22 Best Sights in The Southern Black Hills, South Dakota

Iron Mountain Road

Fodor's choice

Legendary former governor and U.S. senator Peter Norbeck personally oversaw the layout of this road, which was designed during the 1930s to complement the park's scenic beauty. The 17-mile route winds around several wooden, pigtail bridges and passes through three rock tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore. Plan an hour or more on this road, because the going is intentionally slow, and you'll want to stop for pictures. The road forms part of the longer Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway.

Moccasin Springs Natural Mineral Spa

Fodor's choice

The warm, mineral springs that give this city its name are no longer believed to cure a range of ills, but they are definitely good for your soul, especially in a setting as unique and luxurious as this. An entrepreneur built this business atop the stone ruins of the 1890 Minnekahta Bathhouse, incorporating the remains of that long-ago retreat into a chic new spa. You can drop in for a soak, get a massage and other spa treatments, and even stay in a bungalow or cabin. This is big-city luxury in a beautiful, quiet, small-town atmosphere.

Needles Highway

Fodor's choice

Like Iron Mountain Road, the construction of Needles Highway was overseen by the late South Dakota politician Peter Norbeck, who took great care to complement the area's natural beauty. The winding, 14-mile road has numerous scenic overlooks, passes through two rock tunnels, and showcases the giant, fingerlike granite formations known as the Needles. The most popular stop on the route is the Needle's Eye, where one of the massive Needles formations sports a hole worn away by erosion. Because the Needle's Eye area is often packed with people and vehicles in tight quarters, use extra caution when passing through or stopping for a look.

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Sylvan Lake

Fodor's choice

People love to scramble around on the big rock formations that line this small, placid, picturesque mountain lake, which is high up in one of the most scenic parts of the park. The lake is very popular among paddlers, and there are kayak and canoe rentals available. Swimmers love the beach, and the campground is always full. A walking path along the shore is great for a relaxing stroll, while several other trails begin near the lake—including the most popular route to Black Elk Peak, the state's highest point. Snacks, drinks, apparel, and other items are available in the general store. All of these things make Sylvan Lake extremely popular, so you might consider getting up early to find parking and beat the crowds.

The Mammoth Site

Fodor's choice

While building a housing development in the 1970s, workers uncovered this sinkhole where giant mammoths came to drink, got trapped, and died about 26,000 years ago. The site has been protected with a high, domelike structure so archaeologists can dig up and study the bones. To date, the remains of 60-plus mammoths have been discovered, and most have been left in place, partially excavated, for visitors to see. You can watch the excavation in progress, take guided tours, and learn all about mammoths and archaeology.

Wind Cave National Park

Fodor's choice

With more than 150 miles of explored passageways (and counting), Wind Cave ranks as the seventh-longest cave in the world, several places behind Jewel Cave, which is also in the Black Hills. Cave tours at Wind Cave range from one to two hours and are first-come, first-served, so it's advisable to arrive early in the morning. If you miss the tour or want something to do afterward or while you wait, don't miss the opportunity to explore the park's surface area, which is one of the most underappreciated yet ruggedly beautiful parts of the Black Hills. You'll likely see some of the park's bison, prairie dogs, and other wildlife, and there are numerous hiking trails.

Please see the Wind Cave National Park chapter for more detailed information.

1881 Courthouse Museum

Looking every bit as historical as its name implies, this Italianate-style structure is built from bricks made in a local kiln. The courthouse was the center of government and justice in Custer for nearly 100 years, until 1973, when it was the site of a notorious melee between local law enforcement and the American Indian Movement in the weeks prior to AIM's occupation of Wounded Knee. Today, the building is a museum that houses exhibits on Native Americans, the Custer expedition, mining, and more.

Angostura Reservoir

Thirty-six miles of shoreline, much of it consisting of sandy beaches, surround this man-made lake fringed by forested hills near Hot Springs. Here you can stay in an RV, camping cabin, or tent campsite in one of several large campgrounds operated by the state Department of Game, Fish & Parks. The campgrounds offer kayak rentals, and you can inquire about motorized boat and pontoon rentals with the concessionaire at the marina. If you like fishing, that's also popular here, and if you get hungry, there's a restaurant near the marina.

Angostura Reservoir State Recreation Area

Water-based recreation is the main draw at this park 10 miles south of Hot Springs. Besides a marina, you'll find a floating convenience store, restaurant, campgrounds, and cabins. Boat rentals are available.

Badger Hole

Cowboy poet Charles Badger Clark was the first poet laureate of South Dakota and spent 30 years of his life in a rustic cabin within Custer State Park. He died in 1957, but his cabin is preserved and open to visitors. There's a 1-mile hiking trail behind the cabin that's still lined with some of Clark's stonework.

