Planning family vaca to Rapid City/Rushmore/Badlands...

[Archie F. Swin]

Never been to the Black Hills of South Dakota before. Lookin for any advice I can get...including accommodations.

[Buehler445]

Stayed in Hill City in a place called Lantern Inn. 3 miles from Rushmore 10 from crazyhorse IIRC. Close but not overpriced or completely touristed out.

They took up track from the railroad and made it a walking trail. Do it.

Bug spray. Those damn Mosquitos are the size of buzzards.

[rockymtnchief]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

They took up track from the railroad and made it a walking trail. Do it.

That's the George S. Michelson Trail. You can find maps of it anywhere touristy in the Black Hills. 100+ miles to bike or hike.

[DTLB58]

Bear Country USA is a MUST.
We just happened to get there at feeding time and that was awesome for the kids to see but either way it is a very entertaining family outing.

[Buehler445]

Needles highway is good. Just drive it. Hopefully your kids will appreciate it.

[mlyonsd]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Needles highway is good. Just drive it. Hopefully your kids will appreciate it.

This. At the needles you can park and hike back up overlooking them. Awesome views from up there.

[SDChief]

not trying to promote a RC stay at all... There are great places to stay all over the hills. the 1880 train is great for kids, evens plunge in Hot Springs, which is near wind cave. there is Spearfish Canyon. Flintstone village in Custer... your kids MAY be a little old for that one. it kinda depends are you looking for touristy things or nature hikes. you get to see a lot of sites on the 1880 train.. starts in hill city, goes to keystone and back... I usually drop my guests off at hill city and then drive to keystone to pick them up. both ways takes some time. lots of history and sites to see. I think rapid is the most central place for basecamp. Hot Springs/Wind Cave is 70 mi to the south and Deadwood/Spearfish is 40-50 mi to the north, but you can stay in different towns on different nights.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by rockymtnchief

That's the George S. Michelson Trail. You can find maps of it anywhere touristy in the Black Hills. 100+ miles to bike or hike.

I want to ride that trail sooo badly. Kind of a long trip for a bike ride though.

[rockymtnchief]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I want to ride that trail sooo badly. Kind of a long trip for a bike ride though.

The terrain isn't too tough. I've ridden most of it (not all at once) when I lived in Rapid City. IIRC, a few of my friends did the whole trip in three days.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by rockymtnchief

The terrain isn't too tough. I've ridden most of it (not all at once) when I lived in Rapid City. IIRC, a few of my friends did the whole trip in three days.

I meant the amount of driving I would have to do just to go there. But yeah, we have some of those rails-to-trails around here too, they're not bad because railroad grade usually isn't too steep. I heard there's a couple fairly tough climbs on that one though, I can't imagine I'd ever ride the whole thing. I'm too old for that shit.

[2bikemike]

Frazod, SDChief and the others are really covering it well. I like Frazod find the Black Hill very alluring. I go every chance I get. Sometimes for the Bike Rally and sometimes just to go.

One thing my wife and I really enjoyed was the lighting ceremony at Mt. Rushmore. Check the website for details.

[dtebbe]

http://www.walldrug.com/

[Rooster]

The Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota is cool but kinda corny.

[Monty]

Originally Posted by 2bikemike

Frazod, SDChief and the others are really covering it well. I like Frazod find the Black Hill very alluring. I go every chance I get. Sometimes for the Bike Rally and sometimes just to go.

One thing my wife and I really enjoyed was the lighting ceremony at Mt. Rushmore. Check the website for details.

Agreed with the other recommendations. I was born in Rapid City and have an extensive family history in Deadwood, Rapid, Hill City, Hermosa, Buffalo Gap. I'd move back in a second and I prefer Hill City as a base camp as it's usually nicer in the summer than in Rapid. I prefer the cooler temps in the Hills versus the dry heat in Rapid, but only on days that it's hot, which is fairly rare.

In addition to the already provided suggestions:

1. Custer State Park, Wildlife Loop. Go at sunrise for the best experience. Less traffic from tourists and the animals are out and about.

2. If you fish, Deerfield is good for lake fishing and Castle Creek is great for fly fishing. Both are about 15 miles northwest of Hill City and off the beaten trail so to speak. Not much for amenities, but there is a store in case you forget something.

3. The helicoptor ride in Keystone is pretty cool as well.

4. Wind Cave is worth the time, but save that for the afternoon to escape the heat(if it's hot that day).

5. The Alpine Inn in Hill City has a great Prime Rib special if you're interested.

6. Iron Mountain Road is probably my favorite of all the roads in the Black Hills and definitely worth the trip.

7. Sylvan Lake is where they filmed National Treasure 2. They have some good trails there.

8. Harney Peak. Good trails there too.

9. Spearfish Canyon is good for scenery too, but early in the morning is the best time IMO.

Enjoy your trip!

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Monty

Agreed with the other recommendations. I was born in Rapid City and have an extensive family history in Deadwood, Rapid, Hill City, Hermosa, Buffalo Gap. I'd move back in a second and I prefer Hill City as a base camp as it's usually nicer in the summer than in Rapid. I prefer the cooler temps in the Hills versus the dry heat in Rapid, but only on days that it's hot, which is fairly rare.

In addition to the already provided suggestions:

1. Custer State Park, Wildlife Loop. Go at sunrise for the best experience. Less traffic from tourists and the animals are out and about.

2. If you fish, Deerfield is good for lake fishing and Castle Creek is great for fly fishing. Both are about 15 miles northwest of Hill City and off the beaten trail so to speak. Not much for amenities, but there is a store in case you forget something.

3. The helicoptor ride in Keystone is pretty cool as well.

4. Wind Cave is worth the time, but save that for the afternoon to escape the heat(if it's hot that day).

5. The Alpine Inn in Hill City has a great Prime Rib special if you're interested.

6. Iron Mountain Road is probably my favorite of all the roads in the Black Hills and definitely worth the trip.

7. Sylvan Lake is where they filmed National Treasure 2. They have some good trails there.

8. Harney Peak. Good trails there too.

9. Spearfish Canyon is good for scenery too, but early in the morning is the best time IMO.

Enjoy your trip!

Damn it. Forgot about those. i need to go back to refresh my memory

[Monty]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Damn it. Forgot about those. i need to go back to refresh my memory

Yeah, what you said!