Driving into the Black Hills & Badlands from the vast Midwest prairies, one of the first sites you will see are the sweeping stone landscapes. Granite stone spires, limestone canyon walls, and valleys paired with forest green pine and crystal creeks offer not only the perfect photo backdrop but offer a rich history of the region.
In the Oglala Lakota culture, stones are considered a powerful source of energy and life. Stone formations are tied to the Black Hills’ creation and mythology surrounding the area, as well. Additionally, the stone landscapes are a geological wonder, with Black Hills and Badlands stone formations dating nearly 2 billion years in the past.
To celebrate the connection, history, and beauty of stone in the region, here’s a list of stone-themed adventures in the Black Hills & Badlands.
Keystone
A small, charming community tucked into the Southern Black Hills, Keystone is rich in beauty, history, and adventure! Keystone offers family-fun and frills. There’s no shortage of activities - ziplining, miniature golf, antiquing, roller coasters, ice cream along the board walk, live entertainment, wagon trains and steam trains, panning for gold, and helicopter rides. Keystone is also located close to National and State Parks and Monuments, as well as an abundance of hiking trails and lakes.
Thoen Stone
The Thoen Stone is a historical mystery in the Northern Black Hills. A man by the name Louis Thoen discovered the inscribed sandstone rock in 1887, on land he owned near Lookout Mountain in present-day Spearfish.
The stone slab was inscribed by the lone survivor of a mining expedition in 1834. The miner listed his fellow mining party members, noting they discovered gold in the Hills, and Native Americans attacked the party.
If accurate, the slab’s timestamp indicates gold was discovered 40 years prior to the Custer Expedition of 1874 and the subsequent Black Hills Gold Rush. However, speculations have been made on the accuracy of the Thoen Stone, believing Louis Thoen’s career as a stonemason would allow him the skillset to make the Thoen Stone. Others also believed no miner would take the time to inscribe such a detailed message if avoiding immediate danger. Studies over the years have left historians and history buffs alike, stumped.
Discover the truth yourself by viewing the original Thoen Stone and its history, on display at the Adams Museum in Deadwood. Or take a short hike to view the spot the original Thoen Stone was found. A replica of the Thoen Stone is at the founding site in Spearfish along Thoen Stone Road.
Black Hills Gemstones
The Black Hills & Badlands is home to a variety of crystals and gemstones, including the Fairburn Agate, the state gemstone. Fairburn agate is the result of the region’s volcanic past, and the stone’s earth tones create a natural work of art. Rose Quartz is also a common gemstone of the region, which offers a pink hue to the already crystalline color of the quartz. Other common gemstones include violet-hued amethyst, tourmaline – one of the most colorful gemstones in the Black Hills – garnet, and jasper.
Locations throughout the Black Hills & Badlands offer opportunities to pan for your own gemstones However, visitors can peruse the many shops located in the Black Hills & Badlands that offer an array of vibrant and specialty South Dakota gemstones.
While some of these natural gemstones and rocks may be found along the trail, be sure to follow National Park, National Forest Service, and State Park regulations.
Old Stoney Museum
Experience the Wild West with a visit to the Crook County Museum, located in Sundance, WY. Housed in what is called the “Old Stoney” Building, the facility a historical treasure of the community itself. Old Stoney, built with sandstone in 1923, once served as the elementary and high school. Today, the museum offers historical buffs and western enthusiasts, especially, a rich history of Crook County and the infamous Sundance Kid.
Stoned In Time – Badlands National Park
Comprised of sandstone, siltstone, and shale, the Badlands were the result of centuries of erosion, and carved from the ancient seas and rivers. The result is the unearthly and breathtaking stone views which can be enjoyed via vehicle or by hiking in the park. The Badlands Loop Road is a 30-mile paved road that takes you through the park. Most trails are short, 1 mile or less, with a few options to lengthen and take in additional views of the National Park.
South Dakota “Stone”-Henge - Needle’s Highway
The Black Hills & Badlands may not be the site of prehistoric Stonehenge, but our unique towered rock formations are none-the-less stunning. Needle’s Highway, a 35-mile stretch of winding blacktop, offers endless views of cathedral stone rock formations that will leave you in awe. We recommend stopping for a short hike to Cathedral Spires and grabbing a photo of Needle’s Eye along the route.
Stoned Stories
Before cell phones and social media reels, stories were captured on natural stones in the Black Hills & Badlands. Native American tribes in the region recorded prominent historical events, spiritual beliefs, and traditions in petroglyphs, also known as pictographs. Traveling through the Southern Hills or booking a cave tour, there are various areas to stop and see these stoned stories and learn more about Oglala Lakota history and culture of the Black Hills & Badlands region.
