Beautiful park that's well maintained and there's also access to the hike area . Playground picnic…read morearea etc and there's an old train

Worth it, ya'know! Sooo much top attractions here. The…read moremonumental Mt Rushmore, the friendly wilderness of the Custer State Park's wildlife loop, the awesome tranquility of Sylvan Lake, last but not least Crazy Horse's construction. And who could forget, the ominous night of Needles Hwy. I needed more than 1 day to soak it all in. Glad there are restrooms throughout this NF, along with some water bottle refill stations, cuz all this roadtrip sightseeing sure works up a thirst. Almost collided with a deer on my way out of Black Hills NF. We both swerved away each other simultaneously O_O My 5th animal crossing this trip! On your way to Black Hills, don't forget to pack fresh apples and carrots beforehand ;) Believe it!

Black Hills National Forest is so beautiful! We hiked the 7.1 mile hike to Black Elk Peak starting…read morefrom Sylvan Lake. The views are spectacular and we even got lucky and saw a mountain goat at the top. If you do this hike, I would recommend hiking shoes, a hat, and a water pack to stay hydrated.

Entry will the state park cost $25 per vehicle and lasts a week. I wanted to go another time again…read moreto hike, but unfortunately we were not able to, especially with the rain. Just driving through the State Park is so beautiful, though. We were lucky enough to see a couple of bison, even if we were not able to see herds of them. I was so excited that we were even able to see a couple walking around. I was a little disappointed that we were not able to see any mountain goats or anything else, but I can understand that we just can't see them from everywhere. Going to the visitor center was also a plus. They have a great movie that you can watch, that shows history and they had lots of people that were asking questions to the rangers. This state park feels as though it's more like a national park, and it's definitely worth visiting.

Our visit to South Dakota was an unforgettable experience from beginning to end. Custer park was…read moreone of our top priorities to visit. Man was it worth it! Every turn along the scenic drives revealed something new and breathtaking--towering mountains, rolling hills, endless grassy plains, crystal-clear lakes and streams, beautiful log cabins, and wildlife roaming freely in their natural habitat. We drove arms reach from bison, and deer. We got out of our car to pet and feed burros, and marveled over other animals right alongside the roadway. The prairie dogs were adorable and funny too. It was an incredible reminder of how special this park truly is. Especially considering I love animals, history, and the artistry of nature. One of the highlights was driving through the famous narrow rock tunnels. The engineering is amazing, and the views framed through the tunnels are simply unforgettable. We also stopped at several cliffside overlooks where the panoramic views stretched as far as the eye could see. Standing there, looking out over the landscape, gave us a true appreciation for the beauty and scale of the Black Hills. Whether you're looking for incredible photography, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, or simply a peaceful escape into nature, Custer State Park delivers on every level. It's one of those places that makes you slow down, take a deep breath, and appreciate God's incredible creation. If you're visiting South Dakota, Custer State Park isn't just worth seeing--it's an experience you'll remember for a lifetime. We can't wait to return.

Firstly, Becky consulted over the phone with both my husband and I twice before we made a…read morereservation. She helped us make the selection that was best for the four of us, two adults two teenagers. When we arrived for our appointment, the Guide did an excellent job getting us acquainted with the trail maps and ensuring that we were able to have the kind of off-road experience we were looking forward to this is probably the HIGHLIGHT of our family vacation this year. We did see some beautiful scenery and the adventure of the off-road vehicle really made it special. (don't forget to wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty.)

We had a fantastic time the side by side was in great condition. We are planning to rent again in a…read moreweek or two

The views at the top of Black Elk Peak are so beautiful! The trail leading up to the peak is a…read moresteady incline with one short stretch where it goes downhill. Due to the incline, I recommend wearing a water pack to make sure you stay hydrated. It's the highest point in South Dakota and you will want to spend some time at the top taking in the views! There are also plenty of photo opportunities along the way. Make sure to wear good hiking shoes and enjoy soaking in the views!

