Have heard shops and hotels more or less shut down in the area of Mt Rushmore after Labor Day. Has anyone been there at that time and is the area really closed down.

September and October are great times to visit the Black Hills. The days are warm and the crowds of summer are gone.
You will find places to stay all over the hills, although several will close
around mid-October. Custer State Park has a huge celebration the first Monday in October. They round up all the buffalo in the park, it is quite a site. The best part of the hills is driving all over and seeing the natural beauty. The colors are at their peak the last week of September and the first week of October, it really is a wonderful time to visit. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Make sure to take warm clothes, especially for the evening lighting ceremony. We were there Memorial Day weekend and nearly froze at night, even though we had on jeans, sweatshirts and jackets. Many people were running around in shorts and t-shirts and were literally shivering. Wehen we went back the next day it was still very cool, especially the wind.

Have fun. It is such a magnificent place to visit.

Thanks for the reply.My sister-in-law is planning on a trip for the first week in October. It will be herself, husband and couple 8 yr olds.

Sven: Do you know if in the Custer State Park resorts if there will still be horseback riding and cookouts? How bout the jeep tours? The buffalo round up sounds like fun. How about things to entertain a couple of 8 yr olds? and snow, wonder how early it falls?

ttt

The buffalo round up is Oct. 2-4. They have a couple of days of festivities and the actual roundup is on Monday the 4th, you have to get there quite early. Look up the Custer State Park website www.custerstatepark.info , if will give you the schedule. I am not sure if they would have the jeep tour as most of the buffalo will be in the pens. E-mail them with any questions they have, I am sure they will be able to give you some more info.
Hopefully, it won't snow that early, although it has happened before.
I would suggest to go to Hot Springs for a day, they have Evans Plunge, which is an indoor thermal pool with large slides, they kids would enjoy it. Also, located in Hot Springs is Mammoth Site, there are several mammoths that they are currently excavating. Obviously, Custer State Park is a highlite, make sure you drive on Iron Mountain Road and the Needles Highway. Stop at Sylvan Lake, it you like to hike, take the Sunday Gulch trail which is below the lake. It is long, if you want to shorten it go through all the boulders and come back up, it is fun. If you go to the Northern Hills, go through Spearfish Canyon, it is beautiful in the fall. Nice day trips are Devils Tower in Wyoming, the kids would love it, there is a nice easy hike around it. Also, make sure to stop at the Badlands, with a side trip to Wall Drug.

We visited the Mammoth site, spent the night in Hot Springs and then took the morning tour at the Wild Horse Sanctuary about 10 miles south of Hot Springs. We really enjoyed this tour, although we are horse lovers.

Thanks everyone!! . Will pass on the info.

If you go to the roundout get there as early as possible as there is a massive traffic jam since there is only a one lane road. 6am is not too early to start out.