Center Lake

As one of the lesser-known and more out-of-the-way lakes in Custer State Park, Center Lake is worth a visit for anyone hoping for a respite from the crowds. The 71-acre lake has a non-wake designation, which means motorized boats have to take it slow, while swimmers and paddlers rule the water. There's a nice beach and a campground at the lake, too, all surrounded by hills, rock formations, and the pine forest in the north-central part of the park.

Custer State Park

This 71,000-acre park is considered the crown jewel of South Dakota’s state park system. Elk, antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, wild turkey, prairie dogs, and the second-largest (behind Yellowstone National Park) publicly owned herd of bison in the world roam this pristine landscape. Scenic drives roll past fingerlike granite spires and panoramic views (try the Needles Highway). Take the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road to see prairies teeming with animals and some of the beautiful backdrops for countless Western films. Accommodations here are outstanding, too, with numerous campgrounds and a resort network that includes five amenities-filled lodges and seven well-appointed vacation cabins.

The park is open year-round, but some amenities are closed over winter.

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Evans Plunge

Hot Springs grew up around the warm, mineral springs that inspired its name. Around the turn of the 20th century, visitors came from around the country, hoping mineral baths would cure whatever ailed them. Today, you can still soak in the 87ºF waters at Evans Plunge, a large, indoor-outdoor aquatic complex built over the top of the springs that feed it. Relax with a warm dip in the pool, or have fun on the waterslides and rope swings.

Evans Plunge Mineral Springs

The water temperature at the world’s largest indoor swimming area fed by natural geothermal springs is always 87 degrees. It's also void of chemicals and the sulphur smell of other mineral springs because the pool recycles itself every 90 minutes. Established in 1890, Evans Plunge is the oldest tourist attraction in the Black Hills. It's also kid-friendly with indoor and outdoor pools that have waterslides and tubes, and there are hot tubs, sauna, steam room, and cardio and weight rooms. Locals generally use it daily until 10 am, after which it’s sanitized and opened to the public from 11 am to 4 pm.

Fall River Pioneer Museum

The sight of this imposing, Romanesque, sandstone structure built in 1893 is reason enough to visit. Inside, the exhibits are mostly relics of the pioneers who settled the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s, including a re-created pioneer school room and doctor's office, and a collection of antiques. The museum also exhibits paintings, sculptures, and other work by local artists.

Gordon Stockade Historic Site

After the discovery of gold in 1874, prospectors rushed into the Black Hills. They were all there illegally, because the area still belonged to the Sioux Native Americans as part of a treaty. Knowing that, a group of prospectors called the Gordon Party built a log fortress as protection against attacks. Within several months, the Army removed the party from the Black Hills; today, a replica of the log fortress stands on the site.

Jewel Cave National Monument

Jewel Cave's more than 200 miles of surveyed passages made it the third-longest cave in the world as of 2020, while exploration continued. But for tourists who aren't cavers, it's the rare crystalline formations that abound in the cave's passages—not the cave's size—that are the main draw. Take one of the paid, year-round, ranger-led tours, and you'll be rewarded with the sight of tiny crystal Christmas trees, hydromagnesite balloons, and delicate calcite deposits dubbed "cave popcorn." Plan to arrive early in the morning, because summertime tours fill up fast and start at prescheduled intervals. While you wait, scenic surface trails and exhibits in the visitor center can be explored for free.

Legion Lake

Giant rock formations frame this small lake, which has a swimming beach and is popular with paddlers. Canoe and kayak rentals are available at the back of the Dockside Grill restaurant on the lakeshore. There's a small campground and a cluster of rental cabins just up the hill.

Mount Coolidge Fire Tower

The 6,023-foot summit known as Sheep Mountain was renamed Mount Coolidge in 1927 when President Calvin Coolidge vacationed in Custer State Park. During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built a stone fire-lookout tower atop the mountain, and that tower is still in use today. Visitors willing to brave a steep, narrow, curvy, 1.2-mile gravel road can drive to the summit to see the tower and take in the panoramic views.

Stockade Lake

Covering 129 acres with a depth of 17 feet, Stockade Lake is the biggest lake in the park and is especially popular for fishing. The lake has a boat ramp and numerous shore-fishing areas, as well as two campgrounds

Trails, Trains, and Pioneers Museum

If you like going a little off the beaten path, and if you dig quirky, small-town museums, consider checking out this facility, operated by local volunteers and showcasing finds "from the Stone Age to the Atomic Age." Those items include fossils, Native American artifacts, pioneer tools, and relics from Edgemont's uranium-mining boom of the 1950s through the 1970s. If you're lucky, you might encounter a talkative local volunteer who lived through some of the history that's on display.

Wildlife Loop Road

Plan a couple of hours to make this 18-mile drive through some of the park's best meadows, where wildlife come to graze. You're likely to see some of the park's 1,300 bison, and you might have to stop for a while as they amble across the road (bison are dangerous, so keep a safe distance). You'll also see prairie dogs and burros (which are small, feral donkeys), and you might spot deer, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, coyotes, and birds of prey.

The Southern Black Hills

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