5 Best Sights in The Northern Black Hills, South Dakota

On the plains outside Sturgis, there's a mountain where it seemingly should not be: Bear Butte rises more than 1,200 feet above its surroundings (and 4,400 feet above sea level). It formed millions of years ago when lava pushed up from underground but never erupted. The Lakota named the resulting laccolith "Mato Paha"--translated as Bear Butte--because from some vantage points, it looks like a bear resting on its side. Today the site is a state park with a challengingly vertical, 1.85-mile trail to the summit, where the panoramic views are incredible. The butte is also a sacred site in the traditional religions of many Native Americans, whose cloth prayer-ties adorn tree branches along the hiking trail.

Tours and tastings are available in this serene setting just outside of Sturgis on the edge of the Black Hills, where méthode champenoise sparkling wines are crafted next to the family-owned winery's 5-acre vineyard. To enjoy the wines and the scenery to the fullest, take a seat on the expansive outdoor patio.

After the Sioux destroyed the 7th Cavalry in 1876 at the Battle of Little Bighorn in present-day Montana, the regiment was reconstituted and stationed at a new frontier outpost on the edge of the Black Hills: Fort Meade. That outpost remains today, functioning primarily as a Veterans Affairs medical center. The campus retains many historic structures, including the former commanding officer's headquarters, which now houses the museum and its collection of military artifacts.

Learn about the history of motorcycling and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in this museum, which houses a collection of interesting motorcycles, a hall of fame honoring legendary riders, and a lounge where famous motorcycle movies are screened.