If you’ve ever seen pictures of Mount Rushmore, you’re already familiar with Black Hills. And while you may feel that summer is the best time to visit, ask anyone who lives in the area and they’ll say that you need to come in the fall. With fewer people visiting, the area is less crowded, and those that do visit are often rewarded with some unexpected bonuses – elk, deer, and bison are more visible at this time of the year. And of course, there are the fall colors.
As the Black Hills (which aren’t actually black by the way, they just look that way from the shadows of the thick Alpine forests that cover them) turn gold and yellow, vacationers will have some incredible views. One of the best places to enjoy the scenery is at Custer State Park, where brilliant autumnal colors dazzle against a backdrop of granite spires, rolling mountains, and if you’re lucky, thousands of grazing bison. And if you travel to the top of the 6,000 ft. Mt Coolidge you’ll have an incredible vantage point where, on a clear day, you can see the Badlands nearly 90 miles in the distance, as well as Mt. Rushmore.
This western region of South Dakota offers, in addition to the majestic granite spires and pine covered peaks, some interesting things to see and do beyond enjoying the fall foliage. Visiting Mt. Rushmore is, of course, an obvious “must see” while you’re here. But what else will you enjoy exploring? As it turns out, the Black Hills are not only full of scenery, but you’ll also find a rich history and sense of adventure too. With one of the largest concentrations of national parks, monuments, and caves in the Midwest, the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota offer a great vacation destination!
Drive, walk, or bike the entirety of the region and you’ll see a lot — but some of the most interesting places to explore are actually under this area. Check out Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument as they are two of the longest cave systems in the world, each over 150+ miles long.
Interested in archaeology? Over 60 individual mammoth remains have been identified and preserved at the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota. A construction crew stumbled across this mass gravesite for mammoths in 1974, and as a result of this discovery, a museum now resides where excavations are ongoing. The site is home to the largest repository of Columbian mammoths on the continent, providing a fascinating glimpse into South Dakota’s – and America’s past.
The Black Hills region is in fact, becoming known for a lot of interesting things to see and do – including exploring some “Wild West” history. But it’s also interestingly, becoming something of a craft beer and wine-making hotspot, with multiple wineries and quality breweries dotting the area.
Come to the Black Hills of South Dakota for iconic and incredible views – and you’ll find a wide variety of fascinating and fun things to explore in the fall, and year round!
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