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John Lopez sculpture in Hill City If you are looking for scenic beauty, a bit of culture, and fascinating history all the way back to the prehistoric, be sure to take some time to stroll the streets of Hill City. Founded in 1877, in the early years of the gold rush, Hill City found itself on the sidelines as miners headed for the far richer gold strikes in the northern Hills. Yet its central location has allowed Hill City to flourish over the years as a “Heart of the Black Hills” visitor crossroads—a vibrant community surrounded by lakes, plenty of campgrounds, woodsy resorts, marinas, and hiking and biking trails for all to enjoy. BLACK ELK PEAK South of Hill City, the Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak) tower proudly protrudes from the Black Hills’ skyline. Though it reaches 7,242 feet, a hike to the top of Black Elk Peak is moderate and considerable by many skill levels, as the trails are heavily used and don’t require any technical climbing skills. Several trails will lead you up to the old lookout tower at the top for a fivestate panoramic view. The hike takes about four hours round-trip but is well worth the time and effort. The most popular route to the top originates at Sylvan Lake and follows Trail Number 9 along an easy stroll through the pine forest and becomes more strenuous closer to the summit of Black Elk Peak. GALLERIES & SHOPS Downtown Hill City is dotted with an array of galleries including the Sandy Swallow Gallery, featuring works by Oglala Lakota artists, fine art, handcrafted jewelry, and designer casual apparel. You’ll find many unique and one-of-a-kind Native American crafted items here. Located on Main Street, The Handbag Store is aptly named for its enormous selection of handbags, wallets, coin purses, jewelry, scarves, caps, kids’ items and local handcrafted gifts. Across the street, the Doc & Alice Boutique specializes in unique clothing, jewelry, home decor, and one-of-akind gifts. MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS Surprisingly, this little town of less than 1,000 residents is home to one of the world’s most renowned facilities for fossil excavations and preparation. The Museum at Black Hills Institute invites you to travel back in time and discover earth’s past as they work to decode the ancient language of the Earth through geology, mineralogy and fossils. Hands down, the star of the show is “Stan”, the 2nd largest and 2nd most complete T-rex skeleton ever discovered. After viewing the ferocious T-rex display, you might want to cuddle up to one of the more than 10,000 teddy bears at the nearby Teddy Bear Town. This teddy bear museum is home to the Guinness Book of World Records collection of teddies on display. Also in downtown Hill City, the South Dakota State Railroad Museum will entice railroad enthusiasts from young to old. With its history and collections from South Dakota railroads, it is as educational as entertaining. If you hear the whistle of a steam locomotive, the 1880 Train is getting ready to pull out of the station at Black Hills Central Railroad. Since 1957, visitors and locals alike have enjoyed the scenic two-and-a-half-hour round trip to the nearby town of Keystone. WINE & DINE In need of a little refreshment after your adventures? Visit Prairie Berry Winery to enjoy handcrafted wines made from wild and domestic fruits native to South Dakota. Located next door is their brewery, Miner Brewing Company, where you can enjoy a pint, flight or growler to go. Or spark your passion at Naked Winery, featuring wines from Washington and Oregon as well as local craft beer from their extensive line of Sick-NTwisted micro-brews. Looking to grab a bite? The Alpine Inn is famous for its German lunch menu and signature filet mignon dinners—and a plethora of homemade desserts. Or immerse yourself in the beauty of the Black Hills while enjoying a hearty meal at the Ponderosa Restaurant, located at Mt. Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch
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