The Black Hills are positioned in the western part of South Dakota and extend into Wyoming. In addition to being the home of Mount Rushmore, they also hold the title of being the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains. The oddity of the natural structure is that the hills seem to jut right out of the Great Plains, appearing as an island of trees when viewed from a distance.
The Black Hills are full of historic interest--from the native Americans who lived there, through the Gold Rush days and into the creation of Mount Rushmore.
Native Americans lived in the area until the Gold Rush, in 1874. At that time, the government relocated the Native Americans to reservations, but the Lakota did not agree with the validity of the agreement and they remain in dispute over the Black Hills today.
Start with a hot-air balloon ride over the hills and surrounding area. Enjoy the early-morning serenity with a Champagne toast.
Take a chairlift up to the summit, order lunch at the café and then spend the rest of the afternoon at the President's Slide, a sled ride that goes 2,000 feet down.
Go for a ride on the Black Hills Central Railroad steam engine. Have family fun in the human maze or have a water war. Enjoy a round of miniature golf or spend a day at the Flintstones Bedrock City Theme Park.
Mount Rushmore is a must when visiting the Black Hills. It was completed in 1941 by sculptor Gutzon Borglums. The carved granite heads of Presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson are each equal to a six-floor building.
Another great sculptor, Koraczak Ziolkowski, worked for 36 years to carve what is known as the Crazy Horse Monument. Although he died, in 1982 before it was completed, others continue to work on it.
Jewel Cave National Monument is said to be the world's second longest cave at 141 miles. It is open all year, and three different tours are offered by the park service.
Wind Cave National Park was the first cave in the U.S. to be designated a national park. It is actually a system of complex caves, covering more than 28 acres of caves, grasslands and pine forests. There are several types of cave tours to choose from and there are camping sites available.
Badlands National Park consists of 244,000 acres of natural land and contains the world's riches fossil beds. Custer State Park combines both a natural park and a wildlife preserve. You may see mountain lions, elk, mountain goats, deer, burros, antelope and big horn sheep there. It is especially known for bison herds and prairie dog towns.
The Black Hills offer challenging rock climbing opportunities. It is, in fact, a perfect vacation destination for climbers. If you aren't an expert or would like to try rock climbing, visit Black Hills Climbing, which offers climbing instructions. The central hills have more than 600 climbs.
