The Black Hills of South Dakota with Kids
We spent two weeks in the Black Hills of South Dakota in September. We had never been there and had little idea of what to expect. When I imagined South Dakota, the picture in my mind definitely didn’t include mountains. But, did you know Black Elk Peak in the Black Hills National Forest is the highest peak east of the Rocky Mountains? In short, we were pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the Black Hills. Being there at the start of fall, the colors of the leaves added another level to the natural beauty.
One thing I did know about this area of South Dakota is that it’s home to the largest motorcycle rally in the world. I wasn’t sure how kid-friendly it would be. After spending a few weeks there, I’m happy to report the hills are filled with family-friendly activities! We had such a fantastic time exploring this beautiful area and its history-rich mining towns. Here is how we enjoyed the Black Hills of South Dakota with kids.
Deadwood
Deadwood is a picturesque old mining town nestled in the Black Hills National Forest. It is known for the gold rush that took place here in the late 1800s. The town still has the old west feel with its historic downtown area home to many original buildings. You can even grab a cold one at the No. 10 Saloon where Wild Bill Hickok was gun downed by Jack McCall or walk the same streets as Calamity Jane
Main Street Shootouts
During the summer, gunslingers take to the streets in the Main Street Shootouts. These historically accurate re-enactments bring Deadwood’s past to life and give spectators a fun and action-packed look into the wild west and the final moments of Wild Bill Hickok’s life. The Main Street Shootouts take place three times a day and are fun for the whole family. The best part is they are free!
The Deadwood Trolley
In between showtimes, there is more fun to be had for little ones in Deadwood. The Deadwood Trolley strolls up Main Street and throughout town, providing not only an easy way to get around but a fun way to take in the sights. We rode with no destination in mind, but instead just for the ride itself. Our trolley driver knew so much about the town they basically acted as a tour guide. Not a bad way to spend $1!
Gordon Park
Kids can only take in so much history and walking. So, I was happy to find a playground right in the heart of town. Gordon Park is just a short walk from Main Street and is a great place to let the kids run and get some energy out. We even had our picnic lunch here at one of the several shaded picnic tables.
Mt. Roosevelt Friendship Tower
After we’d had our fill of downtown Deadwood, we wanted to explore the surrounding hills. Just down the dirt road from where we camped is the Friendship Tower. Mt. Roosevelt is a mere 2.5 miles from downtown Deadwood and home to the “Friendship Tower“ monument created by Seth Bullock, in memory of the friendship he had with President Theodore Roosevelt. The trail is a .8 mile loop and offers access to the tower and beautiful view of the hills. The tower is fun to climb and a neat little piece of history.
Spearfish Canyon
The 20-mile scenic creek-carved gorge sits just south of Spearfish and west of Deadwood. US Highway 14A winds through Spearfish Canyon and offers views of the limestone cliffs that line the canyon, the water that runs through the canyon, and the wildlife that call the canyon home. We were lucky enough to visit in the fall when the foliage was at its peak!
Spearfish Canyon is a great place to hike, bike, or go for a scenic drive. We drove up the canyon from Spearfish and stopped at Bridal Veil Falls, Roughlock Falls, and Spearfish Falls along the way. Access to each one is easy and required little walking. We also stopped at the historic Spearfish Canyon Lodge to warm up and grab a bite to eat.
Devil’s Bathtub
Our big excursion for our day spent in Spearfish Canyon was to Devil's Bathtub. This easy 1.1-mile was so much fun for the kids! The trail weaves back and forth across the stream. They loved navigating the stepping stones each time we crossed. The trail brings you to a narrow red-walled canyon where the stream pools and gets deeper. There are natural waterslides made by the rocks and would be a great place to cool off when it’s hot out. Since it was fall, we opted to stay out of the water (as much as possible). We had fun throwing sticks in the water and watching them float over the pools and down the stream.
Custer State Park
South Dakota’s largest and first state park can be found in the Black Hills. At 71,000 acres, Custer State Park is one of the largest state parks in the country! The park is known for its bison herds, other wildlife, scenic drives, historic sites, visitor centers, and fishing lakes. We spent two days exploring the park while camping near Hill City, SD, but we could’ve spent many more. There was a $20 fee to get into the park, but it was good for an entire week. Here is a map of Custer State Park and some of the highlights of our trip!
Sylvan Lake
Of the five lakes within Custer State Park, Sylvan Lake is definitely the most recognizable. A visit to this gorgeous lake was high on our list of things to do while visiting the Black Hills with our kids. The lake makes for a great place to have a picnic, fish, or boat, but what really draws visitors to the lake are the massive boulders that surround the water. The huge rocks around the lake add to the beauty and make for great hiking and rock climbing. We walked along the 1.1-mile Sylvan Lake Shore Trail. The trail took us over stepping stones that crossed the lake, through cracks between the boulders, and climbing over rocks. The kids absolutely loved it!
Needles Highway
This National Scenic Byway is a drive that should not be missed. The road was constructed in 1922 and deemed impossible to build. Well, they did it! The 14-mile stretch of road through Custer State Park includes sharp turns, narrow tunnels, granite spires, and world-class views. We were a little worried our giant truck wouldn’t fit through the tiny tunnels. Needles Eye Tunnel is just 8’ 4” wide! We made it through with about 4 inches to spare. The drive along the Needles Highways is one of the most gorgeous Sunday drives we’ve ever done!
Wildlife Loop
Completely different from the rest of the park, the Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park travels out of the hills and 18 miles through open grasslands. The changing landscape makes for a lovely drive, and the opportunity to see wildlife that lives in the area keeps the kids excited. On the cold, rainy day we visited in September, we saw bison, turkeys, pronghorns, deer, and hawks. The Wildlife Loop did not disappoint!
Mount Rushmore
A trip to the Black Hills with kids wouldn’t be complete without visiting Mount Rushmore. To be honest, I wasn’t really looking forward to it. I’d heard of people being underwhelmed by Mount Rushmore and had been told not to get my hopes up. Well, I’m happy to report that I was very impressed, and so were the kids!
Even though we have an America the Beautiful Pass, we still had to pay $10 for parking. The Visitors Center was closed due to construction during our visit, but we still had a great time touring the Sculptor’s Studio and hiking the 1-mile Presidental Trail Loop. If you want to get an up-close view of the memorial, the hike is by far the best way to do so. There are over 250 stairs up to the top. We lost count after that. Other things we enjoyed about our visit to Mount Rushmore include the delicious Thomas Jefferson vanilla ice cream and the Mount Rushmore limited edition Budweiser tallboys. Nothing like having an ice cream cone or cold one with this Presidental view in the background!
1880 Train
While staying near Hill City, I took the kids to see the steam train get ready to roll out of the station one day. I had no intention of getting on the train. I figured watching the historic train get prepared for its voyage would be good enough. Well, long story short, the kids and I ended up on that train!
The train runs 10 miles through the Black Hills between Hill City and Keystone. Once used for mining purposes, it has been a tourist passenger excursion train since 1957. The one-hour round trip ride provides relaxing views of the surrounding hills and information on the area’s vibrant history. In the fall, the train offers terrific views of the foliage! Ticket prices weren’t terrible, and we were able to bring food onboard for snacks. All in all, it was a fun, affordable, scenic way to spend the afternoon!
We’ve just scratched the surface of fun things to do with kids in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We can’t wait to get back and have more experiences and make more memories!