Black Hills Thread

[Al_4_ISU 12470]

Anyone with a lot of familiarity with the Black Hills out there?

We swung through for a day on our way home from Yellowstone last year and had our expectations wildly exceeded.  It was easy to get away from the touristy shit, and the area was really fucking beautiful.  And it's less than 8 hours from home.  

We spent a night in Spearfish which was a cool town (hit Spearfish Brewing and Crow Peak Brewery), and a night in Lead (adjacent to Deadwood).  Hiked Black Elk Peak (high point of the Black Hills), which was absolutely gorgeous, and had a good stop at the Miner Brewery/Prairie Berry Winery on our way to Lead.

We'll be going back in June spending 3 days in Hill City and 1 in Spearfish.  Have some hikes and mountain biking planned in the Black Elk Wilderness/Needles Highway area.  While we have a taste of the area, we are far from experienced with it.  Any recs out there?  In my experience, you name the place and there's at least 3-4 Surly posters with extensive knowledge of it.  We aren't terribly interested with the tourist traps, and probably won't go back to Deadwood at all (don't care for gambling), but it seems like there was kind of an endless potential for hidden gems there.

[SydneyCarton 48112]

30 minutes ago, Al_4_ISU said:

Anyone with a lot of familiarity with the Black Hills out there?

We swung through for a day on our way home from Yellowstone last year and had our expectations wildly exceeded.  It was easy to get away from the touristy shit, and the area was really fucking beautiful.  And it's less than 8 hours from home.  

We spent a night in Spearfish which was a cool town (hit Spearfish Brewing and Crow Peak Brewery), and a night in Lead (adjacent to Deadwood).  Hiked Black Elk Peak (high point of the Black Hills), which was absolutely gorgeous, and had a good stop at the Miner Brewery/Prairie Berry Winery on our way to Lead.

We'll be going back in June spending 3 days in Hill City and 1 in Spearfish.  Have some hikes and mountain biking planned in the Black Elk Wilderness/Needles Highway area.  While we have a taste of the area, we are far from experienced with it.  Any recs out there?  In my experience, you name the place and there's at least 3-4 Surly posters with extensive knowledge of it.  We aren't terribly interested with the tourist traps, and probably won't go back to Deadwood at all (don't care for gambling), but it seems like there was kind of an endless potential for hidden gems there.

I can't claim extensive knowledge. My parents had a summer home there after they retired for awhile, just a little track home in Spearfish they used to avoid Houston summers. So I visited the area 2 or 3 times. I certainly agree that it is gorgeous, underrated, and a great use of time. I can't remember much on specifics, and I'm sure the restaurants have changed quite a bit since I was last there (at least 8 or more years). That being said, we used to drive the Spearfish canyon once or twice a week, just a delightful drive. There's a restaurant halfway through the canyon loop that has some decent fish they pull right from the river, I believe. And if you're lucky you can see eagles fly in and out of their nests on the canyon wall while eating. The loop is about a 30-45 minute drive.

If you're an RV or camping guy, there's a public campground in the middle of spearfish that is one of the most beautiful places I can imagine to hole up. It's next to a fishery. I used to jog to that park, it's got a huge river bordering the entire park. You can literally pitch a camp and be 10 yards from an amazing river. I'd run over the bridges and see elk and deer just chilling mid river in the mornings. There's also a decent little golf course if that's your thing with some nice elevation drops. I can't golf for shit but it's still fun. 

Black Hills is also cool, obviously. I think they have a casino now, and there's an unmarked restaurant owned by Kevin Costner (steak house type place) in downtown Black Hills somewhere that is supposed to be really good. In terms of hiking, there's some tremendous stuff. I only went on one hike, buy I picked a trailhead from dozens of options and it was great. It had huge maintain elevation views, as well as plenty of stretches of walks literally through folks's farm and land. I had my parents drop my off somewhere at 8 or 9 am and pick me up in Black Hills that evening. Definitely awesome. 

That's about the extent of my knowledge. Everything else that is obvious is well documented touristy stuff. Needles park, Rushmore, etc. 

[pantone159 719]

52 minutes ago, Al_4_ISU said:

Hiked Black Elk Peak (high point of the Black Hills), which was absolutely gorgeous

It is the highpoint of South Dakota, not just the Black Hills. It was named Harney Peak when I went up it just over 20 years ago. Check out Custer State Park, there are several hiking trails, or you can just drive the park loops and look for prairie dogs. The Centennial Trail, which passes through this area, uses a longhorn symbol as a trail marker, for some good karma. Devils Tower is not far away, and cool to see.