“Stone”ing Views – Rock Climbing
For the outdoor thrill seekers, the Black Hills offers excellent rock-climbing excursions throughout the region. Popular climbing routes are in Spearfish Canyon, Custer State Park, and Devils Tower, WY. A variety of rock-climbing tours are available in the region, as well, to give a bird’s eye view of the inspiring granite stone spires and forest green pines.
Historic Stone Fire Lookout Towers
For those that seek outdoor adventure, yet love history, add visiting a historic fire lookout tower to the list. Several historic fire towers are still standing atop Black Hills peaks, and visitors can access them via off-road vehicles, horseback, bicycles, or hiking.
Fire towers were erected for rangers to monitor weather, fires and other threats to the wild lands surrounding them. Many of the stone stations were built in the 1930s at various peaks throughout the Black Hills, using natural stone from the area. There was no motor vehicle transportation, so tools and other supplies were delivered to the stations manually.
The most popular fire tower overlooking the Black Hills is located atop Black Elk Peak. This tower is only accessible by foot or horseback. The tower was built in the early 1930s; the native stone was hauled to the top of the peak four miles one way with a team of mule and a sled. The structure is still fully intact, and visitors can wander through the lookout rooms and enjoy the stunning panoramic views from a viewing deck.
Mount Coolidge, Friendship Tower, Custer Peak in South Dakota and Cement Ridge in Wyoming, also offer natural stone fire towers with stunning views.
A“maze”d with Stone
A fun natural feature called the Rock Maze is located along Nemo Road outside of Rapid City. A half mile hiking adventure, this natural stone maze is made of boulders that have spit and shifted over the years, creating a fun navigational path kids – and kids at heart – can’t help but enjoy!
Stone Canyon Walls – Spearfish Canyon
Take a drive through Spearfish Canyon, a scenic route through towering limestone canyon walls. The drive offers staggering views as one winds through the curves, stopping to sit by Bridal Veil falls for a photo, relaxing near the creek, throwing a fishing line in, or take a trail to overlook the Canyon, we recommend the drive – or bike ride if you’re a cycling enthusiast. If you’re lucky, you’ll see Big Horn Sheep scaling the Canyon walls or wandering along the road near Bridal Veil Falls.
Stone In Love!
For the hopeless romantics, a photo worthy stop when driving through Spearfish Canyon is the Kissing Rocks, two large boulders that tumbled into Spearfish Creek and “kiss” or connect, just slightly, to form a beautiful natural stone moment.
Take a Dip in Natural Stone Pools
As the weather heats up, visitors will want to take a break from the heat and take a dip in the refreshing Black Hills creeks. Several hiking trails in the Black Hills National Forest will lead you to stone pools. The natural rocks form an outdoor pool framed with Ponderosa Pine. Our favorites are Hippie Hole and Devils Bathtub.
Etched in Stone
The Black Hills & Badlands is home to two iconic stone sculptures – Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial. Both offer opportunity to explore via trail systems, museums, and presentations that present the process and history of carving these stone monuments.
Bones & Stones Tour
The Black Hills & Badlands is home to a plethora of fossils, bones, and other artifacts from eras before our time. Centers and museums offer exhibits, interactive activities, and presentations that showcase the bones and stones of the Black Hills & Badlands.
Stroll down Deadwood’s Cobblestone Main Street
Visit historic Deadwood and walk along the cobblestoned Main Street like legends Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. A portion of Deadwood’s downtown street uses cobblestone to preserve the historic, old-western nostalgia of the gold mining town. While perusing the shops, taking a chance on the slot machine, or having lunch, be sure to stay for historical and Wild West reenactments and presentations at various locations along Deadwood Main Street.
Hot Stone Massage & Soak
After a day of exploring, unwind with a hot stone massage or soak in a natural hot spring at the various spas in the Black Hills & Badlands. Several spas offer natural spring dipping pools made with stone from the Black Hills.
Rocky Road Ice Cream
After a day exploring the stone trails, cool off with Rocky Road ice cream! Rich chocolate ice cream paired with nuts and marshmallows, this treat is a smooth, sweet stop in your Black Hills & Badlands adventures. Ice cream shops are sprinkled throughout local communities, ready serve up a scoop – or two – for your enjoyment!
Rocky Mountain Oysters
Rocky Mountain Oysters, a cowboy’s caviar, are a regional specialty. Several Black Hills & Badlands locales offer Rocky Mountain Oysters, which you should note are most certainly not farmed from the sea, despite their name. Coated in a batter of flour, salt, and pepper and deep-fried, these cattle-cut nuggets are as a rugged hors d'oeuvre as the rocky, stone terrain they hail from.
