custer State Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, or just want a good slice of pie.

Jewel Cave is only about 15 minutes from Wind Cave and offers a totally different cave experience. It’s the third-longest cave in the world and filled with traditional rock formations like flowstone, cave bacon, and stalactites. If you’ve never taken cave tours before, Jewel Cave might be a more striking first experience than Wind Cave.

The town of Custer itself has a fun mix of local businesses, souvenir shops, and unique dining options. We always stop at the Purple Pie Place for their amazing chicken pot pie and strawberry rhubarb pie. They even have a raspberry rhubarb jalapeño pie if you’re feeling adventurous.

Exploring Custer State Park

Custer State Park is one of the most beloved state parks in the country. Established in 1919, it covers over 110 square miles of native wildlife, scenic drives, and hiking trails. You can camp or stay in the historic State Game Lodge, a favorite of past presidents like Calvin Coolidge.

In the southern part of the park, the Wildlife Loop Road is a great way to see herds of buffalo, elk, pronghorn, burros, and even mountain goats. If you visit around Memorial Day or in the fall during Labor Day season, you might catch the annual Buffalo Roundup, where more than 1,300 bison are herded into corrals for health checks.

There are a few scenic routes you can’t miss. The Needles Highway winds through stunning granite spires and narrow tunnels. Iron Mountain Road includes pigtail bridges and three tunnels that perfectly frame Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Drive it from south to north for the best views of the iconic sculpture featuring George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Crazy Horse Memorial

Not far from Custer is the Crazy Horse Memorial. This massive sculpture in progress will eventually be the world’s largest mountain carving. When finished, it will depict Lakota warrior Crazy Horse pointing toward the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota.

Work began in 1948 and has focused primarily on the face so far. Visiting helps fund the project, and the site also includes a Native American educational center and a fantastic museum that celebrates the heritage of the Great Sioux Nation. Don’t miss the Indian taco at the on-site restaurant.

Each fall, the Crazy Horse Volksmarch gives you a rare chance to hike up to the outstretched arm of the sculpture. It’s the largest organized hike in the country!

Historic Towns: Keystone, Hill City, and Deadwood

The towns surrounding Mount Rushmore offer totally different vibes. Keystone is the more touristy option with saloon-style restaurants and mini golf. Hill City leans a little fancier with wineries and authentic German food at the Alpine Inn.

A steam train runs between the two towns and gives you a nostalgic ride through the Black Hills area. You’ll pass through parts of the Black Hills National Forest and see the kinds of rock formations and pine-covered hills that define the region.

Further north is one of our absolute favorite stops. Historic Deadwood is a gold rush town founded in 1876 that oozes Old West charm. It’s where Wild Bill Hickok met his end with the infamous dead man’s hand of aces and eights. You can catch Wild West shootout reenactments throughout town, visit his grave next to Calamity Jane at Mount Moriah Cemetery, and even play a few hands of blackjack at one of the casinos.

Just west of Deadwood is Spearfish Canyon, a beautiful canyon with thousand-foot canyon walls, scenic waterfalls, and quiet trails. Bridal Veil Falls and Roughlock Falls are two popular spots, and the whole Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway is a great way to enjoy a picnic lunch and soak in the scenery.

A Quick Detour into Wyoming at Devils Tower

If you have an extra day and want to add a cherry on top of your road trip, drive about 90 minutes west into Wyoming to Devils Tower National Monument. Rising 867 feet from the Earth’s surface, this tower is sacred to Native American culture and was famously featured in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. At the KOA campground near the monument, they screen the movie every night under the stars.

The Tower Trail circles the base and gives you incredible views and a look at prayer bundles left in the trees. For a quieter experience, try the Joyner Ridge Trail. This lesser-known path offers sweeping views of the tower.

Adventure Awaits in the Black Hills

This region is packed with great things to see, from Wind Cave to Deadwood to Devils Tower and everything in between. If you’re excited to hear more tips, catch Episode 27 for Mount Rushmore, and Episode 26 and Episode 28 to learn about Badlands National Park.

Don’t forget to pick up our South Dakota itinerary to make your trip even better with step-by-step guidance through the Black Hills region, Wind Cave National Park, Badlands National Park, and Devils Tower National Monument.

Safe travels, and maybe we’ll see you in the Black Hills!

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Links mentioned in this episode:

• Wind Cave National Park
• Wind Cave Can’t-Miss List
• The Mammoth Site
• Custer State Park
• Jewel Cave National Monument
• The Purple Pie Place
• Buffalo Roundup
• The Needles Highway
• Iron Mountain Road
• Crazy Horse Memorial
• Crazy Horse Volksmarch
• Ruby House – Keystone
• Hill City Alpine Inn
• 1880 Train
• Sturgis
• Deadwood
• Deadwood Saloon #10
• Deadwood Social Club
• Spearfish Canyon
• Devils Tower National Monument
• Devils Tower Can’t-Miss List

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