Magestic Mountains Praire Grasslands Glacial Lakes
South Dakota
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South Dakota is home to some amazing sites.
Don’t forget to pack: • Camera • Good walking shoes • GPS
• Mount Rushmore • Wind Caves
Brownjar Designs
• Badlands
• Geocache treasures
• Scenic Byways
Ready for an Adventure? Follow in the footsteps of our great leaders.
Mt. Rushmore symbolizes the greatness of this nation through the greatness of its leaders. The sculpture of Mt. Rushmore depicts the faces of four American presidents that symbolize this nation's rich history, determination and lasting achievements.
Mount Rushmore
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A visit to South Dakota would not be complete without visitng the majestic beauty of the Black Hills and learn about the birth, growth and preservation of the country.
Camping, lodging or overnight RV facilities are not available within Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, but there are several options near by.
While most visitors travel to Mount Rushmore to admire the enormous sculpted faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, there are numerous other ways to experience this site and immerse yourself in the human history and the natural surroundings. • Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center • Presidential Trail • Scupltor’s Studio • A ranger walk or talk • Heritage Villages • Evening Light Ceremony
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South Dakota
Hotel / Motel • Holiday Inn Express, www.ihg.com • Mt. Rushmore KOA & Palmer Gulch Lodge, www.palmergulch.com • The Harney Peak Inn, www.harneypeakinn.com Bed & Breakfast • Deerview Lodging & Vacation Homes, www.deerviewbb.com • Double Diamond Ranch, www.doublediamondcabins.com Campground / RV • Crooked Creek Resort, Inc., www.crookedcreeksd.com • Horse Creek Resort at Sheridan Lake, www.blackhillsbadlands.com/horse-creek-resort • Horse Thief Campground & Resort, horsethief.com
Hidden beneath the rolling prairie of the southern Black Hills is one of the world’s longest caves. Swaying prairie grasses, forested hillsides, and an array of wildlife welcome visitors to one of our country’s oldest national park. Secreted beneath is one of the world’s longest caves, Wind Cave.
W i n d C av e N at i o n a l P a r k
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Wind Cave National Park offers a variety of wonderful opportunities to learn about the natural resources of the park for children. Ranger guided hikes, cave tours, or campfire programs provide interesting information about many different aspects of the park. Exploring the visitor center, participating in a Junior Ranger Program, or hiking in the park are great ways to discover what is special about this national park.
Elk Mountain Campground within the park offers campers a unique opportunity to view Discover South Dakota the plants and animals of the southern Black Hills.
• Wind Cave Visitor Center • Natural entrance Cave Tour • Fairgrounds Cave Tour • Garden of Eden Cave Tour • Candlelight Cave Tour • Wild Cave Tour • Driving tours to see wildlife • Hiking trails • Nature trails
The Visitor Center is located 11 miles north of Hot Springs. Hotel / Motel • Best Western Sundowner Inn, www.bestwesternhotsprings.com • Historic Log Cabin, www.historiclogcabins.com • Smith Fargo Suites, www.smithfargosuites.com Bed & Breakfast • FlatIron Historic Sandstone Inn, www.flatiron.bz • Red Rock River Resort, www.redrockriverresort.com • Historic Mueller House B&B, (605) 745-5272 Campground / RV • Larive Lake Resort, (605) 745-6696 • Elk Mountain Campground
The abundance of State and National Parks, memorials, rich history, and magnificent, unspoiled scenery make South Dakota an excellent choice for travelers wishing to build lifetime memories. South Dakota’s Scenic Byways transform windshields into theaters as miles of pavement provide spectacular views of the surrounding scenery.
S . D a k o t a S c e n i c B y way s
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Native American Scenic Byway The Native American Scenic Byway follows the path of the Missouri River through mixed grass prairie, traveling into the heart of the Sioux Nation. The Native American Scenic Byway crosses reservations of four tribes of Lakota Sioux, and contains many historical, cultural, and archaeological points of interest.
South Dakota is packed with many lodging opportunities to accommodate all traveling Discover South Dakota tastes and price points. There are many options along the scenic byways.
Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway The Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway takes tourists through six rock tunnels, towering granite pinnacles and spires, and striking pine-coated mountains. The hairpin curves and “pig tail” spirals add to the thrill of the breathtaking scenery. • Badlands Loop • Spearfish Canyon • Wildlife Loop
Hotel / Motel For those who don’t want to sacrifice the conveniences and comforts of home, a hotel or motel is a popular lodging choice. From national chains to charming, historic buildings, SD offers thousands of hotels. Amenities include easy access to sightseeing tours. Bed & Breakfast Looking for a more intimate, down-home experience? Try a rustic bed and breakfast. These cozy retreats combine personalized attention, scenic surroundings and relaxed atmosphere. You’ll also benefit from the owner’s familiarity with the outlying area. Campground / RV Outdoorsy types can experience the wonders of nature by sleeping beneath the stars at one of the state’s many campgrounds. Most offer tent sites and RV hook-ups.
Clear mountain waters are inviting, and the open ranges are waiting to be discovered. Visit Custer State Park, and let yourself run wild. Custer State Park in the Black Hills encompasses 71,000 acres of spectacular terrain and an abundance of wildlife. You’ll discover a world of adventure!
C u s t e r S t at e P a r k
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Favorite outdoor activities include hiking 7,242-foot Harney Peak, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, fishing, chuckwagon suppers and jeep rides to see the bison.
Custer State Park offer a variety of scenic sites. Set up camp along a flowing Discover South Dakota stream, in the midst of pine forest, or near a mountain lake. The choice is yours!
The park boasts scenic drives such as the Needles Highway, which twists and turns its way past towering rock formations and through narrow tunnels. At the end of one tunnel stands the Needles Eye, a granite spire with a slit only 3 to 4 feet wide but reaching 30 to 40 feet in the air. • Nature programs • Hiking trails • Wildlife viewing • Scenic drives • Fishing • Gold panning
Campsites Each campsite at Custer State Park has a gravel or paved camping pad, a fire grate and picnic table. Electric hookups are available in most campgrounds. Camping Cabins These one-room, log-style cabins are found in Blue Bell, Game Lodge, and Stockade South campgrounds as well as in French Creek Horse Camp. Each cabin has heating, air conditioning, electricity and a porch. Furnishings include a bunk bed, a double bed, table and benches. Custer State Park Resort Within Custer State Park are four distinct lodges, each with its own unique personality. Outdoor activities designed to get you exploring every granite spire and brook-laden meadow await you.