46 Best Sights in Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills, South Dakota

A tour of the restored Adams House includes an explanation of the tragedies and triumphs of two of the community's founding families (the Franklins and the Adamses) who lived here. The 1892 Queen Anne–style mansion was closed in the mid-1930s and sat empty for more than 50 years, preserving the original furniture and decor that you see today.

Between the massive stone-block post office and the old railroad depot, there are three floors of displays at the Adams Museum, including the region's first locomotive, photographs of the town's early days, and an exhibit featuring Potato Creek Johnny's Gold Nugget, the second-largest nugget ever discovered in the Black Hills. The Adams Museum is affiliated with Deadwood History, Inc., which also oversees the Days of '76 Museum, the Historic Adams House, and a cultural center and archives.

Designed to be the world's largest work of art (the face alone is 87 feet tall), this tribute to the spirit of the North American Native people depicts Crazy Horse, the legendary Lakota leader who helped defeat General Custer at Little Bighorn. A work in progress, thus far the warrior's head has been carved from the mountain, and the colossal head of his horse is beginning to emerge. Self-taught sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski started this memorial in 1948. After his death in 1982, his family carried on the project. Near the work site stands an exceptional orientation center, the Indian Museum of North America, and Ziolkowski's home and workshop. If you're visiting in summer, consider arriving in the evening, and stick around for the spectacular laser-light show, held nightly from Memorial Day through late September.

Although there are faster ways to get from Mount Rushmore to the southern Black Hills, this scenic drive in the Black Hills is a more stunning route. Take U.S. 16A south into Custer State Park, where bison, bighorn sheep, elk, antelope, and burros roam. Then drive north on Highway 87 through the Needles, towering granite spires that rise above the forest. Highway 87 finally brings you to U.S. 16/U.S. 385, where you head south to the Crazy Horse Memorial. Because the scenic byway is a challenging drive (with one-lane tunnels and switchbacks) and because you'll likely want to stop a few times to admire the scenery, plan on spending two to three hours on this route. Stretches of U.S. 16A and Highway 87 may close in winter.

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.

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.

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.

Don a hard hat and take a guided tour through an underground gold mine, get some free gold ore samples, explore the mining museum, and do a little gold panning yourself at this authentic-looking facility built into a hillside along Battle Creek.

You're guaranteed to find gold on a panning experience here. If you take the short, guided, underground mine tour, you'll also get a souvenir stock certificate. Tours begin every 30 minutes from the small surface buildings perched on the hillside.

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.

Days of '76 Museum began almost by accident as the horse-drawn carriages and stagecoaches used in the namesake annual event's parade became an attraction in their own right. Over the years, cowboy memorabilia, photographs, and historical clothing have been added to the collection. The Days of '76 celebration, commemorating the 1876 gold rush, is held each July with a professional rodeo, parade, and other events.

Focusing on a region now covered by five states—the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska—this center features artifacts such as a Deadwood-Spearfish stagecoach. Outdoor exhibits include a log cabin, a one-room schoolhouse, and, in summer, an entire farm set up with antique equipment. Often on the calendar are cowboy poetry, a cowboy supper and show, live music, and historical talks.

The small, quiet mountain town of Hill City is the gateway to Mount Rushmore. Despite having just 950 residents, the community claims four art galleries, a world-renowned dinosaur research institute, five wineries and craft breweries with tasting rooms, a vintage steam railroad, and a popular visitor center on its eastern flank.

When Korczak Ziolkowski agreed to carve Crazy Horse at the invitation of a Lakota elder, he determined that he wouldn't stop with the mountain. He wanted an educational institution to sit at the base of the mountain, complete with a center showcasing examples of Native American culture and heritage. The construction in 1972 of the Indian Museum of North America, built from wood and from stone blasted from the mountain, was the initial step in that direction. The permanent collection of paintings, clothing, photographs, and artifacts represents many of the continent's tribes. There is also a space for temporary exhibits that often showcase works by modern Native American artists.

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.