We're all doing our part to abide by social distancing, while trying to keep ourselves sane and…read morehealthy. Hiking the Black Elk Wilderness for 11hrs seemed like a good way to pull off "all of the above" & it was! First: Expect to spend +4hrs hiking just to the summit and back. Additional time for side trails & photography, if applicable. As a diehard shutterbug, it took me almost 5hrs to get to the top. It isn't a race, take in your surroundings. Pack accordingly. It may be warm at the bottom & you end up in snow falling at the top, not too mention the "breeze" whipping. Layers work best & I found myself changing in and out of them. WATER- bring plenty of water, as well as food & sanitary items needed. The only toilets are at the start/end so be prepared to rough it a bit. PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT. You will hit a Wilderness registration area and are required to register at that point, in order to continue. I would say it's a moderate trail. Along the way you can expect to encounter some wildlife- we had several deer encounters, nesting birds, chipmunks, squirrels, frogs and whatever else we didn't see! There are some magnificent views of the hills, rock formations & interesting vegetarian - fresh air & friendly faces. Easily among my favorites.

Since this trail can easily be a long or a short hike, we decided to go for the short way. We…read moreparked in the parking lot close by the falls and just walked around, and we're delighted to see that there were when was a small waterfall through and a little further down, it placed to sit down and dip your toes in-- the water is super cold! We were very happy to see that it was a paved walkway. There was a restroom, although we did not use it because of the smell. If you really need to use it, though, I guess it's there. We did not end up using our stroller, but we did see somebody in a wheelchair there, so it is a great and accessible option. I would recommend this place to any, and everybody. It's absolutely beautiful and chasing waterfalls in South Dakota has now become one of my favorite things.

We started down Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway and stopped at Bridal Veil Falls, Spearfish Falls,…read moreand Roughlock Falls. Roughlock Falls was our last stop. If you drive pass the trailhead parking lot and keep going down to the end, after you pass the "Roughlock Falls" sign, you will see a parking lot that will lead you closer to the falls. It's 1.5miles from the trailhead but this location only took us a total of 35mins with photos in between. Not difficult, just a few zig zags. We had youngest of 4 to 70s and we all made it. These falls are described as low cascading falls. It's not up high.

Rented some kayaks here and it was a great experience! Lots of kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes…read moreavailable to rent and the process was quick and easy

The food is on the pricey side, and is just pretty good. Don't miss out on the mini donuts though,…read moreso good! The store itself has some good stuff you will want to buy. It's also a bit pricey though. The bathrooms there were clean and had plenty of outdoor seating with great views of the lake to enjoy too.

Limited parking but then there's a nice hike and everything is well maintained. We enjoyed stopping…read morehere and my dog Certainly did too

I went there for first of two cave tours that day visiting from Southern California Pomona. We got…read morepasses and rules of the tour. It includes must be in good health to walk uphill and downhill the stairs sometimes slippery, no bags so I wore cargo pants, slip resistant shoes with no holes, no sandals or food/drinks. No restroom neither inside so we went before. Tour was very nice and guide was informative.

I can't rate a park anything less than 5 stars; this is a small national park and easy to spend…read morehalf a day here and add in to a trip. This was a last minute addition so we missed the opportunity to do a cave tour. Next time! The visitor center is surprisingly large and really neat even if not visiting the cave. You can walk to the original entrance of the cave from the visitor center which is neat to see and "cool" to feel cold the air blowing out of the opening. We saw soooo many bison! And a coyote hunting prairie dogs! This national park doesn't charge an entrance fee to walk around or drive thru, so if you are in the area and maybe missed wildlife at the state park, it's worth a drive through to try and catch a view of some animals! Make sure your kiddos get junior ranger badges at the visitor center!

JUST AN AMAZING TOUR. Enjoyed every step of the way. Great experience and recommend it to all.read more

This was the 2nd of two cave tours I went to and it just as cool and interesting. I didn't like…read morethat one of them was denied entrance to the tour because he wore shoes though with closed toe have some holes on the sides and didn't have another one. The staff didn't provide other options or refunds so luckily there was something to do while I was there. Interesting that one young woman did got to come wearing the same shoes and didn't do a thing. Nice tour guide, video and exhibits and gift shop. Also be sure not to have any kind of bags, food/drinks, to be in good physical health and not be afraid of the darkness.