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You are here: Home / Destinations / South Dakota / Black Hills, South Dakota Bucket List

Black Hills, South Dakota Bucket List

May 4, 2017 by Nutty Hiker Last Modified: March 17, 202211 Comments

We will be spending two weeks in Black Hills National Forest this coming July and I have spent the last week researching and planning.

I have come up with what I believe to be the ultimate Black Hills, South Dakota Bucket List! Since we are still 2 months away, if you have any suggestions, please comment with them below.

Black Hills, South Dakota Bucket List

As we do each one, I will update the blog and have it link from this page so make sure you have subscribed (top right side)! I am sure once we get there, I will add more to this list because let’s face it, I love to explore! Want to follow us in real-time? Subscribe to my YouTube Channel. Videos will be posted before blog posts.

Black Hills South Dakota Bucket List

Visit Four Mile Old West Town

Black Hills Caverns

Take a Picture of Beaver Creek Bridge

Take Pictures of the Milky Way

Geocaching

Swim in a Mountain Lake

Bike a portion of Mickelson Trail

Find Rose Quartz

Pan for Gold at one of the local mines (Big Thunder Gold Mine)

Tube Spearfish Creek

Jump in Center Lake

View Mount Rushmore Through Iron Mountain Road Tunnels

Find the Rock at Sylvan Lake that was in National Treasure II

Visit Jewel Cave (2nd longest in America)

Climb Black Elk Peak

Travel Needles Highway

Visit Main Street in Custer

View Dynamite Blasts at Crazy Horse

Climb up Needles Eye (Probably will save this for another time, since I know nothing about rock climbing lol)

Gather Garnets from Mountain Streams

Travel Iron Mountain Road

Visit Mount Rushmore

Visit the Crazy Horse Memorial & Welcome Center

Rent an ATV & Explore!!!

Travel Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (Hwy 14A)

Travel Custer State Park Scenic Byway

View the Mount Rushmore Lighting Ceremony

Check out the Huge Painted Buffalos

Take a Scenic Train Ride at the 1880 Train Ride

Visit Wind Cave National Park

Visit Mount Rushmore Cave

Check out the Cosmos Mystery Area

Visit Keystone Cemetery (Rated Top 100 Haunted also shaped like a coffin)

Spend a Day at Rushmore Tramway Adventures

Cliff Jump in Hippy Hole

Visit Roughlock Falls Nature Area

Take a Panoramic Photo at Mt Coolidge Fire Tower

Visit the Badger Hole Cabin

Black Hills Petrified Forest

Bridal Veil Falls

Take a Horseback Ride Through the Forest

Visit Deadwood and the Graves of Wild Bill & Calamity Jane

Wonderland Cave

Wrinkled Rock Climbing Area & Hiking Trails

Ride the Mountain Coaster at Rush Mountain Adventure Park

Visit South Dakota State Railroad Museum in Hill City

Check out the Spokane Black Hills Ghost Town

Do some rockhounding (rock beds are scattered near the towns of Kadoka, Interior, Scenic, and Fairburn)

Check out the Gordon Stockade Historical Site

Drive the terrifying road (other’s thoughts) to Mount Coolidge

Black Hills Mining Museum

Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center

Visit Bear Country, USA

Hike Some Trails:

Black Elk Wilderness

Harney Peak aka Black Elk Peak
Poets Table
Little Elk Creek
Little Devil’s Tower
Cathedral Springs
Bob Ingersoll Mine (near Keystone)
Flume Trail
Hell Canyon Trail

Custer State Park

Lovers Leap
Prairie Trail
Sunday Gulch Trail
Cathedral Spires

Spearfish Canyon

Community Caves
Devil’s Bathtub
Iron Creek
Little Spearfish Falls
Roughlock Trail
Rimrock Trail

Have you been to Black Hills National Forest? Comment below and let us know if we should check out anything else or if you feel like something is missing from the Black Hills South Dakota bucket list and we will get it added!

Filed Under: South Dakota, Black Hills National Forest, Destinations, Featured, Hiking, Road Trips Tagged With: Bucket Lists

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Comments

  1. Mikie Taylor says

    May 4, 2017 at 9:48 am

    I’ve heard the mystery cosmos area is a dud and waste of time and money, so we never went but it’s up by Mt. Rushmore so it’s something you could knock off while in that area. I’m anxious to see what you think about it. If you give it a decent review maybe I can talk Dave into going next time. I forgot about all the caves. We love them and particularly like Jewel. So much to do around there. I think you would enjoy Deadwood too. If nothing else, just go into Saloon #36(I think that’s the number). Be sure to look at the chair over the door when you go in. It’s a good place to grab a buffalo burger too. You need to see Needle’s highway even if you don’t climb the one rock. There’s a great Native American story about it. You actually have a few things on here we haven’t tried or heard of, so we may visit a couple new places this year! One other thing y’all really should do is go through the Badlands. It’s like being on another planet, and the colors are amazing. Whatever you do, you are guaranteed to have a great time. Have fun!

    Reply
  2. ethannevelyn.com says

    May 13, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    Your bucket list sound Amazing! I haven’t been to the USA before, but this certainly sound very exciting!

    Reply
  3. natemeetsworld says

    May 13, 2017 at 1:33 pm

    I haven’t been to the Black Hill since I was a kid but I want to get out there again soon. I love your itinerary because it is packed with some great hiking spots! (Jewel Cave, Bridal Veil Falls, Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park)

    Reply
  4. Tori says

    May 14, 2017 at 9:02 pm

    Oh so many of these look incredible (I was googling as I read haha). There are a few of these I’ve had on my list for a while, but I definitely just added a few more! I’m definitely going to have to fit a trip in sooner rather than later. It’s too close to put off! Thanks for sharing the list.

    Reply
  5. Lee Anne Benjamin says

    May 22, 2017 at 9:47 am

    So many great things! That looks like a fun and full itinerary!

    XO
    Lee Anne
    http://www.lifebylee.com

    Reply
  6. Ginger Marie says

    May 22, 2017 at 11:31 am

    I’m proud to say I’ve done a few of these! I lived in ND for 5 years so we’d go to SC for “vacation” from time to time!

    Reply
  7. Rachel Gault (@rachelgault) says

    May 22, 2017 at 3:40 pm

    Fun ideas! This is on my list too. The goal it to get to all 50 states!

    Reply
  8. Chelsie Carr says

    May 22, 2017 at 4:34 pm

    My dad and I went on a cross-country trip from Boston to Idaho a few years ago and spent a day and a half in the Black Hills. I’m glad that Custer’s State Park is on your list – make sure you bring some apples with you because there are wild burrows that will walk right up to your window for a snack!

    Reply
  9. Sharon says

    August 3, 2018 at 11:40 am

    Some of these are familiar, but this is a long, fun list with lots of possibilities! My brother-in-law lives in Rapid City, jumping off point for a drive to Mt. Rushmore. Hmmm, maybe it’s time to visit again!

    Reply
    • Bridget Carlson says

      August 10, 2018 at 4:43 pm

      I can’t wait to go again and hopefully finish up this list! There is just so much to do!

      Reply
  10. Laura says

    October 8, 2019 at 5:40 pm

    So I never thought to have a bucket list for South Dakota, but it’s obviously a super underrated state! I may need to rethink my travel plans for next year to hike in Utah. Who knew there was so much to explore in SD. Thanks for the tips!

    Reply

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