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Hot Springs, South Dakota

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  • Hot Springs, South Dakota

    Photograph Sunset at Wind Cave NP

    5.0
    Above the famous Wind Cave, miles of natural mixed-grass natural prairie cover the Black Hills. In summer, the lush grasses attract the park's free-roaming bison herd as well as elk, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets.One of the best spots for capturing sunset over the pra...
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  • Hot Springs, South Dakota

    Tour Wind Cave

    4.8
    0.67 mi / 6 ft gain
    Established in 1903, Wind Cave National Park is home to over 140 miles of mapped cave passages. The cave features 95% of the world's known boxwork calcite formations and got its name from the sound of rushing wind created at its few small openings.A guided tour is the only way to see the cave sys...
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  • Northeast Fall River, South Dakota

    Swim at Cascade Falls

    2.0
    Cascade Falls is 10 miles south of Hot Springs on highway 71, it is easy to access, and is a great spot for a picnic or to cool off in the cool waters on hot days! There are several picnic tables, vault toilets and a large parking area, and just a short walk down to the falls. The pool at the bas...
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  • Hot Springs, South Dakota

    Camp at Elk Mountain Campground in Wind Cave National Park

    4.0
    Elk Mountain Campground is in a secluded area of the park, providing plenty of peace and quiet. Sites operate on a first come, first serve basis, although the campground was less than half full when we stayed in the middle of busy summer months. There are about 64 sites available in the campgroun...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Hike the Lookout Point Loop at Wind Cave National Park

    3.5
    4.5 mi
    The Lookout Point Loop actually combines parts of three trails to bring you through some of Wind Cave's best prairieland. Begin at the trailhead for Centennial and Lookout Point off of Hwy 87 and take Lookout Point trail east to Beaver Creek. At Beaver Creek, you'll catch the Highland Creek Trail...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Fly Fish French Creek

    0.5 mi / 15 ft gain
    The creek has two main sections, there is Upper French Creek and Lower French creek, the upper/lower refer to the section of creek above or below Stockade Lake. The better fishing is below Stockade Lake. There you can find numerous sections of the creek that are on public land and easily accessib...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Drive the Custer State Park Wildlife Loop

    4.7
    The Custer State Park Wildlife Loop runs for 18 miles across beautiful grasslands and pine-speckled slopes that are home to much of the park's wildlife. Bison, pronghorn, whitetail, mule deer, elk, coyotes, burros, prairie dogs, eagles, hawks, and a variety of other birds may be spotted along the...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Hike the Stockade Lake Trail

    1.2 mi / 500 ft gain
    The trail starts near the East side of Stockade Lake just outside Custer, South Dakota. The trail is a 1.2 mile loop, and climbs up to 5,650 feet above sea level. The trail is easy to follow and is well worn. Also the trees have blue diamonds nailed to them for even easier route finding. Once you...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Hike the Custer Skywalk to Big Rock Observation Point

    0.6 mi / 370 ft gain
    Park on the South end of 6th Street at Harbach Park in Custer, just 2 blocks off Main Street. The entrance to the trail is marked by an archway and a "Custer Skywalk" sign. The path is a dirt/small gravel trail that has stairs built into the hillside. To get to the first observation point it is a...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Hike Grace Coolidge Walk-In Area

    6 mi / 150 ft gain
    Grace Coolidge Walk-In area is a fantastic place to go for a hike and do some fly fishing! There are 6 dams built along the 3 mile trail. You can start on either from Center Lake off of Playhouse Rd. or you can start at the southern trailhead near Highway 16A, that is not too far west from the St...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Tour Jewel Cave

    4.0
    0.5 mi / 20 ft gain
    Established in 1908, Jewel Cave National Monument is home to over 179 miles of mapped cave passages. The cave features larger chambers and more interesting formations then nearby Wind Cave NP, and much of it is covered in spar crystals.A guided tour is the only way to see the cave system unless y...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Hike through Hell Canyon

    5.3 mi
    The Trailhead lies down in the canyon bottom, just one mile west of Jewel Cave National Monument and 13 miles west of Custer. Upon arrival, you are greeted by the parking lot, which is right off the highway and boasts a spacious gravel lot to park in. Since the trail is a loop, you can go either ...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Cathedral Spires in the Black Hills

    4.8
    1.65 mi / 200 ft gain
    This is a moderate hike with a huge payout in the form of some of the Black Hills' most beautiful features — tall granite spires rising hundreds of feet above the surrounding terrain, reaching a maximum height of 6,860 feet. Starting from the Cathedral Spires Trailhead --where you may be treated...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Camp at Sylvan Lake Campground

    5.0
    Medium-sized campground across the road from Sylvan Lake. Run by Custer State Park - reservations can be made online. Several individual sites are available for walk-in camping, which makes for a backcountry experience.Make you campsite reservation here: https://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks...
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Drive Needles Highway in Custer State Park

    4.8
    Perfect for a pre or post Black Hills/Badlands adventure, Needles Highway is the joyride of a lifetime.  Entrance to Custer State Park costs 10 dollars, and do be prepared to keep it in low gear behind RVs and motorcycles. Pull-offs for photos and general marveling are frequent. 
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  • Custer, South Dakota

    Hike to Little Devil's Tower in the Black Hills

    5.0
    The trail starts at the Little Devil's Tower Trailhead which is located roughly one mile east of Sylvan Lake on Highway 87. Take Trail #4 for around 1/2 mile until a fork in the trail. The right fork takes you to Harney Peak, while the left takes you to Little Devils Tower. Along the trail there ...
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Go Great Places in South Dakota

In the Mount Rushmore state, travels to South Dakota are full of one-of-a-kind adventure with wide-open spaces as endless as the horizons. Between legendary landscapes and scenic drives, you can always find space that shifts life into park. When you’re ready, go great places.

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Camping and Lodging in Hot Springs

Hot Springs SD / Black Hills KOA Holiday
Hot Springs, South Dakota

Hot Springs SD / Black Hills KOA Holiday

Custer / Mount Rushmore / Black Hills KOA Holiday
Custer, South Dakota

Custer / Mount Rushmore / Black Hills KOA Holiday

Iron Creek Horse Camp
Custer, South Dakota

Iron Creek Horse Camp

Under Canvas Mount Rushmore
Keystone, South Dakota

Under Canvas Mount Rushmore

From $199 / night

Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch
Hill City, South Dakota

Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch

Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin
Newcastle, South Dakota

Summit Ridge Lookout Cabin

Guides, Insights and Stories from Hot Springs

Tour De Granite

Tour De Granite

Isaac Parsons

Black Elk Peak-Nic

Black Elk Peak-Nic

Isaac Parsons

3 Epic Days in Rapid City

3 Epic Days in Rapid City

CampCo

Floating Down the Cheyenne River

Floating Down the Cheyenne River

Isaac Parsons