 

[Al_4_ISU 12470]

Spearfish Canyon is indeed cool. We drove through it coming from the west last year. Plan to hike around the Roughlock Falls area this summer.

Some Spearfish Canyon pics I took last year:

[Al_4_ISU 12470]

9 minutes ago, pantone159 said:

It is the highpoint of South Dakota, not just the Black Hills. It was named Harney Peak when I went up it just over 20 years ago. Check out Custer State Park, there are several hiking trails, or you can just drive the park loops and look for prairie dogs. The Centennial Trail, which passes through this area, uses a longhorn symbol as a trail marker, for some good karma. Devils Tower is not far away, and cool to see.

 

I've heard some other folks say Custer has some great wildlife loops.

When we hiked, the trail head was actually in Custer State Park at Sylvan Lake, but from what I gather, that's a solid 45 minute drive back into the park.  I definitely think we're going to hike in that area and then do drive the park loop after.  Thanks for the rec!

[Kennythetiger 9398]

Don’t let those territorial cocksuckers in Yankton get you. 

[Al_4_ISU 12470]

Just now, Kennythetiger said:

Don’t let those territorial cocksuckers in Yankton get you. 

I know a guy who spent 10 years in Yankton.  God damn crack whores.

[SimonBolivar 10958]

2 hours ago, Al_4_ISU said:

Anyone with a lot of familiarity with the Black Hills out there?

We swung through for a day on our way home from Yellowstone last year and had our expectations wildly exceeded.  It was easy to get away from the touristy shit, and the area was really fucking beautiful.  And it's less than 8 hours from home.  

We spent a night in Spearfish which was a cool town (hit Spearfish Brewing and Crow Peak Brewery), and a night in Lead (adjacent to Deadwood).  Hiked Black Elk Peak (high point of the Black Hills), which was absolutely gorgeous, and had a good stop at the Miner Brewery/Prairie Berry Winery on our way to Lead.

We'll be going back in June spending 3 days in Hill City and 1 in Spearfish.  Have some hikes and mountain biking planned in the Black Elk Wilderness/Needles Highway area.  While we have a taste of the area, we are far from experienced with it.  Any recs out there?  In my experience, you name the place and there's at least 3-4 Surly posters with extensive knowledge of it.  We aren't terribly interested with the tourist traps, and probably won't go back to Deadwood at all (don't care for gambling), but it seems like there was kind of an endless potential for hidden gems there.

My parents made the drive in 2019 and were shocked at how beautiful it was, but at 18 hours I'll have to stick to New Mexico or Colorado and try to include it in a grand tour of the area at some point.

 

Edit: Looks like DFW non-stop to Rapid City is only 2.5 hours...hello new addition to the 3 day weekend calender.

Edited February 4, 2021 by SimonBolivar

[landman 559]

Drive the Needles Highway and the Pigtails.

[Al_4_ISU 12470]

10 minutes ago, landman said:

Drive the Needles Highway and the Pigtails.

Drove Needles to Sylvan Lake last year, and I think we plan on doing the whole thing plus Pigtails after we hike in that neighborhood this year.  I Google Earthed the Pigtails.  Never seen a road do that before.

[Al_4_ISU 12470]

Some pictures from the Black Elk hike. I’ve hiked in many spectacular places, and this was truly a favorite.

[SydneyCarton 48112]

2 hours ago, SimonBolivar said:

My parents made the drive in 2019 and were shocked at how beautiful it was, but at 18 hours I'll have to stick to New Mexico or Colorado and try to include it in a grand tour of the area at some point.

 

Edit: Looks like DFW non-stop to Rapid City is only 2.5 hours...hello new addition to the 3 day weekend calender.

Usually there's what, 1 flight to Rapid City a day? If you're lucky it's in the morning. I'd fly into rapid city, hit the Badlands, swing around to see Rushmore, and then head up to Deadwood or Spearfish and relax the rest of the weekend. 

[dcbc 14492]

My great aunt, Diddlin' Dora Dufran a/k/a Amy Bolshaw, is buried at Mt. Moriah Cemetery.  Her grave looks pretty cool.

Edited February 4, 2021 by dcbc

[Landomatic 3813]

I was born in South Dakota and lived there for about a year.  So this thread hits close to home.

[Lat22 4015]

I really like the MK262 Mod 1 5.56mm 77 grain OTM.

 

Just kidding.  I've always wanted to go up there since Deadwood.  Can't believe I haven't yet.

[Trey3216 15349]

Now somewhere in the Black minin' Hills of Dakota there lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon.  

