South Dakota blew me away, people. Purely and perfectly. I’ve got this massive document on my computer where I compile all of my flagged travel tips and areas of interest from all corners of the internet and South Dakota was one of those states that started as a mere bullet point. Slowly but surely, the to-do list started building and building to a point where I simply couldn’t overlook it any longer. The nature enthusiast in me was screaming.
Because of the “wait you want to go where” reaction I got, when the opportunity finally presented itself, I opted to venture to the Black Hills as a solo traveler. The people, the places and the plethora of adventure options filled my trip with a sense of connection to the state that I could have never anticipated. So here goes my big sales pitch for adding South Dakota to your travel bucket list - and by the end, you too will wonder how you’ve never heard the hype before.
THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF CUSTER STATE PARK
The wildlife alone at Custer State Park is reason enough for you to travel to South Dakota. Over 71,000 acres of land allows for animals to roam freely throughout the park, though the Wildlife Loop is your best chance for spotting the rare species. Each day in the welcome center, the park rangers track the herd locations of their casual 1,300 bison on a massive map to help visitors get the best chance for viewing. Expect to see everything from mountain goats to pronghorn to bighorn sheep to elk. And remember - drive slow and cautiously after dark, especially if it’s a rental.
Beyond wildlife, the hiking and outdoor life around Custer State Park are absolutely impeccable. Black Elk Peak is one of the best moderate to harder hiking spots in the park, mapping in at 7.6 miles round trip. The halfway and highest point of the hike, formerly called Harney Peak, is home to a fire tower built by the Conservation Corps as a forest fire spotting location overlooking the Black Hills. For those camping, try to lock in a campsite at Sylvan Lake which is conveniently the trailhead of the Black Elk Peak hike.
Properly ranking as one of the most popular places in the park, Sylvan Lake can be reached after an incredible drive along ‘The Needles’ highway. The Needles is an appropriate name for jagged rock formations jetting into the sky. Watch for mountain goats slicking the minerals of the stone along the way.
EXPLORE THE BADLANDS NATIONAL PARKS
Aside from the fact that Custer State Park could serve for an entire weekend’s worth of outdoor activities, the natural beauty of the state doesn’t stop there. While the hiking may be best suited for the Black Hills, Badlands National Park is an extraterrestrial landscape that you’d far from expect from the rolling plains of South Dakota.
Badlands National Park is a must-visit in the US as home to a harsh, rugged rock landscape that appears out of nowhere. Clocking in only an hour from Rapid City, the park is easy to access and navigate. For hikers, I’d recommend taking the trip in the spring or fall months in order to dodge the drastic desert temperatures in the summer.
Admittedly, Badlands doesn’t provide the most intense hiking options, however, there are some rather unique trails. My personal favorite and the top hike on All Trails is the Notch Trail. While a moderate trek, this 1.3 ish mile hike is made by the ladder midway through. Described to me as ‘ladder meets steep stairs’ by the park ranger, this was a super unique touch to make what would have been a walk more of an adventure.
COOL CAVES AND CAVERNS TO GO UNDERGROUND EXPLORING
Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument are both tucked into the Black Hills as historic caverns in the USA. Wind Cave was the seventh national park established in the US and the first cave to make the list. These incredible tunnel systems have yet to be completely explored but it’s believed that there may be a connection between the two systems.
Jewel Cave National Monument ranks as the third longest cave in the world with over 200 miles mapped to date. This incredible cavern’s name came from the walls that are lined with sparkling calcite crystals and is a quick drive from the town of Custer.
Unfortunately over the summer in 2019, which was when I went to South Dakota, the electricity was down in Wind Cave National Park which prohibited visitors due to a lack of elevator functionality. This ultimately lead to a sold-out state of Jewel Cave for a reason by which I like to envision as follows: parents promise children a cave. Kids can’t wait to venture into said cave. Cave is broken. PHEW, THERE’S ANOTHER CAVE. CRISIS AVERTED. But no caves for Erica.
CALLING ALL SECLUDED SWIMMING HOLE LOVERS
‘Hippie Hole’ in South Dakota is a sweet secluded swimming hole tucked along the ridgeline of the Balck Hills. This adventure took dedication and drive - so much so that I wrote about the ins and outs of making the trek to Hippie Hole here.
According to The Outbound, this hike is a quick .3 mile out and back. Ummmmmm okay. What wasn’t mentioned was that those .3 miles were a downward, soft-core rock climb. Come prepared with a durable car and hiking boots to stay stable for both your drive-in and trek along the boulders. Once you make it to the bottom of the gorge, you’ll be able to appreciate the beauty of the dramatic landscape.
You’ll continue downriver and walking along a few different rushing waterfalls but don’t stop too soon (or do because it’s incredibly peaceful.) The trail dead-ends into the hidden oasis of Hippie Hole complete with high schoolers sipping cheap beer and pups nervously watching over their cliff leaping owners.
Now go on a get planning your ultimate travel adventure to South Dakota and shock all of your friends. I’ll make it one step easier for you (not that you need it after I laid all of this out for you.) Stay here. The Whitetail Ridge Bed & Breakfast will bring your trip to the next level as a phenomenal Black Hills experience - complete with the kindest hosts, tastiest homemade breakfast, and best barnyard animals around.