Summer Fun
Summer is a busy time in the Black Hills and Badlands. It’s when residents and visitors take advantage of the beautiful outdoors, and all there is to do here. What better way to enjoy the outdoor magnificence than by exploring it — on horseback, hiking, biking, in a 4x4 discovering the back country, or on a jet ski or in a boat enjoying one of 18 beautiful lakes here.
4-Wheeling
Off-road adventures in the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota can be as simple as exploring an out-of-the-way dirt road in your 4x4 that leads high into the hills, or as extreme as “rock crawling” some of the most rugged and highest rated, winch-mandatory trails in the region. more…
Backpacking
There’s no shortage of hiking and backpacking destinations in the Black Hills and Badlands, with 1.2 million acres of Black Hills National Forest, nearly a quarter of a million acres of Badlands National Park and hundreds of miles of marked trails within those areas. more…
Biking
Bicycle touring and pleasure riding are popular in the Black Hills. Rapid City boasts a 13.5-mile bikeway along Rapid Creek, but most riding and touring is done on our wide-shouldered highways. Some of the favorite and most scenic rides are Rapid City to Mount Rushmore; the Needles Highway; Iron Mountain Road; Spearfish Canyon; and the Badlands Scenic Byway. more…
Bicycle Touring
Bicycle touring and pleasure riding on our wide-shouldered highways are popular in the Black Hills. Some of the favorite and most scenic rides are Rapid City to Mount Rushmore; the Needles Highway; Iron Mountain Road; Spearfish Canyon; and the Badlands Scenic Byway. more…
Birding
With more than 200 species of birds common to the Black Hills and Badlands, birders can glimpse birds native to western plains and mountains. The Black Hills is also home to more than 20 rare or endangered species, and it is a meeting ground for many eastern and western species. more....
Canoeing and Kayaking
Canoeing and kayaking on the waters of the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota is a great way to experience some of the prettiest and untouched back country around. Canoeing is allowed on most lakes and rivers in South Dakota. more…
Gold Panning
If you want to go gold panning, remember that nature has done the hardest part of your work for you. She’s eroded her treasure from gold-bearing ores and concentrated particles of free gold throughout the stream beds in South Dakota’s Black Hills. more…
Golfing
Black Hills golf courses twist deep into pine forests, cross rushing trout streams and open up to distractingly spectacular mountain vistas. Golf Digest has listed many Black Hills golf courses among the top courses in America, including Southern Hills Golf Course in Hot Springs, Devils Tower Golf in Hulett, Wyo. and Hart Ranch Golf Course in Rapid City. more…
Hiking
The uncrowded, natural surroundings of Western South Dakota are ideal for walking, hiking and backpacking. Black Hills National Forest and the surrounding State and National Parks offer more than 450 miles of both nature walks and bonafide hiking systems on approximately 75 different trails throughout the Black Hills. more...
Horseback Vacations
You can really appreciate the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota from the back of a good saddle horse. You can ride among the tall pine trees, cross water, skirt granite cliffs or take in panoramic views from lofty mountain summits. more…
Mountain Biking
Whether you’re a casual mountain biker who enjoys a leisurely ride on bike paths or scenic trails or more of an “extreme” mountain biker who takes the sport a bit more seriously, the Black Hills and Badlands offer trails for every level of rider. more…
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing in the Black Hills is a perfect way for friends and families to add some adventure to their vacation. Get out, above the trees to enjoy a view from the top. more…
Rock Collecting
The unique geology of the Black Hills and Badlands offers great collecting for rock hounds and professional scientists. The nation's oldest mountain range, the Black Hills provides a nearly complete stratigraphic history. more…
Trail Rides
Gentle horses. Expert guides and wranglers. Great scenery. They add up to Trail Ride, a great way for amateur (even never-ever) horsemen to enjoy being a cowboy in the great outdoors. more...
Water Sports
In the Black Hills of South Dakota water sports are an important element of enjoying the outdoors. Pretty mountain lakes provide boat launching, power boating, water skiing, sailing, paddleboats, canoeing, wind-surfing, swimming and scuba diving. more…