[Al_4_ISU 12470]

Wrapping up a phenomenal 4 days out here. Took the dogs, had a blast. As underrated as this beautiful country gets.

I

View from summit of St Elmo’s Peak


Mt Rushmore from the Iron Mountain Rd


Entering Black Elk Wilderness


View from Black Elk summit


Gravel grinding the Mickelson Trail


Cathedral Spires


Sylvan Lake


Roughlock Falls


Spearfish Canyon


Good beer out here

[Al_4_ISU 12470]

4th&Five, the Cathedral Spires hike would be a great one for your 10 year old. Lots of kids on it

[4th&Five 41565]

Yeah, looks sweet. May have to extend the trip after seeing your pics. I’ve spent a ton of time in SD but have only been to the BH twice. 

[Al_4_ISU 12470]

Yeah, looks sweet. May have to extend the trip after seeing your pics. I’ve spent a ton of time in SD but have only been to the BH twice. 

Most of SD is basically Iowa. The Black Hills are some of America’s most beautiful mountains.

[ScottS 1068]

This thread interests me as I am looking at making a trip to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore area.  These pictures make me want to go sooner rather than later.

[Biff Tannen 45692]

Fuck yeah.  My non-hiking MIL for some reason wants to go to Mt Rushmore and I'm more down than anyone else in the family, so glad to see the pics.  Looks beautiful.

[Mango4 189]

Dang, saw this after you were there. The Black Hills and Badlands are my favorite place on Earth. I live in SD so should have been able to give you some good information.

[HenryJames 66133]

13 hours ago, Al_4_ISU said:

[MNLonghornFUKM 8817]

Be respectful to his dog

[Al_4_ISU 12470]

Editor missed that one.

[CoachTex 2628]

Late to the party but you can spend 3 days at Custer state park and still feel like it is not enough.  Did a road trip with the whole fam damily and my kids still talk about how awesome that was. This was back in 2017 when they were 11 and 8. 

[Al_4_ISU 12470]

Late to the party but you can spend 3 days at Custer state park and still feel like it is not enough.  Did a road trip with the whole fam damily and my kids still talk about how awesome that was. This was back in 2017 when they were 11 and 8. 

It has more than a lot of national parks.

[Mango4 189]

Late to the party but you can spend 3 days at Custer state park and still feel like it is not enough.  Did a road trip with the whole fam damily and my kids still talk about how awesome that was. This was back in 2017 when they were 11 and 8. 

Throw in Wind Cave National Park as well, and you can spend a good week in that portion of South Dakota.

[ScottS 1068]

Headed to the area here in a few weeks.  Any updates to the recommendations in this thread?  Cannot wait to get up there.

[Chewbacca 7780]

Drive the Needles Highway and the Pigtails.

We tried, but the tunnel was too low for our Sprinter.

[Gut Wagon 8083]

I've spent more time on the Wyoming side of the hills. Hulett is a cool little town, and Devils Tower of course is a must-see. 

[Biff Tannen 45692]

On 7/7/2023 at 5:21 PM, ScottS said:

Headed to the area here in a few weeks.  Any updates to the recommendations in this thread?  Cannot wait to get up there.

Get the Guide Along tours app (formerly Gypsy Guide).  I've done this with Canada and Yellowstone now and it's fucking phenomenal.  They've been adding new tours like crazy this year.  It follows you on GPS and tells you the history and all sorts of awesome info about the route and where to stop.  It's seriously so well done.

https://guidealong.com/tour/mount-rushmore-black-hills-badlands/

 

[Blotto 23560]

Just spent all day fucking around Custer state park, and was blown away with the scenery. I was originally gonna head to Badlands today, but some locals I met at the hotel bar watching the Texas game told me I should spend at least a day checking out Custer so I did.

Heading to Badlands tomorrow and then north to Teddy Roosevelt NP, before I cut over to Glacier and then back down through Montana to Denver for a Jane's Addiction show, but I could see coming back just for a week in the blackhills area. It's spectacular. 

 

Well fuck me....https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/16/entertainment/janes-addiction-cancels-tour-perry-farrell/index.html

Edited September 17 by Blotto

[texastough 1129]

Did a road trip with the kids there this summer. I echo everything above but wanted to add there is a ton of fun stuff  for kids.

Keystone has a 2000 foot slide like a bobsled track, another huge tube slide, an awesome ropes course, etc. 

Hot springs has a sweet waterpark w water slides, and a really cool dig where they have left like 30 mammoth skeletons in place for viewing.

We toured Jewel cave which was awesome.

