"BLACK HILLS - MOUNTAIN ISLAND ON THE GREAT PLAINS" South Dakota by mtncorg

South Dakota Travel Guide: 1,207 reviews and 2,910 photos

Buffalo wanders forest of Custer State Park

South Dakota is mostly flat farmlands speckled here and there in the eastern regions with lakes left over from glacial times. The Missouri River effectively cuts the State down the middle - east from west. Large sections of the southwestern areas represent the remaining areas given over to ancient inhabitants - the Sioux. Far to the west, are the Black Hills, a small mountain range - Rocky Mountain precursors - surrounded by the vast Plains and deserts. These Hills have been a 'destination' for people for a long time, representing an important hunting and spiritual center for natives for centuries. The discovery of gold led to some of the ugliest fighting during the Indian Wars of the late 19th century. Today, the Black Hills still represent a major tourist destination and are heavily visited both for the natural beauty and for monuments man-made. The road - US 16 - from Rapid City to Mt Rushmore - the major destination for this area - is full of different stops for the carbound tourist to take in, whether it is a snake farm or the Flintstone's Pebble City. Beyond Rushmore's faces, you can still get a primordial sense of the beauty of the Black Hills on the trails and roads - places like the Needles Highway, the caves of Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument, the grasslands and buffalo of Custer State Park. There is plenty here to keep one busy for several days, or, as in the case of President Calvin Coolidge, a whole summer vacation.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Black Hills, Badlands and Wall Drug
Cons:Most of the rest is flat farmlands with long boring interstates

Intro Written Mar 25, 2004
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Reviews (7)

Fire suppression reservoir atop Harney Peak - South Dakota

JEWEL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT Things to Do (7)

As beautiful or more so than its national park neighbor to the east - Wind Cave - Jewel Cave has been protected since... more travel advice

Cathedral Spires rising up - from Harney Peak - South Dakota

WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK Things to Do (7)

Just south of Custer State Park is the US's seventh national park, protected since 1903. Wind Cave is over 320 million... more travel advice

Home where the Buffalo roam - Custer State Park - South Dakota

CUSTER STATE PARK Things to Do (7)

This is South Dakota's outdoor gem, occupying a large chunk of the eastern area of the Black Hills. Several lakes can be... more travel advice

Lookout on top of Harney Peak - South Dakota

HARNEY PEAK Things to Do (7)

Early in the morning or late in the afternoon are both great times to be atop Harney Peak - 7242 feet high, the rooftop... more travel advice

Comments (2)

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Addison833 Jul 20, 2005 at 4:51 PM

I'm going to South Dakota in two weeks and found the information on your page really informative and helpful. You went beyond the basics. Thanks!
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XenoHumph Apr 16, 2004 at 9:06 AM

Beautiful places!! Great tps and photos!