The crazy horse memorial is still under construction but the visitor center and museum were still worth it. Phenomenal artifacts and native artwork.

The rockhounding is spectacular due to the unique geology which seems to have a little of everything, not to mention fossils, artifacts, etc 

The towns all had fun restaurants and shops, locals all really cool. Lots of RV tourism but there's plenty of room so it didn't detract. Although it meant the paid campsites were full so we just camped in different national forest spots we found, which was way better anyway.

Needles highway is the coolest 

We had a ball

[SydneyCarton 48112]

14 hours ago, Blotto said:

Just spent all day fucking around Custer state park, and was blown away with the scenery. I was originally gonna head to Badlands today, but some locals I met at the hotel bar watching the Texas game told me I should spend at least a day checking out Custer so I did.

Heading to Badlands tomorrow and then north to Teddy Roosevelt NP, before I cut over to Glacier and then back down through Montana to Denver for a Jane's Addiction show, but I could see coming back just for a week in the blackhills area. It's spectacular. 

 

Well fuck me....https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/16/entertainment/janes-addiction-cancels-tour-perry-farrell/index.html

 

13 hours ago, texastough said:

Did a road trip with the kids there this summer. I echo everything above but wanted to add there is a ton of fun stuff  for kids.

Keystone has a 2000 foot slide like a bobsled track, another huge tube slide, an awesome ropes course, etc. 

Hot springs has a sweet waterpark w water slides, and a really cool dig where they have left like 30 mammoth skeletons in place for viewing.

We toured Jewel cave which was awesome.

The crazy horse memorial is still under construction but the visitor center and museum were still worth it. Phenomenal artifacts and native artwork.

The rockhounding is spectacular due to the unique geology which seems to have a little of everything, not to mention fossils, artifacts, etc 

The towns all had fun restaurants and shops, locals all really cool. Lots of RV tourism but there's plenty of room so it didn't detract. Although it meant the paid campsites were full so we just camped in different national forest spots we found, which was way better anyway.

Needles highway is the coolest 

We had a ball

My parents had a summer home in Spearfish for a few years, so I've been up there a couple times. Second on the Needles park. I get wanting to see the Badlands but honestly wasn't overwhelmed. The prarie dogs are cool, though. Beautiful area. 

[Chewbacca 7780]

4 hours ago, SydneyCarton said:

The prarie dogs are cool, though. 

I literally laughed out loud when I saw the prairie dog 'exhibit' at Badlands.  We have them everywhere around here and they are pests.  They're cute, though.

[mininghorn88 2294]

I did a two week trip up to that area back in early June 2022.  I had been to that area numerous times on business trips and had only spent a day or so there at a time in the past.  This was my first extended stay.

I drove from NE Texas up to Teddy Roosevelt NP.  I stayed off of the main highways to avoid traffic and to have a more relaxed, casual scenic drive.  Along the way I drove the Outlaw Trail through Nebraska, parts of the Lewis & Clark Trail, across the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation Native American Byway, parts of the Buffalo Trails Tour, Yellowstone Trail, and through the Little Missouri National Grasslands.  While in ND I also visited the Fort Union Trading Post NHS.  After TRNP I traveled down to Rapid City taking parts of the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway.

Once in Rapid City my girlfriend flew up and we used Rapid City as our home base.  We visited Mt. Rushmore during the day and went back at night for the patriotic lights and video.  Also drove over to see Devil's Tower.  Went through Spearfish Canyon, Deadwood (must visit the cemetery), the Peter Norbeck National Byway and the Needles Highway.  Hiked parts of Custer State Park.  Visited Jewel Cave and Wind Cave.  Road the steam locomotive out of Hill City/Keystone.  Drove through Bear Country USA. Visited the Crazy Horse Monument.  Went to the Wall Drug Store tourist trap.  Went to the Minutemen NHS and hiked parts of the Badlands NP.

After the Rapid City stay the GF flew back home and I drove back taking in Agate Fossil Beds NM and Scotts Bluff NM along the way.

It was a fantastic trip.  The weather was nice, it even got cool at night.  The mud (Bentonitic clay) was horrible at parts of TRNP.  The crowds were light everywhere.  Many of the hikes that I did it was just me and nature.  Would do the trip again in a heartbeat.

[Blotto 23560]

So I made it up to Teddy Roosevelt NP and it's pretty awesome. But it is in the middle of fucking nowhere. 

 

Now I'm sitting in a bar in Dickinson ND.  About 45 oil patch dudes eating steak and drinking, and like 4 chicks who won't pay for a drink all night.  Pretty funny scene actually. 

Edited September 20 by Blotto